Thread Number: 50194
Keeping my 1966 GE range, thanks to this site!
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Post# 724230   1/1/2014 at 03:42 (3,740 days old) by robinsondm (Upstate NY)        

robinsondm's profile picture
Hi all,

I’m the proud owner of a 1966 GE J486 40-inch range. We’ve recently been upgrading our kitchen appliances to stainless, and I was thinking of replacing the old GE with a new Frigidaire Professional stainless electric range. The cost of the Frigidaire (~$2000, discounted) made me hesitate. Then, I found this site, and realized my range is a classic! So, rather than replace it, I got out the baking soda and cleaned it up! It could still use some spot cleaning, and I’m thinking of repairing a few pits in the porcelain -- does Porc-A-Filler/Fix work well? -- but I think it’s looking pretty good!

This 2-oven range has many features -- Sensi-Temp burner, griddle, meat thermometer, rotisserie. I’ve done a few repairs over the years, and everything works, though I’ve never tried using the rotisserie. I've attached a photo. Thank you to this site for convincing me to keep this classic range!

Dean R.




This post was last edited 01/01/2014 at 04:37



Post# 724239 , Reply# 1   1/1/2014 at 04:48 (3,740 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

goatfarmer's profile picture

Nice range! Much better than anything you'll get from Frigidaire these days.


Post# 724248 , Reply# 2   1/1/2014 at 06:29 (3,740 days old) by whirlcool (Just North Of Houston, Texas)        

A classic automotive style control panel. Does this range have the P7 oven?

Post# 724250 , Reply# 3   1/1/2014 at 06:33 (3,740 days old) by robinsondm (Upstate NY)        

robinsondm's profile picture
Yes, it has the P-7 self-cleaning oven -- for the main oven, not the side one, of course.

Post# 724257 , Reply# 4   1/1/2014 at 08:10 (3,740 days old) by wringingwet (Walterboro South Carolina)        
What a wonderful descision

wringingwet's profile picture
and A beautiful range also ... it shall last you many years.

Philippe


Post# 724273 , Reply# 5   1/1/2014 at 09:44 (3,739 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)        
Dean:

danemodsandy's profile picture
Welcome to AW.org. What an entrance you've made!

Your range is my own "dream GE" range, if only I had space for a 40-inch model. I grew up with 40-inch ranges, and I miss having the elbow room such a model can give you.

I currently have a 30-inch GE range from 1972; it's a J 370. Like your range, it has Sensi-Temp and a P*7 oven. Unlike yours, it has rotary controls instead of pushbutton controls. A photo is below.

I am very happy to hear that you decided in favor of solid, lasting quality over today's thin metal and "lowest Chinese bidder" electronics. Your range has the potential to last many more years.

In case anyone you know tries to give you a hard time about energy efficiency, tell them that your oven is insulated about three times more heavily than new ranges' are. You can also tell them about the coil-size feature on your Sensi-Temp burner, meaning that if you have a small pot to boil, you use only a small part of the burner. New ranges seldom have anything like that.

As you use and enjoy your range, please know that any and all potential problems can be fixed, no matter what local service people or parts places try to tell you. They're in business to meet average needs, and you're not an average customer. Members here at AW can help you get your timer repaired or replaced, furnish Sensi-Temp parts and pushbutton controls. There is no reason you can't enjoy that range for many years to come, fully functional.

In case you do not have the material, the exact owner's manual and Sensi-Temp guide for your range are available from Automatic Ephemera, a "sister" site to this one furnishing immaculately-scanned copies of vintage appliance reference material in Adobe PDF format. There is a modest charge to download. Go to www.automatice.org... and look for "General Electric" in the list of publishers. Then look for these two titles in the "Owner's Manuals/Operating Instructions" listings:

Use and Care instructions for General Electric Ranges with P7 Self-Cleaning Ovens - Price $1.99

Know Your Sensi-Temp - Price $1.99

Both these items came with your range when it was new. You will be amazed how many little details you'll learn from the manuals, even though I'm sure you've figured out basic operation of the range without help.

Again, welcome! Oh - and thanks for the largest, clearest photo of this model I've seen. A copy will be in my reference folder from now on. Much appreciated.


Post# 724274 , Reply# 6   1/1/2014 at 09:55 (3,739 days old) by NYCWriter ()        
Great decision!

So sad, though, that in so many things -- washers, dryers, stoves, ranges, vacuums -- what's new is so mediocre compared to what's old.

