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Thread Number: 49627
Sandy's New Range - The Pictures! |
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| Post# 717393 11/24/2013 at 11:22 (3,799 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
Hello Everyone:
Well, you've all been asking for pics, so here and in a few more posts to follow, are photos of the new range after cleaning, detailing, replacing a few things and adding two missing items. Three people here on AW were instrumental in getting things to the point you see here. Tim (polkanut) found the range and stored it until it could be transported, John (oldskool) brought it from Wausau, WI to Waterloo, IA and John (combo 52) was one-stop shopping on some very HTF parts, like knobs. Here is the range sitting in her new home in Waterloo. She was built in March of 1972; she is a Model J 370002 WH, serial number F N268442 G. She replaces a 1990's BOL GE range. This model was not the TOL; that honor was reserved for the J757, which had everything - P*7 self-cleaning, a Sensi-Temp burner, a griddle, a rotisserie and a meat thermometer. This model would have been two steps below that - it has most of the features of a J757, but no rotisserie was available; there is not a rotisserie port in the oven to install one. And there is no provision for a meat thermometer. Still, she's very graciously equipped, and doesn't she look nice in her new home, with a full set of Mirro Alumilite molds hanging above her backguard? 
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| Post# 717394 , Reply# 1 11/24/2013 at 11:27 (3,799 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Control Panel and Cooktop
Here is the lighted control panel.
The panel is glass; knobs are Bakelite and chromed pot metal. At the right you can see the "Coil Select" knob that allows you to use a 4-inch, 6-inch or 8-inch diameter area of the Sensi-Temp burner. You can see the sensor for the Sensi-Temp burner at right front. The sensor has some staining on it, but I do not want to try getting it off, since the sensor is not easy to find nor cheap to buy. Sometimes you need to leave well enough alone. 
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Post# 717396 , Reply# 2 11/24/2013 at 11:29 (3,799 days old) by gansky1  (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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Fried chicken, fried potatoes and fried doughnuts now! | ||
| Post# 717398 , Reply# 3 11/24/2013 at 11:30 (3,799 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Sensi-Temp Controls: | ||
| Post# 717401 , Reply# 4 11/24/2013 at 11:35 (3,799 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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The Burners:
Here's a shot of all four burners, with the new trim rings John combo52 sent, but with their original burner bowls, which are natural aluminum.
Maybe this shot will show John why I wanted to keep the original burner bowls - look how nicely they shined up after 41 years of use! You can also see the P*7 lock lever in this shot, as well as the Bakelite spacer behind the oven door handle. That spacer represents a LOT of work - getting it off, cleaning it and replacing it required a complete disassembly of the oven door. In the process, the paint fill for the "Cook" and "Clean" indicia dissolved, necessitating that the paint fills be redone. I'm glad all that's over! 
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| Post# 717402 , Reply# 5 11/24/2013 at 11:39 (3,799 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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The Oven: | ||
| Post# 717405 , Reply# 6 11/24/2013 at 11:41 (3,799 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Correct Broiler Pan: | ||
| Post# 717406 , Reply# 7 11/24/2013 at 11:45 (3,799 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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The Griddle:
This is the correct griddle for the range. It's heavy cast aluminum with a Teflon coating; there's a trim strip at the front in anodized aluminum, printed with recommended temperatures for various foods.
It sits on top of the Sensi-Temp burner; little cleats on the underside center it properly on the sensor. A special "Griddle" setting on the Coil Select knob heats only the outer ring of the Sensi-Temp unit, heating the griddle evenly. This is the simplest of all griddle systems I've seen on higher-end GE ranges, but it makes great sense. Cleaning it is very easy! I still have a Burning Question about the griddle: Does anyone know if it was standard equipment on a Sensi-Temp range with Coil Select, or was it an extra-cost, optional accessory? 
This post was last edited 11/24/2013 at 13:09 | ||
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Post# 717407 , Reply# 8 11/24/2013 at 11:46 (3,799 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O ) |
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| Post# 717408 , Reply# 9 11/24/2013 at 11:50 (3,799 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Last, But Not Least:
Here's a storage drawer shot, showing it stuffed with vintage aluminum-clad Farberware.
The drawer will need some work come next Spring; it has rust in a couple of minor places. It will be an easy strip and repaint with Rustoleum in the correct gray, but I have no shop or garage space, and I'm not about to start spraying paint in a basement where there's a forced-air gas furnace. Still, the rust is minor and the drawer completely serviceable. 
