What did I buy? It's PINK and I love it lol

[shantastic81]

My stupid glasstop kenmore went POOF with a flash of light, and a puff of smoke. Of course, the circuit board fried. I went looking for a new replacement, and wasn't impressed with what is out there. So I decided that if I had to go spend a bunch of cash, I wanted something I could really like. Something...vintage. I don't have gas (cry) so it was a little harder to find a cool electric range. I don't have the space for the 40" ranges that I LOVED, but then I saw this pink beauty. I had to have it. My husband and I spent all day cleaning it. Can't wait to get it all back together tomorrow! I haven't been able to find a picture of the same Range online. I'd love to be able to find a copy of the manual.

 

[norgeway]

1959!

Deluxe, You will love it!!!!!

 

[shantastic81]

I'm looking forward to firing it up. I bought it from a shop that specializes in vintage appliances, and they guarantee that everything (except the clocks) works. The burners in the glasstop were so temperamental. It's going to be amazing to cook on something with real burners again.
Any idea where I could find a manual, maybe online?

 

[dustin92]

You will most definitely love it! We have a 1961 Deluxe, in white, and so far it's the nicest stove I've ever used. Very even heating on the surface burners (although it may take a bit of getting used to, they are slow to respond), Wide range of heat settings from barely warm to full rolling boil. The oven is definitely the best I've ever used (including commercial convection ovens!). Love the HUGE storage drawer as well. Built like a tank and weighs as much as one, but should last several lifetimes! I nearly croaked unloading it from the truck after we bought it, I swear the thing weighs 300 pounds! And that's after removing the drawer, oven racks, oven elements, and burner bowls!

 

[classiccaprice]

Try ebay, That's probably the best place to look for a manual. Best of luck!

 

[vacbear58]

Not a manual

but there is a 1958 brochure in our sister Ephemera site you might like to see. Just click on the "Manuals & Literature" at the top of the page and select Frigidaire as the publisher and products as Ranges/Stoves from the drop down boxes. Its yours for $2.99

Happy cooking

Al

 

[pulltostart]

"Luuuke

Come over to the PINK side." - Darth Vintage

 

lawrence

 

[kenmore71]

Are you looking for users guide or the service manual?
I have the service manual for the 1959 ranges. I also think I have the manual for the 1956 30" ranges somewhere.

The biggest issue with cooking with these old school Frigidaire ranges (and this is the last year of production for the "old" 3 wire burners) is that you will want to start almost ALL cooking operations on HIGH and then turn the burner down to med. low or low once cooking has gotten started. Because of the way these operate, if you start on low or med. low it will take an ETERNITY to get things going.

That's actually the reason that High and Simmer are next to each other on the dial. You start on High on finish on Simmer. Also, these elements have quite a lot of inertia to them. You can often shut the heat off completely 3-5 minutes before your done coking something and get perfect results!

 

[bluejay]

To echo what others have said, you will love this stove. We have a '63 and it's the best stove we've ever owned!

Congratulations!

 

[norgeway]

Once you get used

To using 5 position switches, I think you will like them, I use a Hotpoint with 5 heat pushbutton switches, you will get used to knowing exactly what position does what, my problem with infinite heat switches is you are constantly fine tuning them..

 

[shantastic81]

I am used to starting on high, and then turning it down. The burners on my glasstop wouldn't even come on unless you started on high, and then you had to fiddle with them constantly to get the temp you wanted. I had it 9 years, and as soon as the warranty was up, it started acting funky. (of course) I am so used to it, it would take time to adjust to ANYTHING that actually works lol.
Does anyone can with their vintage range? I was canning on my glasstop (I know...you're not supposed to.) I just used a flat bottom stock pot. I could only do 4 pints at a time. yeesh. I'd love to be able to get a real canner, or even a pressure canner.

 

[frigilux]

Congratulations and enjoy your new vintage range. I've always loved the console styling on Frigidaire ranges from this period. Does the specialty shop where you purchased the range also service vintage appliances? Wouldn't it be great if they stockpiled parts for these older beauties?

 

[shantastic81]

They DO service vintage appliances, and they DO stockpile parts haha! He has several buildings bursting with stuff! People around here are big on saving old cool stuff. His family has run that shop for three generations. He had some very very cool ranges and fridges in the back.
The pink range wasn't even in the sales room yet. It had been checked out and calibrated, but not yet cleaned. I got $ knocked off the price since we picked it up, and cleaned it ourselves. I didn't see something that I loved for sale, so he took me through "the back" so I could see what else he had kicking around. He custom paints fridges too. drool*

 

[frigilux]

Vintage Service Available: That's fantastic, Shan! Consider yourself blessed.

