Vintage Appliances: Top-Oven Ranges
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- A few weeks ago, I shared a 1964 Flair that recently came into the collection at the Cavalcade. I received many comments and emails from viewers about other top-oven models, and so here I spend time looking at the Lady Gibson high-low oven range and the Tappan Fabulous 400 range.
I forget what manufacturer made my upper/lower oven stove, but I bought it at a garage sale in about 1983. I bought it used because I thought the quality of new stoves at that time was sub-par. I came to LOVE that upper oven! It is just the right size for two round cake pans or a dozen cupcakes at a time. Turn on the oven light and look in the door window to see if your cakes/cookies are done. No shoving the dog out of the way or moving the toddler to swing open that big bottom oven door. And, for today's sensibilities, it's smaller so it saves gas and doesn't heat up the kitchen so much in the summer.
The bottom oven is for Thanksgiving.
But, alas! My stove is now totally worn out from years of cooking, baking and canning.! What will I do? Not buy a new stove, that's for sure! I'm hoping I can find one of these stoves somewhere near me in good shape on Ebay. Pricewise, I'm kind of glad people don't realize what gems these stoves are!
Hi Lynda - these stoves are still out there - keep your eyes open and you'll find one! The upper oven is a great feature!
My parents had a GE two oven range in a condo in FL. I believe it was a 1972 model as that was when the condo complex was built and several condos still had the same range as my parents but most had been switched out. It was a similar style to your Gibson. The thermostats in both ovens were a bit flaky. My mother knew where to set them to get the correct temperature but she was the only one. She loved the upper oven and used that one 99% of the time. She passed away a few years ago and my father sold the condo to some flippers that came in and renovated the place and resold it. I saw the listing when it went back on the market and the GE range was gone. It was replaced with a boring new stainless steel range. They also replaced a last gasp genuine Newton, Iowa Maytag dishwasher and refrigerator with modern units that won't live half as long as the Maytag's already had.
Hi tallboyyyy - those upper/lower GE ranges were great. If I had one, I would also use the upper oven most of the time - seems so much easier. The new appliances are just not engineered to last as long as the old ones did. Thanks!
I live in the Fort Lauderdale area. Thousands of snowbird condo units were built during the 1960's and 1970's. For the past fifteen years investors have been disposing of thousands of electric ranges that were only used a couple months out of the year. I was fortunate enough to aquire a 1973 Avacado green GE freestanding range and a 1964 yellow Westinghouse Terrace Top.
I think that the GE two oven range you speak of was so heavy and a pain to remove that the condo owners just lived with whatever issues they had.
I love your videos. Old appliances bring back many memories.
Thanks, Karen! Glad they bring back memories!
I love the Flair, but that last one is fantastic.
Never have I ever... seen anything like these ovens in my life. THANK YOU for your preservation of these gems and I must say you have something that reflects and has memories from everyones bringing up! Kudos! Love your channel!
Thanks so much, Gloria! Glad you enjoy the videos!
I love taking these appliance journeys with you, Ralph and MaryAnn. Keep them coming.
What happened to Ralph?
I think he is working if he is not behind the camera.
Thanks, Jane! We will keep doing them!
Hi David! Ralph is working hard at his job but he will be back! Thanks!
I love the Lady Gibson. There were many times over the holidays that my mother would wish that she had 2 ovens. She would have loved it! The Tappan looks the most likely to cause problems with all of the burners in a row under the oven but maybe it didn't. It still seemed to be in good shape and the prep/cutting board area was a smart touch.
Hi TuckerSP2011 - two ovens sure are handy during the holidays! There are some issues with the Tappan having its burners in a line like that...limits the kinds of pots you can use at the same time. Thanks!
I've the old stoves. They were like a piece of furniture for your kitchen. Something to be proud of
Hi Cindy - I'm sure many of these stoves were a point of pride for many people! Thanks!
What a wonderful way to share these beauties. Thank you!