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| Post# 717409 , Reply# 10 11/24/2013 at 11:54 (3,799 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY) | ||
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| Post# 717410 , Reply# 11 11/24/2013 at 11:57 (3,799 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Greg:
Thanks for the kind words.
I would estimate 25-35 hours so far. I was very fortunate at that - I was only dealing with deferred maintenance, not completely ruined surfaces. There are a lot of folks here who have had much harder work to do on their pride and joy. When I got the range, it appeared to have had good treatment for most of its working life, but it also was obvious that the good treatment stopped at some point. I am guessing that a house-proud wife took great care of it for a long time, but then after she passed away, a surviving spouse or other family didn't care the same way she had. Getting those burner bowls shined up was a booger. | ||
| Post# 717418 , Reply# 12 11/24/2013 at 12:15 (3,799 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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An Ad Shot:
This is the closest ad shot I have found so far. This model is not identical to mine, but it is very similar.
The differences are: This model has no Sensi-Temp burner like mine does. Chrome trip strips have been added to the edges of the cooktop (I am SO glad mine doesn't have those grease-catchers!), and the hood of the backguard light was treated to then-fashionable Ye Olde Fayke Woode Graine. And of course, the Dirty Diaper Gold color is not on my range. Thank the Lord. P.S.: The search continues for a couple of things. One, I'd love to find a set of oven racks; I think the correct part number is WB48X5044. And two, I'd love to find the correct manual. Automatic Ephemera had a 1966 P*7 manual that shows a very similar unit; that manual gave me all the info I really need to use the range. But having the right manual would make Baby very happy indeed. 
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Post# 717429 , Reply# 13 11/24/2013 at 12:46 (3,799 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions) |
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| Post# 717435 , Reply# 14 11/24/2013 at 13:03 (3,799 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Kenny:
Yeah, well, the Amana is going to have to happen when it happens.
I am looking for it locally, since fridges are both heavy and need transport while upright (I know they can be tipped if left upright for a while before re-starting operation, but I see no reason to take chances with a unit 30 to 40 years old). It will turn up sooner or later. What's hysterical is that Ben (swestoyz) showed me photos of his house when he looked at it prior to purchase. There, in the run-down kitchen, was THE Amana! It was long since gone by the time I saw the photo; Ben has since brought his kitchen into the 21st Century with a complete, awesomely competent makeover that he did himself. This post was last edited 11/24/2013 at 13:55 | ||
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Post# 717441 , Reply# 15 11/24/2013 at 13:44 (3,799 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI ) |
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Post# 717450 , Reply# 16 11/24/2013 at 14:14 (3,799 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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YAY For Sandys New Range
Just in time for the holidays, I think that all GE ranges with the griddle setting did come with the griddle. I also think the front trim on the griddle is SS not anodized aluminum, I know that the griddle I have like this one in W Va has been through the DW at least 50 times and AA does not hold up well in a DW.
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| Post# 717455 , Reply# 17 11/24/2013 at 15:10 (3,799 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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John:
You could well be right about the stainless.
Hopefully someday soon I will run into the kind of vent hood I want - a classic Vent-A-Hood or NuTone vented model in stainless. Once I'm able to be in an owned house (this one's a rental) again, I'd like to have a stainless hood over the range, with a stainless wall guard. While it takes a bit of work to keep stainless looking its best, there is not the paint wear factor you have with painted hoods, so you can scrub the bejabbers out of them. I have not had a ducted range hood since 2005, and OY, how I miss having one! Chinese food is impossible without one, since the whole house smells like Panda Express for days if there's no ventilation. P.S.: Tim - the clock/timer unit was sort of the least of my worries when you found this range. GE sold off its timer division to folks here in Carroll, IA, and they sell and service vintage GE units. Usual cost is between $65 and $100, with a refundable core exchange fee. That's not bad at all. | ||
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Post# 717507 , Reply# 18 11/24/2013 at 20:01 (3,799 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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| Post# 717508 , Reply# 19 11/24/2013 at 20:04 (3,799 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT) | ||
was this '72
one of GE's last to have the nice chrome/cast knobs? Our '74 GE had the much cheaper looking and feeling stamped aluminum knobs that one sort of associates with '70s GE right after the passing of the PB era.
Boy she sure came out nice Sandy... congrats! Cooking is such a pleasure on one's dream range, n'est ce pas? | ||
| Post# 717510 , Reply# 20 11/24/2013 at 20:11 (3,799 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Roger (firedome):
I think you're right that knobs got substantially cheapened right after this - the mid-1970s were the beginning of The Great Cheapening that afflicts American appliances to this day.