Post# 724282 , Reply# 7   1/1/2014 at 10:49 (3,739 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)        
One Tidbit:

danemodsandy's profile picture
My research into this range has found that the suggested retail price in 1966 was $699.95.

Adjusted for inflation, that comes to $4885.69 in today's puny currency.

So - if you thought the Frigidaire Professional range was expensive, your GE was really high-priced. And the quality is far, far superior.


Post# 724283 , Reply# 8   1/1/2014 at 10:55 (3,739 days old) by NYCWriter ()        
Same goes for ...

... most other appliances.

A middle-of-the-road Hoover Convertible in the late '60s, adjusted for inflation, was more than $600.

A two-slice chrome Sunbeam toaster in 1968, adjusted for inflation, was more than $200.

Over the past two decades, we've become quite spoiled with "big ticket" items being cheap enough to trash and buy new every time the whim strikes us.

Just a generation ago, buying a new stove really was a once-in-a-lifetime thing you did, and you made it last.


Post# 724285 , Reply# 9   1/1/2014 at 11:03 (3,739 days old) by xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania )        

xraytech's profile picture
Great looking range, you'll really enjoy it.
That is the exact same range my grandmother had until a few years ago.

I have one like this as well for my kitchen, except its a single oven and has an oven window.


Post# 724292 , Reply# 10   1/1/2014 at 11:38 (3,739 days old) by robinsondm (Upstate NY)        
Thanks

robinsondm's profile picture
All,

Thanks for your notes, and for your support of my decision to keep the range! Danemodsandy, I especially appreciate your informative note and warm welcome. FYI, I have repaired my range a few times over the years. From memory, I've repaired the clock (twice), the Sensi-Temp burner, and the main oven thermostat. I'm glad to have found this site, which may prove quite useful if/when I need to make future repairs.

Also, I have the original "Use and Care" owner's manual, but NOT the "Know Your Sensi-Temp" booklet. I'll probably buy that one. Thanks again!

Dean




This post was last edited 01/01/2014 at 11:55
Post# 724301 , Reply# 11   1/1/2014 at 12:31 (3,739 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia )        

ovrphil's profile picture
You made a wise decision!

Post# 724302 , Reply# 12   1/1/2014 at 12:32 (3,739 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod)        
Oh, My dear darlin' Baby Jesus...

toploader55's profile picture
What a Beautiful Range.

You will never find anything that well made anymore. I have been reading that so many people are getting over the Stainless Thing (Uggghhh so mundane) Great Decision to keep that beauty.

And AW is here with a enormous wealth of knowledge to keep that beauty tip top.

I've been waiting for a 30" Dream GE with Pushbuttons to come into my life but until then... my 1966 Fridgedaire is a slice of heaven.

Bakes like a dream, and my Grandmother taught me how to understand Radiant Tube Coils.

My Best to you and enjoy that GE.


Post# 724304 , Reply# 13   1/1/2014 at 12:36 (3,739 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)        
Dean:

danemodsandy's profile picture
The Kmow Your Sensi-Temp booklet has a lot of the same basic information found in the Use & Care Guide, but it also has a lot of tips and some good information on optimal cookware. You'll enjoy it.

If you ever have a clock/timer problem again, the source is General Time Repair, in Carroll, Iowa. This company purchased GE's timer division inventory when GE exited the timer business in favor of outsourced electronic units in 1998. They can both repair and furnish rebuilt units; all rebuilding is done with new, factory parts. A link is below; average cost is around $100. That sounds like a lot, but electronic boards are more, and boards that are much, much newer than your range's timer are often no longer available:

www.generaltimerepairs.com/...


Post# 724313 , Reply# 14   1/1/2014 at 13:34 (3,739 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O )        

petek's profile picture
That's a nice looking stove. Sure new stuff can be nice but they don't cook any better and there's no way people are gonna walk into your kitchen and NOT notice that beauty.

Post# 724323 , Reply# 15   1/1/2014 at 15:12 (3,739 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT)        
Nice range to be sure...!

firedome's profile picture
and you asked about Porc-A-Fix... yes it works pretty well, if applied exactly according to the instructions. It is enamel, not the original porcelain finish, which is essentially a melted glass finish applied to the metal at very high temperatures. PAF works OK if used not too close to the burner coils or very hot spots on doors, as it will crack off or discolor if it gets too hot. Of course you can always re-touch if or when that occurs. If you are a real perfectionist the damaged panel can also be removed and sent out for re-porcelainizing, the last time I looked an oven door ran about $150 and a 40" oven top about $300, not terrible when considering what is involved. The Chambers range website has more info on this... some folks have even changed the color of their entire range by sending out all of their panels!