You're welcome, Brittany!
An often over looked aspect of these type of ranges is the accessory eye lid exhaust fat that usually were mounted on top and would vent the heat/smoke outdoors. Usually, one pulled a door open and the fan would turn on. Eyelid exhaust fans were sometimes put over wall ovens for the same purpose which was an excellent way to eliminate the heat/smoke from the kitchen. It really is too bad that these are no longer made.
Hi Ken - I agree, it was a good design. thanks!
Thanks for taking us along.
You're very welcome, Bucknk8ed RobertLee!
The yellow stove is my favorite I like that 70 late 60s yellow colour of the lady Gibson very cool stove I hope too find one like one day I h
Got a new stove that I think is new junk today love vintage stuff and the color s
Hi Gary! There are still many of them out there! I'm sure you'll find one - thanks!
Great video, and this camera operator does a very good job.
Landed on your channel after seeing the Frigidaire flair in the kitchen at the beginning of Wayne's world, and wanting to find out more. Really, enjoying your videos, and can't wait to watch now.
Thanks, macedwards! Glad you found me and I hope you enjoy the videos!
I do remember the eye level oven with the pull -out electric 'burners'
We lived in a small flat in London, i wish i could remember more details.
Love the video 🤩
Very much appreciated Kevin and Maryann 😊
These stoves are such beauties
Thanks so much, John!!
My parents had a Kelvinator they purchased new in the late 70's. Used the Kelvinator for many years then passed on to my brother. It was that golden color too. Lots of Thanksgivings were made in it. The Tappan 400 reminds me of the Bewitch Show kitchen stove on set. I love your wonderful videos. So informative and enjoyable to watch. Thanks for sharing history. Love from Ky. 💛💛😇
Hi Tamson - thanks so much! Glad it brought memories of the Kelvinator your parents had! The stove on Bewitched was a Frigidaire Flair. Thanks!
As always, what a great episode! Thank you for brightening my day!
You're welcome, Kathy - thanks for watching!
I certainly do enjoy your episodes as I love the old classic appliances.
They have much more style than the new stuff does. And tend to last much longer too.
Keep up the great videos and preserving America's classic appliances.
I agree. The older appliances had great style and design - and were much better built than most of what's available today. Thanks!
Hi, in the UK we had something very similar to your Lady Gibson, called the Jackson top line. I had one from brand new in 1979 and loved it. I always regretted getting rid of it and I'd have it back tomorrow. Sadly you never see them now😢
Hi Chris - thanks for sharing the information about the Jackson top line. These were a great design and having that second oven is really handy. Too bad they don't make this style anymore.
I'm 34 yrs old and sometimes wish double oven, specifically upper/lower were made again, rather than side by side double ovens sometimes seen in very high end kitchens with 48 or 60 inch gas ranges. I remember my great aunt (now deceased, been gone for almost 20 years) had a lavender pink upper/lower oven gas range when i was in grade school, so I have no memory of the manufacturer or year i just remember it was very cool looking and futuristic, I'm guessing probably 1960s because of the pastels being all the rage at the time. My grandparents (both now deceased) had a turquoise blue 40 inch double oven range, smaller and larger oven on the bottom, purchased in 1967 when they brought the house and everything on the range still worked as of August 2022 when we sold the estate after grandmother passed in May of that year.
I'm guessing the popularity of over the range microwave ovens and double wall ovens with separate cooktops in 21st century kitchens made the upper-lower oven ranges all but obsolete ?? I've done some research and seen some later model upper-lower oven ranges on ebay and other websites, from late 1970s - mid 1980s and the upper oven was a microwave oven, around the time the microwave oven went from a niche item for early adopters, to the mainstay appliance in American kitchens.
Hi Sparky - I think the popularity of microwaves - whether over the range or elsewhere in the kitchen - greatly reduced the appeal of a double oven. The other factor today is most people don't require two ovens. People just don't cook as much at home as they used to. With the increasing popularity of ready-made foods available at most stores, drive-throughs and home delivery, we are becoming a food obsessed culture that doesn't cook. Sort of an interesting dichotomy. Thanks!
