This is a vintage Chambers gas range. I am seriously in love with it, and want it so much that I could burst. For now, though, it is staying in the time capsule house. I am guessing — 60s. Any experts out there who can tell me for sure?
This is the built-in, pop-up griddle. And yes, folks, those are stainless steel (or aluminum?) 4″ tiles behind the stove.
I am so seriously in love with this stove I cannot stand it.
Here is the vintage Chambers range upstairs. I am dating it 1952 — because that is when the kitchen went in.
Here is the porcelain cover folded down over the burners.
And here is the built-in stove. It’s all so wonderful, and there is still more to come from this house, I’ve barely made a dent.
Hi there. This Chambers model is after 1962. We have one like it in our home, but it is yellow and from 1963. Awesome stoves!
The marble counter top on the cabinet by the stove…everything old IS new again!
Wendy, I’ll show closeups later of the marble tops – they are terrific.
Hi There.When looking at these pics of the two kitchens,i feel like i am in the midst of an amazing dream- problem is-i do not want to wake up! This is definitely a dream come true.Thanx so very much!
Would like to know more about those tiles behind that incredible stove:
are they actual tiles or are they sheets? What a wonderful look!
Annie B., I am pretty sure they are individual tiles.
I am receiving an early 50′s red Chambers gas stove.
Where should I take it to be renovated? No one has
done anything to it in over 50 years. I would not dare
use without an expert looking over it to check it out.
What would you suggest?
Thanks for your help.
Patty
Hi Patty — sorry, this is not my area of expertise. There are lots of companies now specializing in this work – you need to do research within your own given region. Good luck.
Go to Stovelist.com. It depends on where you live. There is a stove hospital in Tulsa. They are slloooooww, but good. But there are several throughout the states.
The Chambers in the downstairs kitchen is from the 1960′s and is a model D. These were made after the Chambers company was sold to Rangeaire. You can still find them in but not as much as the model C which is the coveted model.
Upstairs, the one with the cover is older, it is a model B, it dates from the 1940′s, it was changed to the model C in 1950
Both stoves have about the same workings and function the same but with different styling.
Both of these stoves are in incredible condition! The D looks to be brand new and hardly used at all.
Chambers stove not only look good, but the function as good as they look! Nothing on the market today works nearly as well.
The “cooks with the gas turned off” feature is…amazing. The griddle/broiler is fantastic and the “Thermowell” that replaces the back right burner is IMO the best feature of the stove. I have a pot of beans in mine right now, I have burned the gas for 1/2 an hour and then turned it off, tonight, I will have ham and beans done perfectly!
Lots more information here,
http://www.chamberstoves.net/
Patty, do not be afraid of your new stove, if you can run a screw driver and a wrench, you can restore your stove yourself!
That web site will be all you need.
(Pam, you can send Patty my contact info if she would like to have it, I would be more than happy to help her out, Mark)
Hi Mark. I am approving your comment with the link as a courtesy to readers who may want to do more research about these stoves — BUT, I do want readers to know that I am not an expert in this area, do not have any knowledge of the site mentioned, nor do I make any reco’s on DIY stuff. This site is about aesthetics, and when it comes to fix-it, I always advise: Go to a pro.
Also, Mark, thanks for the info on the model numbers etc. — I know that there is a super-passionate following for Chambers!
Thank you for the pics and finding all the great treasures!
I admit I am passionate about these stoves!
Thanks again!
Thank you, Mark, too, for listing my blog on your site
Why two kitchens? Several readers have asked. Sorry, I did not get the story. I was kind of in a daze both times I visited, I was so awestruck.
Loving this time capsule! I’m guessing the owners were loaded… chambers have always been high end stuff, not to mention that every detail appears top of the line.
Thanks for leaving the link in. DIY info on these old stoves is VERY hard to find. I have a wedgewood.
Thanks for the info on the tiles, Pam. They are fabulous. I wonder if the upstairs of this home was used as sort of mother-in-law quarters?
Might explain the second kitchen. That’s the set-up at our house.
I think if I were connecting any gas stove, I would ask my gas supplier for advice on the stove and for the name of a reliable professional to check it out.
Patty,
I have had 3 different 1950′s era stoves that I have used in all of my 3 previous homes. I never had anyone look at them, just connected them and used them, had to leave 2 with the houses we sold, the 3rd I brought with me this time. I’ve never had any problems at all. But I’m sure any appliance repair person could check it out to see if all is okay.
Those tiles are great! I have them behind my cooktop, where they have hung since the early 50′s. Indestructable, timeless, still available- yet pricey. Go for the brushed stainless-they really are: “stainless”.
Just gorgeous! Again, if someone tears this out, it would be a crime! This is museum-worthy. Hey, let’s all pitch in and buy it to preserve it =) If my husband and I had seen a kitchen like this when we were house hunting, we would have signed a contract on the spot!
Annie B. – Here one place where they sell stick-on metal wall tiles.
http://www.thehomemarketplace.com/HomeMarketPlace/Shopping/ProductDetail.aspx?CID=Storage+%26+Organizers&SCID=Kitchen&CollectionID=DC0000010&SiteNum=0
Oops, if that link doesn’t work, just go to thehomemarketplace.com and search on metal wall tiles.
My 1948 Anderson stove has most of the same features as a contemporary Chambers Stove- It has a cooking well & oven that cooks with the gas turned off- It doesn’t have the cool flip up griddle though.
Love both of those kitchens, but especially the great 50′s kitchen.
A friend of mine recently found the upstairs Chambers (that Mark identified as a Model B) at a Salvation Army for $200, in perfect condition — so it CAN be done! It’s staggeringly wonderful, esp. the ThermoWell.