It is a little strange using the range - everything is so heavy and solid. It has been so long since I've used a range of this quality it feels weird now. | ||
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Post# 717531 , Reply# 21 11/24/2013 at 22:13 (3,799 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia ) |
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Wow! A stadium-full of applause for you, Sandy. Honestly, it looks like new from where I sit. It's just beautiful looking and is gleaming in looks and spirit from your labor of love to shed off the years of moderate(?) neglect. Some stoves, I think, might look ok in a gold colour, but not this stove; agree with you.
We have a 1987 almond GE four-burner electric with a coil select like yours (4, 6 and 8)in the Michigan house - don't recall the model, but it's not T.O.L. - but it has the florescent light that lights the surface, but not a lighted glass panel. The build quality is a shadow of what yours is - nothing like the older units. Glad for you and I'm glad others helped make your wishes come true. | ||
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Post# 717541 , Reply# 22 11/24/2013 at 23:04 (3,799 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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| Post# 717548 , Reply# 23 11/24/2013 at 23:50 (3,799 days old) by sarahperdue (Alabama) | ||
Bravo! | ||
| Post# 717570 , Reply# 24 11/25/2013 at 05:26 (3,798 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Ben:
I have become an enthusiastic user of both the Sensi-Temp and Coil Select features.
The Sensi-Temp is absolutely wonderful for simmering and frying; there is not the need for watchfulness that you have with other burners (gas as well as electric). It also makes the griddle as useful as my former gold-standard griddle, the Farberware Model 260. And the griddle for this range is far easier to clean than the Farberware one. However - I have only used the Sensi-Temp for my Farberware pots and pans so far. I am going to be testing it with Corning Ware soon, which will be interesting, because Corning Ware has very different cooking characteristics than metal cookware. I'll report back when I have info. With Farberware, the Sensi-Temp is deadly accurate. It holds an exact, bare simmer and I don't get a sense of the burner cycling on and off - I just get the temp I dial in. I used the griddle yesterday for fried eggs and got exactly the partially-cooked yolk I like, without the slightest hint of browning at the edges of the white. The eggs looked like something out of an Egg Production Board advertising shot. Coil Select is also a great feature. It is nice to know that you're not using any more power than is needed to heat a particular pot or pan. Other features that improve my life around here are the cooktop light - that corner of the kitchen is dark, because the fridge is between the range space and the overhead light - and the timed outlet, which makes my Farberware percolator automatic. I have not had coffee ready when I wake up since moving to Waterloo, and it's about darn time, LOL. All in all, a very nice range and a big improvement over the BOL POS I was using. P.S.: I re-checked the 1971 GE full-line catalog and this range is evidently only one model off the TOL, not two as I said earlier in the thread. I was thinking there was another model in between this and the TOL J757. The catalog shows a model (the J339L) slightly different to my J 370002 WH, with a disclaimer that styling and model numbers will change after April 1, 1971. But it is substantially similar to mine, and there is not another model between it and the J757. No rotisserie capability is mentioned. And interestingly, the griddle is not mentioned among its features, though a griddle is mentioned for the J757. That makes me think my range's griddle was an extra-cost accessory. This post was last edited 11/25/2013 at 06:16 | ||
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Post# 717582 , Reply# 25 11/25/2013 at 07:13 (3,798 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Yay For The convenience Of Sensi-Temp Cooking
I am glad your are enjoying this great feature. GE always stated in their manuals that this feature was best with medium weight aluminum utensils, but I found it would work with anything even glass.
I always said that the only thing wrong with automatic surface burners was that they usually only put ONE on a range, if they had installed it on all burners people may have actually learned to use them, can you imagine how many fires would have been prevented and how many more people would have actually learned to cook if it could be this easy. I was at a house warming brunch some 20 years ago in Baltimore and a young man was attempting to make pancakes on a KM gas cook-top and having a terrible time. They kept burning or sticking etc, I noticed that the CT had a Burner- With A Brain control on the other front burner, so I said try this burner. I set the burner flame size at about a medium heat then turned the dial to 350 and he set about making pancakes. He was absolutely amazed that every pancake came out perfectly and he continued to cook for the next hour. As fast as you pored in more batter the flame sprang to life and as soon as they were perfectly brown the flame was gone. If their was ever a place where the government or even insurance companies should have intervened this was it, these should have been required 40 years ago. | ||
| Post# 717584 , Reply# 26 11/25/2013 at 07:29 (3,798 days old) by alr2903 (TN) | ||
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Sandy, I am glad things are worked out for Thanksgiving. Your range looks great. alr | ||
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