What a collection of classics of appliances you have talk about being nostalgic
Thanks, Earl!
I had the single oven flair and love it!
Hi Catherine - I always liked the single-oven Flairs. They had a nice style. Thanks!
I love the "Bewitched" stoves better than any other. I wish they still made them.
You ARE aware that Samantha had the Flair range as GM owned Frigidaire and sponsored the show with their vehicles? So that Flair that Kevin has fits in to the period the show ran. Bewitched began the same year of his Flair, 1964, and ran until 1972 and she may have had a Flair the whole time.
@@johnhpalmer6098 Interesting, I did not know that. I am aware of product placement and that most of what we see in shows is actually a commercial for that product.
Hi Johnny! That Flair stove was pretty popular and yes, it's the same one that Samantha had in her kitchen! Thanks!
This channel is AMAZING!!
Thanks so much, Kelli!
Great vid Kevin and Mary Ann! Stay cool and safe! :)
Thanks so much, GSM!
Love that Tappan!
Thanks, Math Geek!
I do love all the engineering in all these appliances. 👍👍
Me too! Thanks, Channel123!
When we purchased our home in Minneapolis area in 1986, it came with something that looked like a double oven, except that the lower part that would normally be an oven, was a dishwasher. The range was 4 burns and stainless steel top, then oven above. Above the oven was something with a handled that you opened and that would start a vent. I'm guess it saved a lot of money because they didn't have to put cupboard on the 3rd wall of our kitchen. Magic Chef may have been the brand, but I'm not positive.
Wondering if you lived in Fridley or the adjoining suburbs. My best friend’s parents had the same unit in their newly built home in 1970 or so in Friday that abutted the Rice Creek park…if I remember the name. The range unit was harvest gold in color and impressive. Many of the other houses that were built in their development at the time had the same unit or the Flair unit.
Hi Herman - I have only seen photos of these range/dishwasher combinations. I don't know the company that made them, but they were designed for homes and apartments that had small kitchen areas. Thanks!
Hi Kevin,
hello Ralph,
Greetings from Berlin, Germany.
I've become a big fan of your videos. Even as a young boy I was fascinated by household appliances. Ranges in particular have done it to me. In Germany, the electric stoves are much smaller (only 60 cm wide). I am always amazed at how early there was already self-cleaning and no frost functions in American devices.
I think it's great that you share your passion for collecting wonderful appliances and great recipes with other people.
Thank you very much and please keep up the good work.
Regards. Stephan
Hello Stephan!! So nice to hear from Germany! Thank you for watching and it's nice to meet another fan of appliances! I have always found the European appliances fascinating because they were always more compact than the American appliances. Thank you so much for watching and we appreciate hearing from you!
These ranges are so cool! We almost bought a house once that had a Flair.
Hi Cynthia! The people who own Flairs really seem to love them! Thanks!
I wish they still made stoves like that today. Now I have range, a microwave that also bakes and a counter top oven for the holidays. It comes in handy when you don't need to heat up the big oven for 2 people.
Hi Debbie! Those countertop ovens sure look handy especially when you are just making a small meal. Thanks!
I think the Flare was in Bewitched. In the Stevens kitchen.
Hi Jerome! You are correct - Samantha had a Flair range in her kitchen!
Beautiful.
Eye level.
I have got to quit watching you. I was up last night at around ten o’clock digging out my 1950s Hamilton Beach mixer making lemon pound cake. Seriously though I love vintage kitchen items and I am so jealous of your finds😂😆
Hi Vintage Bungalow!! Watching us is a good habit :-) Thanks so much - glad you enjoy the videos!! I'll bet that pound cake made with your vintage HB mixer was wonderful!!
Oh my God I would kill for something like that.
My grandmother had one like this one.
