Amazing British Oven!!!

Well this is an amalgamation of two manufacturers products.

English Rose kitchens were, as far as I know, the first UK manufacturer to produce fitted kitchens from what could be described as modular units. Produced from the late 1940s to late 1950s (maybe even EARLY 1960s)they were the absolute acme of style and designe at that time, where to have a cupboard with a sink and drainer (stainless steel or enamel) built into the top was just about as much as you coud hope for in a property. The units were of metal (aluminum I think) construction, manufactured by a former plane manufacturer. Considered very collectable here in the "retro" market there is still a great deal of it around.

There were a wide variety of units available, with even matching fridge unit, undercounter and unusual for the time, and I recenly saw a freezer as well - almost unheard of then in any context never mind as an integrated built in.

This is in that same catagory as "built in" split level oven and hobs were not really seen here until the very late 1950s where this, inspite of the 13amp socket looks rather earlier. The controls indicate that there would have been a four ring electric hob in very close proximity as well.

To answer Laurence's question the grill (broiler) is in the first compartment under the control panel. Underneath that is the oven and under that a warming drawer - this feature was NOT unusual in cookers (ranges) at that time, and indeed the "workings" of this unit where probably based on a freestanding cooker of that time.

The top row of knobs look to me like they would have controlled the separate hob. The LH switch is for the adjacent socket (switched sockets are almost universal here) with oven temperature next. The great big knob is for the oven timer, and the knob to the right of that for the grill. The small RH switch was for the warming drawer. I have no doubt that a unit like this would literally have casued gasps when seen.

It is unusual that it requires a 3 phase supply as it is very rare for this to be supplied in UK domestic housing. The three fuseboxes in the bottom cupboard are unusual as well as normally there would just be a single "line" coming from the main fusebox - and the electrical load of this unit would not have been significantly more more than for a normal freestaning cooker.

Revo is a name that disappeared in the late 1960s having been around around since the 1920s. Latterly they were part of the AEI group (Hotpoint) and may even have manufactured cookers under the Hotpoint name - although these are not that common.

Al


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Post# 543063 9/11/2011 at 17:22 (4,614 days old) by supermaticjames (Donegal, Ireland)
Checkrate/Likes Wow, I've never seen one of these before but I want one! James. CLICK HERE TO GO TO supermaticjames's LINK on eBay

Post# 543123 , Reply# 1 9/11/2011 at 20:31 (4,613 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O )
Checkrate/Likes Certainly is interesting looking... at first glance it looks like something that would be in a laboratory.

Post# 543129 , Reply# 2 9/11/2011 at 20:51 (4,613 days old) by Maytagbear (N.E. Ohio)
Checkrate/Likes *Frightening!* Which section would be the grill? Lawrence/Maytagbear

Post# 543141 , Reply# 3 9/11/2011 at 21:49 (4,613 days old) by joeekaitis (Rialto, California, USA)
Checkrate/Likes I'll bet you could get a tan by standing in front of it when both ovens were on, even with the doors closed.

Post# 543171 , Reply# 4 9/12/2011 at 00:09 (4,613 days old) by whirlcool (Just North Of Houston, Texas)
Checkrate/Likes Certainly is interesting looking... at first glance it looks like something that would be in a laboratory. It definitely has that scientific look rather than a consumer goods appearance.