Post# 724429 , Reply# 16   1/2/2014 at 00:41 (3,739 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))        

arbilab's profile picture
Now THAT'S a stove! Glad for you. Outperforms ALL 'home appliance' class today. You have to go to restaurant class ($4000) to equal it.

One would think--I did--an oven is just a box with a door and a heater. As Jorgen said in Fairly Oddparents, "not exactly". All my ovens worked well. But they were all built more than 20 years ago.

This rental unit is 15yo and the GE stove dramatically demonstrates what happened to appliances in those intervening 5 years. I made a tray of yeast rolls for thxgvg. They came out everything from rare to welldone on the tops and overdone on the bottoms.

I've been cooking since 1964 and never experienced such a sorryass excuse for a range. The $2000 Frigidaire might not have been that bad, but then again it might. Your GE is a sure thing.


Post# 724440 , Reply# 17   1/2/2014 at 02:12 (3,739 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)        

philr's profile picture
Dean, your GE P7 range is a beauty. In my opinion, nothing made today is nicer than that!

Eddie, your Frigidaire range is a 1965 model. (RCDG-39J)


Post# 724449 , Reply# 18   1/2/2014 at 04:34 (3,739 days old) by whirlcool (Just North Of Houston, Texas)        

I've said it tons of times before, but our 1969 P7 double oven was one of the best ovens we really had. It held temperatures perfectly (once the thermostat was adjusted) and the self clean feature was the best we ever used. Food would always come out nice and evenly done.

Post# 724617 , Reply# 19   1/2/2014 at 21:03 (3,738 days old) by vintagekitchen ()        

This post has been removed by the member who posted it.



Post# 724642 , Reply# 20   1/2/2014 at 22:50 (3,738 days old) by e2l-arry (LAKEWOOD COLORADO)        
GREAT STOVE!!

My folks had one a few years newer. 1968 and Avocado Green of course! And it had a window on the large oven door. There was a shield between the glass you had to lift up before the self cleaning cycle. I now have a Jenn Air with a window in the door, no shield. I always keep my distance from the window when the self cleaning cycle is on. The GE used a window shield for a reason. You just don't see the 40" ranges any more. I remember the rotisserie as more of a novelty. My folks tried using it once when it was new. If I remember correctly, once the rotisserie "spit" is insert, it's length dictates that the over door has to stay partially open. Same position used when broiling. Maybe they didn't install the spit correctly but that's how I remember it. We only used it the one time. Wasn't too practical. Especially if it was summer. Roasting with an open oven door while running A/C. Counter productive.

Post# 724650 , Reply# 21   1/3/2014 at 00:04 (3,738 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)        

rp2813's profile picture

Sounds like the rotisserie function worked the same as with a typical electric oven broiler where the door had to be slightly open during operation.  All the electric ovens I've known had a door mechanism that kept them propped open a few inches for broiling.


Post# 724670 , Reply# 22   1/3/2014 at 05:22 (3,738 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)        
Rotisserie/Oven Door

danemodsandy's profile picture
That's in the instructions; it's designed that way. Interesting that GE took it to the point of making the spit so long you had to leave the door open as they recommended.

There was a time that product designers really knew what they were doing.


Post# 726230 , Reply# 23   1/8/2014 at 19:17 (3,732 days old) by e2l-arry (LAKEWOOD COLORADO)        
2 outlets too!

If I remember correctly, one outlet could be used with a timer. The other was always live like any house outlet. This was so back in the day before programmable Mr. Coffee's and such, you plugged in the electric coffee pot ready to go before you went to bed and it would start at the predesignated time and PRESTO! Coffee was made when you got up in the morning. Pretty cool for 1966.

Post# 726251 , Reply# 24   1/8/2014 at 20:08 (3,732 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)        
Larry:

danemodsandy's profile picture
It's pretty cool in 2014, too.

I just finished setting up my Farberware Superfast 12-cup stainless perc with water and grounds, plugging it into my range's timed outlet and setting the clock/timer.

Tomorrow morning, perked Nirvana, automatically.


Post# 726323 , Reply# 25   1/9/2014 at 00:30 (3,732 days old) by MattL (Flushing, MI)        
Coffee...