Very cool, thank you.
You're welcome!
Omg I had a Lady Gibson that came in my first house…I loved it! It was older when we got it and didn’t keep the right oven temp..was about 20 degrees off bee made it work for quite awhile.
You didn't see too many of the Lady Gibson ranges - glad you had one!
Yes Kevin 1959 was the first year for the 400 it beat Frigidaire one year I want a Monarch Modernique. Philco had the Galaxie which was a neat thing.
Thanks, Hans! I've never seen a Monderique or a Galaxie. Monarch ranges are very rare here in Michigan, they didn't sell many. There was a market for them way up north where many people still needed a wood burning or dual fuel range.
I've only seen one of these stoves in a kitchen. One of my great aunts had one.
Speaking of Ben Franklin, I've been reminiscing about Five and Dimes lately. Ours was a McConnell's. Don't know if it was local or a chain. There was a Woolworth's in a larger town nearby.
Hi Tim - I have never heard of McConnells. Perhaps it was a local store or small regional chain. Many of these smaller towns didn't have enough people for Woolworth's or one of the other large retailers to dedicate a store. Thanks!
Lady Gibson is beautiful Kevin x
Thanks, Lauren! It is a beautiful range!
I remember a GE gold stove 2 knows on the back in thd middle buttons on top, for the burns
Live your channel
Thanks so much, Roxie!
My ears perk up when I hear "rotisserie oven". We have a counter top Sears broiler/rotisserie that we have used a lot. It makes great roasts, and rotisserie chicken. Noisy, but fun.
Hi Longhairbear! I'm going to try doing a chicken in one of these rotisserie ovens one of these days. I always think of that Showtime/Ronco rotisserie. Thanks!
Hi Kevin - will you ever put the Flair in your studio kitchen? Would love to see it there and remember back when I was a kid and had to look up at the oven to see my grandmother baking bread in one oven and pies in the other - great stuff! Such a beautiful stove.
Hi DV DV - I'm not sure. As of now, it will not fit! It's about four inches too tall and I'd have to figure out what to do with the cabinets. I may use it as an extra stove off to the side. Thanks!
The structure of the Lady Gibson / Kelvinator looks a whole lot like my Mom's mid 7o's Tappan gas range. Was there any relationship between Kelvinator and Tappan then? That Tappan 400 truly is fabulous!
Hi Allen - I don't believe that Kelvinator/Gibson was connected to Tappan at that time, but a number of manufacturers offered a two-oven (upper/lower) range during this period. Thanks!
I would have one of these types in a heartbeat.
Hi Jeff & Kevin - I wish they still offered this style of range. Thanks!
So beautiful! My husband is in the cabinet hardware business and I am going to show him those gorgeous handles on the Tappan. Why did appliance manufacturers stop including power outlets on ranges? I always thought they were so handy!!
Your husband wouldn’t know where to find mid century original cabinet handles, would he? I’m looking for some for a 1956 home.
Power outlets were removed for a few reasons. It doesn’t meet modern US electrical code. All countertop level outlets need to be wired through a GFCI circuit. This is not possible to do with the accessory outlet on a stove. The hazard of an appliance cord accidentally laying on a hot burner is also a code issue. This feature also originated from a time when kitchens didn’t have outlets like they do in modern times. Back in the day, the outlet on the stove might be the only outlet you had at counter level in your kitchen. These days there’s tons of counter level outlets, so the stove one isn’t really needed.
Hi Kim - the power outlets on stoves became a safety issue and so they did away with them. They were handy, especially if you didn't have many outlets or circuits in your kitchen. Thanks!
Love this, though I'm not as much of a fan as I'm more of a function over form guy and these would not be as practical for more serious cooks that also make stock, can etc since the top ovens would prevent large pots from fitting.