Post# 543177 , Reply# 5 9/12/2011 at 03:41 (4,613 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)
Checkrate/Likes *Well spotted James* Well this is an amalgamation of two manufacturers products. English Rose kitchens were, as far as I know, the first UK manufacturer to produce fitted kitchens from what could be described as modular units. Produced from the late 1940s to late 1950s (maybe even EARLY 1960s)they were the absolute acme of style and designe at that time, where to have a cupboard with a sink and drainer (stainless steel or enamel) built into the top was just about as much as you coud hope for in a property. The units were of metal (aluminum I think) construction, manufactured by a former plane manufacturer. Considered very collectable here in the "retro" market there is still a great deal of it around. There were a wide variety of units available, with even matching fridge unit, undercounter and unusual for the time, and I recenly saw a freezer as well - almost unheard of then in any context never mind as an integrated built in. This is in that same catagory as "built in" split level oven and hobs were not really seen here until the very late 1950s where this, inspite of the 13amp socket looks rather earlier. The controls indicate that there would have been a four ring electric hob in very close proximity as well. To answer Laurence's question the grill (broiler) is in the first compartment under the control panel. Underneath that is the oven and under that a warming drawer - this feature was NOT unusual in cookers (ranges) at that time, and indeed the "workings" of this unit where probably based on a freestanding cooker of that time. The top row of knobs look to me like they would have controlled the separate hob. The LH switch is for the adjacent socket (switched sockets are almost universal here) with oven temperature next. The great big knob is for the oven timer, and the knob to the right of that for the grill. The small RH switch was for the warming drawer. I have no doubt that a unit like this would literally have casued gasps when seen. It is unusual that it requires a 3 phase supply as it is very rare for this to be supplied in UK domestic housing. The three fuseboxes in the bottom cupboard are unusual as well as normally there would just be a single "line" coming from the main fusebox - and the electrical load of this unit would not have been significantly more more than for a normal freestaning cooker. Revo is a name that disappeared in the late 1960s having been around around since the 1920s. Latterly they were part of the AEI group (Hotpoint) and may even have manufactured cookers under the Hotpoint name - although these are not that common. Al

Post# 543178 , Reply# 6 9/12/2011 at 03:51 (4,613 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)
Checkrate/Likes *English Rose Kitchen* The link below gives more information - I only checked this out after writing the lecture above :) Al CLICK HERE TO GO TO vacbear58's LINK

Post# 543286 , Reply# 7 9/12/2011 at 16:09 (4,613 days old) by supermaticjames (Donegal, Ireland)
Checkrate/Likes *Ireland...* Would English Rose units and appliances have made it to Ireland? It is certainly a beast. Would it require some sort of 3-phase apparatus for it to work? Where would you find such an apparatus in the 1950's.

Post# 543289 , Reply# 8 9/12/2011 at 16:51 (4,613 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia)
Checkrate/Likes OMG!! Frightening! I don't want to offend anyone, but this looks like a Crematory, not a domestic oven.

Post# 543298 , Reply# 9 9/12/2011 at 17:39 (4,613 days old) by michaelman2 (Lauderdale by the Sea, FL)
Checkrate/Likes Okay....this is totally weird...several years ago I went to a flea market and purchased a unit that I had no idea of where it came from other than the dealer had it and wanted to sell it. I knew it would work great in my kitchen because the entire kitchen is stainless. Now I know where this piece originated...this is cool. I took the finish back down to the metal and the counter portion was already stainless...works great in my place. Thanks for the share.

Post# 543299 , Reply# 10 9/12/2011 at 17:42 (4,613 days old) by michaelman2 (Lauderdale by the Sea, FL)
Checkrate/Likes Another angle, same piece.

Post# 543307 , Reply# 11 9/12/2011 at 19:24 (4,612 days old) by henry200 ()
Checkrate/Likes That cooker looks very much like part of a 1950's deluxe O'Keefe & Merritt gas range called the "Aristocrat."

Post# 543359 , Reply# 13 9/13/2011 at 03:03 (4,612 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)
Checkrate/Likes *English Rose* James, I would have said it was possible that English Rose might have made it to Ireland although the chances of finding it were small. I use the word "would" because Michael has completely thrown that for a loop - I had no idea that they would have been exported to USA - Canada might have been more of a possibality due to being in the commonwealth etc. but not USA. Just while typing this a vague memory has just arisen. I recall going along with my parents to view houses when they were planning to move, first in 1974 (didn't happen) and 1976 (they did move that time) and in one of the houses there was a fitted sink with integrated gas stove, which seemed very dated at the time. It was across the width of the kitchen and was almost all that was in it. I am almost sure that was English Rose. Michael how does it feel to have something that is perhaps unique in the US in your kitchen? I know metal cupboards were not unusual in US but not these metal cupboards. By the way, in original form they would have been painted - most commonly cream, although nowadays with "stainless" themed kitchens it is not unusual to see them stripped. If you keep an eye on UK ebay they crop up quite often so you can some of the variety of units, which was extensive, available Al