A few years back I lived in a rental house that had separate Chambers components (gas cooktop with the lift-up broiler/griddle, and double wall ovens), and I can vouch for their appliance perfection. They were dreamy to cook with, and I’d give almost anything to have them again. That house also had a baker’s-station marbletop counter — but as any baker would tell you, you do NOT want to place that marbletop as near the stove as the above photo shows, because the whole point of a marble is to keep doughs and pastry cool. Sure looks good, though!
The basement kitchen was a phenomenon of, primarily immigrants who had, at most, been here for one full generation, or less. All canning was done down there, the sauer kraut, the tomato sauce (virtually any ethnicity will do), anything even remotely messy, because your upstairs kitchen was your pride & joy. I have met many, many people who love telling the stories of their Nona (Yaya, Bubbie, babzca – no idea if that’s the right Polish spelling!) in the basement cooking up a storm, never dreaming of dirtying her “fehncy, fehncy” (that one’s yiddish) dream kitchen. Throughout this central region of Upstate New York you’ll see loads of ‘em if you’re doing any serious house hunting.Like the time capsule-type kitchens we’re occasionally lucky enough to see, those basement kitchens are part of the social history/fabric that enriches all Americans..
You are absolutely correct, Sara. Our perhaps best example of this phenomenon: The amazing St. Louis time capsule: http://retrorenovation.com/2009/01/20/a-1950s-ranch-bungalow-time-capsule-in-st-louis-frozen-in-time/
To clarify, though, in THIS house when I say “downstairs” kitchen, I mean first floor. The upstairs kitchen was on the 2nd floor. For all intents the house could have been duplexed – but it was lived in by one family. I think the second kitchen was put in as a convenience because the house was so large. Almost like Jackie Kennedy’s “family quarters” kitchen here: http://retrorenovation.com/2009/09/04/the-white-house-kitchen/
I want… no I *need* this stove! It’s just perfect.
I would KILL for a vintage stove from the 50′s to put in my kitchen! My kitchen is completely original except for the stove and refrigerator and I have about a foot of extra space where my “modern” stove sits now. I have had no luck in finding great deals on vintage stoves…everything I’ve looked at has been in the $5-9K range! Any suggestions??
Mandi H.:
check the classified ads and craigslist especially ones that list “old stove” with no details or photos, sometimes it’s nothing, but other times it’s something real nice. I know that I have seen three or four good 50s stoves within 50 miles of my house that I could have had for less than $100 in the last few months.
Readers – I don’t approve comments giving fix-it advice about these stoves. I don’t think it is wise to do so, over the internet. So — any comments of this ilk are not going to appear. Anyone with vintage-appliances needs to do their own, thorough research, and consult professionals, to determine their correct course.
Mandi H: Go to antiqueappliances.com or vintageappliances.com and you can find restored stoves and refrigerators of all brands. A good site also is Stovelist.com – that is affiliated with the Chambers website. I found my Chambers Model C on Stovelist and also got a complete 50s kitchen of cabinets and a turquoise 1955 GE Combination!
Mandi – Keep an eye on Pam’s forum, there are some vintage stoves listed on there. If you find one be sure to have an appliance repairman check it out thoroughly before you have it installed. Maybe Ol’ Lonely, the Maytag repairman will finally have something to do!
http://retrorenovation.com/forum/
Mandi H.: I agree with all the sources that other have mentioned, but quite frankly, I find the best vintage appliances at estate sales, so keep an eye out for those in your area. Many times the vintage stoves & fridges are priced extremely reasonably because most people are looking for newer ones. I can’t even begin to count the number of appliances I could have had from these sales. Good luck!
Great, thanks for the advice on where to look! I’ll check it out! Maybe I can talk my husband into one for Christmas….
Of course it doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars. I paid $100 and $150 for two vintage Chambers stoves in original working condition (no gas leaks or other deterioration affecting safety). Safety and electric ignition systems are available for installation by a local technician for a few hundred dollars total, and later C-models have factory safety systems installed.
You need a basic level of competence to evaluate older stoves. Do your research and read the service manuals for models that interest you.
I have the same stove, my Mother got it new in 1941…
Wow..I just fell in love with the green / white vintage Chambers range upstairs! I love that kitchen!! What an inspiration!
I have seen similar tiles in a fingerhut catalog(I think). I would rather have an old ratty Chambers than a new Commercial. They are wonderful. There is a place in Houston that specializes in renovating them.
There is one identical to the second stove you show above in my father-in-law’s house. I covet that stove with every inch of my being, but I doubt that it will ever be mine. Father-in-law passed away last year and wicked stepmother is not interested in sharing with her step-children, only her birth daughter.
Are those Geneva cabinets beside the upstairs stove?
How did I miss this when you first published? This is one drop-dead gorgeous stove!
I WANT!
I just came across this page in Pam’s Blog (re: Chambers Stoves). I just bought an apartment in NYC that has the stove from the first photo above (the white one with the clock in the chrome backsplash). We are completely renovating the apartment and originally were going to junk the oven. However, there seems to be a lot of affection for this model, and it appears to be in great shape, having spent the last 50 years or so in one location. If anyone is interested in the oven, please let me know. I have not used it or tested it, but would be happy to discuss letting someone have it. (I don’t want to deal with shipping, etc. as I am not in this business, but simply a homeowner clearing out this apartment, so you need to get it from Manhattan!). It’s not about making a lot of money, but passing along an item that seemingly will bring someone some joy. Best, Drew.
oh my the upstairs kitchen is totally gorgeous! Would love to have it—sure hope the new owners keep it intact. BTW, I’m guessing the marble countertop part was used for making pastry.