That said, a few things, the Fabulous 400 was indeed introduced in 1959, the Flair in 1960, but Roper got into it as well with a range that they introduced with the slide out burners, though not staggered like a Flair or inline like the Fabulous 400 but were inline front to back on the left and right and did much like the Tappan for the ovens, but with the sizes reversed from the Tappan and like the Tappan, swing out from the side and are full glass. It appears they were introduced in the early 60's, perhaps as early as 1960-61 as I found an add for one from 1961 in a link to Pinterest. There may be others that made similar models.
Samantha of Bewitched fame had one in their house from 1964-1969, the show ran until 1972. A fellow UA-camr, Matt who runs the channel, the Fixer had the Tappan himself in his house when he moved in about 5-6 years ago. The house was built in 1946, but added onto in 1964 and the original kitchen had the Fabulous 400 in coppertone with a matching brown single bowl sink. The original dishwasher was long gone when they moved in as most had the tubs rust out after 10-15 or so years of use or longer and by the mid 80's or a bit later, it may have been replaced. Anyway, he immediately replaced the stove with a conventional electric one with a wall microwave/hood. The kitchen was charming, until you got up close and personal, it was not in great shape, but lived with it for a few years and recently just did a full gut remodel.
Anyway, an interesting segment.
Thanks, John. Seems most manufacturers got in on the upper oven craze. Besides Tappan, Frigidaire, Kelvinator/Gibson, and Roper, others like GE, Westinghouse, Hotpoint, Philco, Monarch, Kenmore, Crown, Caloric and I'm sure a few others I'm forgetting about all got on the bandwagon.
Magic chef made one to a double oven
Have you had the wall mounted GE fridge ever come in? I believe it was part of a GE Wonder Kitchen.
Hi John - I've seen a couple of these wall mounted refrigerators still going in original kitchens. I don't have one - they are very heavy to move!
Nice 😀
Thanks, Michael!
Graceland has one like the first one in it
I've heard there is a range like that in the Graceland kitchen. I'll have to see it someday. Thanks!
More additions in the future? Is there space for more additions to the Range Room? You might have to buy a second Cavalcade location.
Hi Powerline Kid - I still have room for a few more :-)
I have to say they are all just to cool! The cutting board up front is so ingenious, but I think the burners in back could limit your options. The Lady Gibson is cool with the top and the bottom which are both fairly large. I really like the Flair. I think those oven doors are the best the way they lift out and up and out of the way. Thanks for the tour. I'd like to know what you think of cooking on each of them? One of my aunts had one, but don't know what brand it was? When they moved, it stayed with the house back in the early 70's .
Hi Scooter - I also think that having four burners in a single row would limit the kinds of pots you could use at one time. I haven't yet cooked on any of these ranges, but I look forward to trying them all out! Thanks!
@@cavalcadeoffood Does your business rewire the equipment to be current? Would love to buy only if up to date.
@@johnmackey3937 I don't have a business, I'm just a collector. I don't sell anything. Thanks!
If you have the Rotisserie hardware for the tappan can you send me photos of it. I have a fabulous 400 but my hardware is missing. I was thinking of making my own
I would rather have this than anything available
It's nice to have an oven at eye level. Thanks!
Would these old ranges and ovens get hot on the outside? I can imagine that you could easily burn yourself on the tappan french doors, too. What about the timer - did people back then really prepare a roast, leave the house and run the unit unattended, as the ads suggested?
Some of the ranges would get hotter than others. Most had some kind of insulation in the walls and doors, but they would get warm. The steel was a much heavier gauge than is used today, so it was able to handle the high heat. I don't know how many people used the timer feature. Truthfully, I'd never leave the oven on unattended, but that's me. Thanks!
That Lady Gibson is terrific what a good looking range. From what people have told me Kelvinator/Gibson ranges were great machines. Just wondering if the Terrace Top Westinghouse to the right of the Gibson was the same one that you had in your Detroit home?
Hi Brian! I'm anxious to try that Lady Gibson range! Yes, that is the same Terrace Top that was in my Detroit home. The stoves always get shuffled around! LOL! Thanks!