Funny, I do high tech and old tech.  I make my coffee in a classic Sunbeam C30C vacuum pot, but it's plugged into an X10 control unit turned on and off by my computer.  I get up differing times during the week and all are programmed into the computer and the coffee is always freshly done when I get up.

 

Years ago we used to do exactly what you do with the stove timer but that as several stoves ago...


Post# 726349 , Reply# 26   1/9/2014 at 05:06 (3,732 days old) by robinsondm (Upstate NY)        
That's right...

robinsondm's profile picture
Two outlets, one timed, very cool. When I zoom in this far, though, you can see I still have some cleaning to do! Of course, the range is ~48 years old. Time to get out the old toothbrushes?

Post# 726353 , Reply# 27   1/9/2014 at 05:40 (3,732 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)        
Yep!

danemodsandy's profile picture
Dean:

Toothbrushes and Q-tips are your friends, LOL.

Toothpicks are also handy for scraping crud out of crevices - spray with Windex, then use a toothpick to winkle out the nasties.

It is amazing how much of an improvement a detail cleaning will make in an appliance's appearance.


Post# 726399 , Reply# 28   1/9/2014 at 09:28 (3,731 days old) by HooverWheelAway ()        

Oy - Cleaning an oven is something I'm in no hurry to do again. When Robert and I took apart the pink 1956 GE range, we had to have taken at least 2-lbs of grease off/out of it. We used super hot soapy water, oven cleaner, toothbrushes, green 3M scrubby pads, toothpicks -- you name it, we used it! It's amazing how much grease and grime and other gook builds up, and in so many places hidden from plain-sight. It feels so nice though, knowing now that it's so much cleaner.

Post# 726401 , Reply# 29   1/9/2014 at 09:43 (3,731 days old) by abcomatic (Bradford, Illinois)        
Welcome Dean

Glad to have you as a member. How did you fix the clock on your stove? Mine isn't working so I can't use the self cleaning feature. Thanks, Gary

Post# 726404 , Reply# 30   1/9/2014 at 10:19 (3,731 days old) by robinsondm (Upstate NY)        
Clock repair

robinsondm's profile picture
Gary,

Thanks for the welcome. As I understand it, the most common clock problem on these ranges is the "Telechron rotor". My clock had begun to make noise and run slowly, so I bought a used rotor on eBay and put it in my clock. It ran fine for 5-7 years, and then began to display similar symptoms (noise & slowness).

Somewhere, I read that these rotors can often be "fixed" by SLOWLY adding 3-in-1 oil through the hole under the external gear. I had done this to my original rotor after I removed it. So, when the replacement rotor began to act up, I put the original rotor back in, and it has run fine for several years now. I've since oiled the replacement rotor, so it's ready as a backup if I need it.

If you order a replacement rotor, you want to be sure it matches the one in your clock. Fortunately, there are codes stamped on the side of the rotor that make this matching relatively easy to do.

If you'd rather not mess with all this, there are companies that will fix your clock if you send it to them. Sandy posted the name of one such company earlier in this thread. Good luck!

Dean


Post# 770569 , Reply# 31   7/13/2014 at 15:03 (3,546 days old) by bevbren ()        
1966 GE P7 - replacement coils

Hello,
I'm new here and need your help. I have a 1966 GE P/7 Stove. I believe it's 27" and I need replacement elements for it and have no idea where to start looking for them. I also need drip pans for them.
I love my stove and would like to extend it's life as much as possible. I would greatly appreciate any help anyone can give me. Thank you. Bev


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Post# 770574 , Reply# 32   7/13/2014 at 15:16 (3,546 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

goatfarmer's profile picture

EBay would be one place to look.


Post# 770579 , Reply# 33   7/13/2014 at 15:24 (3,546 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        
Great Range You Have There

All you need is the model number located on the plate usually found by opening the oven door. Find an appliance parts place and give them the model # and what elements you need. If you do not have one near you, call Modern Parts House in Parma, Ohio. Larry will put his knowledge gained from a lifetime of working with parts to work for you and fix you up with what you need. If you know how to shut off the circuit breaker and how to handle a screw driver, you are in business.


Post# 770780 , Reply# 34   7/14/2014 at 10:22 (3,545 days old) by bevbren ()        
To Tom Turbomatic -thanks

Tom,
Thanks so much for the information. This is exactly what I need. You are a big help. I appreciate it. Bev


Post# 770890 , Reply# 35   7/14/2014 at 17:36 (3,545 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

You're very welcome, Bev. Anyone here would have done it; I just saw your post first. We all have the desire to help people with their treasured appliances.