Post# 543309 , Reply# 12 9/12/2011 at 20:13 (4,612 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O )
Checkrate/Likes Now there's a real beauty

Post# 543367 , Reply# 14 9/13/2011 at 06:11 (4,612 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill Home of the RailwayTrials Merseyside,UK)
Checkrate/Likes *Wow* Who`d have thought one of those would show up!!!...Al, ditch the oven/micro combis`s it might just fit in....LOl It looks like it could have come from the stately home that Richard found the dishwasher...the cook who used this would have been very pleased I`m sure!!

Post# 543368 , Reply# 15 9/13/2011 at 06:21 (4,612 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)
Checkrate/Likes *Well ......* It would be interesting for a rescue but not at �300 + plus a van! And no guarantees it would even work then. I would imagine it would be easy enough to sort out the 3ph (cannot understand why it should be anyway) but it looks like it will need a complete re-wire and a hob of course. I have often considered going down the English Rose path, and agree that it is very iconically 1950s - trouble is I dont actually like it that much. Al

Post# 543370 , Reply# 16 9/13/2011 at 06:32 (4,612 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill Home of the RailwayTrials Merseyside,UK)
Checkrate/Likes *Controls* yes looks like four hotplates on top of panel and the oven and grill selector lower down with thermostat / temp control in the middle! and even room for an MK plug!!!

Post# 543391 , Reply# 17 9/13/2011 at 08:28 (4,612 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)
Checkrate/Likes *Close, but not quite* Mike As I noted above the big knob (ooooer Missus) is the timer/cook time control, oven temperature below left, grill below right. You can also see the "Delay Time" and "Cook Time" markings on it as well. This must work in a similar manner to the timer on my Mum's old Jackson, of similar vintage which had a similar, single knob. In that case you pulled the knob out and twisted to set the delay time (from "now" to when the cooking was to start) the cooking time set by a ring round teh base of the knob. Looks like someone has been at that control panel with a Brillo pad! Al

Post# 543394 , Reply# 18 9/13/2011 at 08:40 (4,612 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)
Checkrate/Likes *Indicators* Just noticed when reviewing the posting that there appear to be indicator lights for the hob plates (red, yellow, blue and one that has come off) I presume that the red indicator above the timer is for oven temperature, odd that it is not more obvious and that there are none for grill or the warming drawer. At this time it was unusal for any indicator lights except for oven temperature - the indicator lights up when the elements are on - I always remember my mother watching for teh first time the light when out - meaning the oven was up to temperature Al

Post# 543398 , Reply# 19 9/13/2011 at 09:19 (4,612 days old) by michaelman2 (Lauderdale by the Sea, FL)
Checkrate/Likes Hi Al, Well I knew when I saw the piece at the auction/antique sale, that it was something that I had never seen in the States. I have traveled a good bit and had really never seen them abroad either. I do know that this piece had come from a home in Texas and my guess is that the person must have moved it there from it's original home in the UK. You are correct when you say that it had an enamel that was almost cream in color. My kitchen is contemporary and by stripping the piece down to the metal it worked wonderfully. I liked that it has a nice patina and old world feel in my almost entirely stainless finish kitchen....kind of a paradox if you will.....

Post# 543434 , Reply# 20 9/13/2011 at 15:20 (4,612 days old) by ricky5050 (Durham Britain)
Checkrate/Likes *New kitchen manufacturer* I nearly started to collect English Rose but it was expensive, but I found a kitchen designer John Lewis of hungerford ( not the store ) who make there creme de la creme version. Take a look at the link Lovely But very dear ! Richard CLICK HERE TO GO TO ricky5050's LINK