Are these appliances for sale or only for viewing?
Hi Debbie - it is my collection, not for sale. Thanks!
I have a 1957 tappan Visualite and today the oven doesn’t work!😭 any intel on how to fix? Range works and oven light works but no power to oven, broiler or even rotisserie!!
Hi Marie - sorry you're having issues! I really don't know much about gas stoves, so I can't imagine what might be wrong. Hopefully you can find a technician who can service it. Good luck!
I bet Lady Gibson got hot as hell and sent your electric bill to the roof. Thanksgiving dinner, however, would be a snap. The Tappan 400 seems to have been so convenient (luxurious) with the front prep board, and even with additional outlets (for mixers and blenders on each side) Do you have any old gas powered augers or coal ovens?
Hi Tom - the Tappan 400 was a pretty luxurious range in its day. I don't have any gas augers or coal ovens - just electric ranges. Thanks!
Hello. I was wondering if the flair was made in a gas model? if not can you tell me which one looks like that that is a gas model? My grandmother in Los Angeles California had one that looked just like the flair but was a gas model and I would love to find one of those!
Hi Suzanne - the Flair ranges were only made in electric, but other manufacturers made similar looking ranges in gas. Tappan, Caloric and others. Thanks!
Just found y’all today I have a Westin double oven and broiler four gas burners and a grill in between them needs TLC I want to get rid of it in order to remodel our kitchen any ideas???
Hi Connie - I'm sorry that I'm not familiar with your stove. My collection is all electric ranges. I would list it on your local Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace and I'm sure someone would be interested.
I have a similar oven that says Tappan fabulous 400 but a little different as far as knobs go. Is there any value in these or are they just neat? Ours barely works and probably going to get rid of it shortly since it has only 1 working burner.
Hi Nick - Tappan changed the knobs and controls over the years to update the look of the range. These have some value to collectors, but like anything it depends on condition. Thanks!
@@cavalcadeoffood before it ends up in a landfill, is there anywhere you recommend posting it?
@@nickkinser5721 I would put it on Facebook Marketplace or your local Craigslist. Someone will want it. Thanks!
El local que tiene es museo, o de ventas!!!!???
It's just a collection - I don't sell things. Thanks!
HI!!YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION DO YOU SELL ANYTHING OF THAT!THANKS 😀
Hi! No, I don't sell anything - this is just a collection. Thanks!
The Americana was GE's version of the double oven with one above the other. Sssoooooo.... heavy!!!
Those Americana's weigh a ton! They were beautiful ranges (and refrigerators)! Thanks, Mike!
Do you have any vintage stoves made in Japan ?
No, mine are all made in USA.
My grandma had a Kenmore version of this and it was absolutely fantastic we always put our pies or bread items up where we could watch them we put the meat in the bottom and you know you have different temperatures for stuff and it worked great and I wish that somebody made these again but just put self cleaning ovens on them convection that would just make them fantastic true convection you know the heating element behind the fan dude do a good job with it but make us double ovens like that these double ranges in the stores when I look at that and I think OK I’m gonna have a large piece of something really hot and I’m going to have to sit on the floor almost to get it out of the oven so what am I gonna do put it on bath towels and then I’m going to get up and then I’m going to have to bend over and lift that hot pan off the floor who wants to lift heavy hot stuff off the floor ridiculous I refuse to buy that that is a poor design we need double ovens like this this would be great it was great everybody loved it and then they get rid of a great idea
Hi Kathy - those double oven ranges were a great idea, especially for people who do a lot of cooking and baking. I agree - I wish they still made them! Thanks!
Can we buy these at some reasonable price.
Probes are
Wonderful and
Save meat
From overcooking. I love a eye hight Oven not bending down all the time
I don't sell anything - it's just a collection, but these ranges are out there.
Is that tappan 400 for sale?
Hi - no, I don't sell things. Just collect. Thanks for your interest!