You keep us posted and let us know if you have any other questions. We will be glad to help if we can.

Enjoy your range!


Post# 787811 , Reply# 36   10/7/2014 at 10:52 (3,460 days old) by bethp ()        
sensitemp burners

I have this range too, but with a glass oven door and no self cleaning feature.
Unfortunately, the burners are starting to fail. I had a repairman fix the sensi temp front burner, but it's still off. Way to hot when I turn it on, then hardly hot at all. The attached rings and burner brackets are hard to come by. Wish there was someone here that specialized in retro appliances. Seems like a throw-a-way mentality these days.
Thanks for letting me rant.


Post# 787812 , Reply# 37   10/7/2014 at 10:55 (3,460 days old) by bethp ()        
sensi temp

Does anyone know what kind of insulation is used in these stoves?

Post# 787815 , Reply# 38   10/7/2014 at 11:16 (3,460 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

If you mean the thermal insulation around the oven, it's fiberglass.

Post# 844598 , Reply# 39   10/6/2015 at 23:56 (3,096 days old) by soggytom ()        

I know you posted this a LONG time ago, but could you share a detail photo of the knobs for the right oven? I just bought a J487 that uses the same knobs and mine have been changed. Want to be sure of the correct ones. Also, how about a detail of the clock? My knob is missing, and I have no idea what replaces it. Thanks a million!

Tom


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Post# 846887 , Reply# 40   10/21/2015 at 06:04 (3,082 days old) by robinsondm (Upstate NY)        

robinsondm's profile picture
Hi Tom,

I finally saw this post after more than a month of not logging into the site. I also replied to your posts in my "1969" stove thread. You actually don't want the oven or Sensi-Temp knobs from my former 1966 model, as they were completely different. Fortunately, it appears -- from your later post in my "1969" thread -- that you found the correct replacements for your oven and burner knobs. Again, please see my note in that other thread. Congratulations on your find!

Dean


Post# 1096901 , Reply# 41   11/13/2020 at 05:35 (1,232 days old) by Bryan (Beaver Springs)        
Please Help!

Hi Everyone!
My name is Bryan and I am new to the forum! I hope someone on here can help myself and my family.

We purchased an old home built in the 1920's and it came with the exact same GE P7 free standing range in the first picture in this thread. Unfortunately, the oven temp switch(or responder) is burnt out and the main oven does not work.
Can anyone here help me locate the part?

Thanks so much
Bryan


Post# 1168938 , Reply# 42   1/9/2023 at 17:53 (444 days old) by mslayden (Winfield)        
Need info

I recently purchased an old GE range. It’s a 40” P7. I need a couple of items for it. It looks very similar to the range posted by robinsondm at the beginning of this thread. The model number is J487C1. I’d like to find a manual on this unit. My wife absolutely loves it. I just need more info. When I try to look information up on the web, I come up with zilch by using the model number. I’ll attach some pics of the serial plate. Thanks in advance!

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Post# 1168944 , Reply# 43   1/9/2023 at 18:25 (444 days old) by pulltostart (Mobile, AL)        
Mike,

pulltostart's profile picture

It could be difficult to find information specifically for this range.  What you can know is it's a 1967 model; "J487C" is all that's usually used to designate the model (the "C" indicates the year in this case).  Keep your eyes out for a 'Use and Care Book' for the range; Ebay is a good place to monitor for the book.

 

lawrence


Post# 1169073 , Reply# 44   1/10/2023 at 18:33 (443 days old) by mslayden (Winfield)        

Lawrence, thanks so much for the info!

Post# 1170213 , Reply# 45   1/24/2023 at 11:16 (429 days old) by LennyLenny (New York)        
1966 GE P7 Stove Elements

This was such a great thread! We just purchased a house in upstate NY and have the same Model GE Stove and need to figure out how to replace the Burner Elements. Only one works properly. The Sensi element only works on high, the others do not heat all the way. Are the elements still made or do I need to purchase vintage ones? If I replace them, is this a easy job or is it complex?

This site is awesome! I learned so much by poking around.

The oven works like a charm and keeps a steady and accurate temperature. The clock keeps time well, the light still works, the outlets work well.
THANKS FOLKS!

Best
LennyLenny


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