 

[rp2813]

My mom canned on her '49 Westinghouse electric range probably up until the late 1980s by which time her failing eyesight had made it a difficult production.  I see no reason why you couldn't use your Frigidaire for canning.

 

[washdaddy]

Lawrence-

Be careful what you ask for!

 

[philr]

There's a clock for it on eBay...

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FRIGIDAIRE-...1444466459?pt=US_Cooktops&hash=item3a8b42131b

 

[philr]

In fact, there are two from the same seller, this one is listed as a Flair clock but it's not... 

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Model-RCIB-...1543996823?pt=US_Cooktops&hash=item3a9130c997
[this post was last edited: 9/15/2014-04:12]

 

[rp2813]

So does the clock on your range work?

 

If not, check out this thread (use link) for information on how to fix what is most likely wrong with it.  Scroll down to reply #27 and read from there.  Your clock uses the same part that's being discussed, and you can probably save yourself the expense of buying one of the ebay clocks.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?55815_64~1

 

[shantastic81]

The clock appears to be working, along with the oven light AND the fluorescent light above the knobs. Yay! So how the heck do I set the clock? The timer works just great. I tried pushing on the knob and turning..nope, that just turns the red timer hand...

 

[shantastic81]

And holy cow, the burners and the oven heat up so quickly!

 

[shantastic81]

Here it is all cleaned up and in the kitchen. It took two days to do a really good deep clean on it.

 

[rp2813]

Nice Work!

That range is a beautiful addition to your kitchen and fits it perfectly.

 

Try pulling on the knob instead of pushing it in to adjust the time.

 

[shantastic81]

Thanks!

Hmmm. If I pull, the knob comes off.

 

[rp2813]

If the stem for the knob is threaded, the knob could be stripped.  Pushing in may allow you to set the timer even if the knob is stripped, but pulling it out is another story.  You might have to use pliers to gently pull on the stem and turn it to the correct the time.

 

[philr]

I thought from your previous comment that the clock wasn't working. Now I understand that it was just not guaranteed to work!

 

I never had a range with this exact model of clock (my 1959 Frigidaire range has a separate time signal and a seconds hand where your time signal setting hand is) . But just like with my 1959 Custom Imperial range, your clock's setting knob needs to be pushed while turning to set the time. It should lock and allow to move the minutes hand in 4 positions at 15 minutes (90°) intervals. On your model, I assume that setting the clock also sets the time signal at the same time but once you're done with it, you just need to reset the red needle to off by turning it counterclockwise without pushing on it.

 

If pushing on the knob and turning it clockwise doesn't work to move the clock hands, it's possible that the soft metal coupling that allows to set the clock could be worn (it sometimes happens with similar GE/Telechron timers from this time period). I'd be surprised if the shaft was threaded on this model of clock, if you pull on the knob, it's normal to have it coming off.

 

Here's the illustration of the clock that was used on the Deluxe and Custom Deluxe models from my 1959 Frigidaire range owner's manual. 

 

[norgeway]

Re Canning..

A Frigidaire is great for canning, pressure or water bath, those big sturdy units would hold up a washing machine LOL, I have and still do can, I use a big Presto or a Sears Maid Of Honor pressure canner, with the Hotpoint you start on high, when you hit about 8 pounds, switch to medium and it will level off and hold 10 pounds without very much attention at all.

 

[pulltostart]

Rick

That's too funny.  Darth Vader - the Hello Kitty Version!

 

lawrence

 

[circlew]

That turned out nice! My Aunt Eloise had a more basic version of that range (in White), and it even survived Hurricane Camille.

 

[shantastic81]

You were all right. It's wonderful to cook with!

I spent most of today trying it out. I roasted tomatoes with garlic/onion/oliveoil/herbs and made sauce for the freezer. I also canned a batch of Dilly beans. It was sooooo nice not to have to fiddle constantly with the burner temps. The coils put out nice even heat, and were nicely responsive. It brought that big pot of water to a boil in no time. The oven heated up nice and fast, and cooked evenly, top and bottom rack! I'm starting to understand the phrase "they don't make em like they used to." haha!