|
Post by eg06ifdc on Mar 2, 2014 19:21:44 GMT -5
Hello Everyone, My husband are new to this Site, it is excellent. We are having our original 1950s kitchen remodeled to accomodate this Chambers range, my dream cooking machine. We are keeping the retro vibe of our completely original house, just making it even better with the addition of the Chambers. Currently the range is still hooked up in a friend's basement, but hasn't been started for approximately 15 years. When he purchased the home in 1998, Bunny, the 95 year old homeowner, told him how much she loved the stove. Her husband had insisted on updating their kitchen in the 1970s, she only allowed it because he hooked her Chambers up in the basement. It appears in good shape for the most part but is showing its' age and lack of use and TLC especially the inner workings. We would love to restore it to its' original beauty and I'm sure it would have made Bunny happy to know it has a loving home. We think it is a B series but we hadn't read about finding the tag when we last visited.Due to time, weather and space constraints we are limited in what we can do ourselves and are hoping to locate someone in Indiana talented in restoring these wonderful stoves. I am so inspired by is site that, if need be, I will take on as much of the task as possible myself - it will be a huge learning opportunity. That will take a while and I cannot wait to start cooking on so we are looking for accessible restoration services. Can anyone recommend someone in Indianapolis or in regions surrounding?
|
|
|
Post by vaporvac on Mar 2, 2014 20:38:21 GMT -5
Your stove looks to be in very good shape, just a bit dirty. i'd start with a good cleaning, boil out the burners, grease the valves and see where you are then. Get some Maas metal cleaner and Dawn Power dissolver and have at it. You'll me amazed at the differnce. do the light work? Here's my B before and after pics. I only replated a couple of handles. The rest was just rewiring the lights and cleaning along with rust proof painting. jYou can do it, but maybe someone knows of a In person to help you out. where in Indiana are you located?
|
|
|
Post by vaporvac on Mar 2, 2014 20:39:53 GMT -5
Here's an after! Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by eg06ifdc on Mar 3, 2014 23:39:54 GMT -5
Your stove is beautiful! I'm looking forward to Bunny getting to that place. We are located in Indianapolis and I'm trying to find a workspace so that I can get started. I appreciate your advice on first steps, they sound quite do-able. I'm working on getting her relocated. Thank you again for the help. This site is a goldmine of expertise, quite reassuring for a novice.
|
|
|
Post by vaporvac on Mar 4, 2014 0:42:25 GMT -5
We're almost neighbors; I'm in Cincinnati. You'll get there faster than you think. I read everything and then she was done. It took me longer to redo the floors so they would do her justice.
|
|
|
Post by pooka on Mar 4, 2014 4:22:10 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by eg06ifdc on Mar 8, 2014 19:40:31 GMT -5
Thank you for the great information, exactly what we are looking for. When she arrives we'll get her cleaned up and evaluate from there with all of these great tips. It was fun listening to the NPR recording about the Stove Man and he's fairly close! Super finding a lot more people than I ever would have thought that treasure and still cook on these great machines as well as provide all of this support for the like minded. You guys are great. I'll post more pictures as soon as we've removed the grime.
|
|
|
Post by crystal on Mar 17, 2014 12:24:51 GMT -5
Hi, I'm brand new to the forum too. I also, live in Indy! I haven't got my stove yet but hopefully later this week. I want a C. Maybe we can be stove pals We are on the southeast side.
|
|
|
Post by chambersnovice on Mar 26, 2014 23:11:02 GMT -5
Hi folks. I too am new - and just restored my first Chambers!! All I can say is give it a go - it's completely mechanical which makes it very very easy to understand as a machine - just make sure to print the service manual and read through it carefully as you work on your stove. Take tons of pictures as you go, and bag all parts in a very organized fashion so you don't have to think to hard when it comes time to put it back together.
I would say the hardest part was the scrubbing - so much scrubbing. Second hardest part was having to run to the hardware store(s), or wait for on-line parts orders that I couldn't find at the hardware store, go back for more parts when I ran short or realized I had the wrong size etc. - admittedly though most of that was related to the safety system install.
In case it gives any other newbie hope know that if you have some tools, time and patience that you can do it. I'm a mother of two toddlers, with a full time job, and no previous plumbing experience (at least as far as gas lines are concerned) and I was able to completely dismantle and restore my Chambers. I did have to do some of it in the wee hours to avoid being interrupted by work or the kids, but I found it kinda relaxing. As a bonus, I now know how to flare and bend pipe - how cool is that!!
Good luck fellow newbies - remember, you can do it !!
|
|
|
Post by Chuckie on Mar 27, 2014 8:49:48 GMT -5
Hi folks. I too am new - and just restored my first Chambers!! All I can say is give it a go - it's completely mechanical which makes it very very easy to understand as a machine - just make sure to print the service manual and read through it carefully as you work on your stove. Take tons of pictures as you go, and bag all parts in a very organized fashion so you don't have to think to hard when it comes time to put it back together. I would say the hardest part was the scrubbing - so much scrubbing. Second hardest part was having to run to the hardware store(s), or wait for on-line parts orders that I couldn't find at the hardware store, go back for more parts when I ran short or realized I had the wrong size etc. - admittedly though most of that was related to the safety system install. In case it gives any other newbie hope know that if you have some tools, time and patience that you can do it. I'm a mother of two toddlers, with a full time job, and no previous plumbing experience (at least as far as gas lines are concerned) and I was able to completely dismantle and restore my Chambers. I did have to do some of it in the wee hours to avoid being interrupted by work or the kids, but I found it kinda relaxing. As a bonus, I now know how to flare and bend pipe - how cool is that!! Good luck fellow newbies - remember, you can do it !! Welcome, chambersnovice!!! We LOVE to hear tales such as yours!! Reminds me of 'violet' on here, who was an attorney I believe and had never done ANYTHING like this before in her LIFE! She tore her red "C" down to the bare bones, repainted, rechromed the top @ SLC Chrome, and reassembled w/o any problems--other than as you described! I too was timid until I saw the pix posted by Berlin (I believe) as she restored "Big Bertha". www.vintagechambers.com/index04d2.html?module=photoalbum&PHPWS_Album_op=view&PHPWS_Album_id=9I thought, "you know, I was once a plumber, and should have an upper hand on some of these folks, I'm gonna go for it!" If Berlin had NOT posted all the photos she did, I doubt I've of tried it! Welcome again, and remember we L-O-V-E pictures!! CHEERS! Chuckie
|
|
|
Post by crystal on Mar 27, 2014 9:04:57 GMT -5
Chambers novice- that's good to hear! I get my stove today. I can't wait!!!
|
|
|
Post by vaporvac on Mar 27, 2014 11:46:06 GMT -5
I would have done it years ago, but was so intimidated. thanks to this site I had the confidence to just go for it, knowing someone could probobly help if I go into trouble and most of it was covered in old post anyway. Congrats to both of you. I second Chuckie; we LOVE pictures!
|
|
|
Post by crystal on Mar 27, 2014 19:48:59 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by chambersnovice on Mar 27, 2014 23:51:11 GMT -5
Crystal - I remember that day - getting the stove and just being so pleased with it - they are pretty !! Looks like you scored some nice kit to boot... a thermowell and a kettle - awesome!!
|
|
|
Post by wannaredun on Apr 8, 2014 0:53:28 GMT -5
Oh, that's fantastic.
|
|
|
Post by metrowmn on Apr 12, 2014 7:58:45 GMT -5
Congratulations to all of the newbies, myself included :-). I am getting ready to finally start the renovation of my kitchen so my red C90 will have a nice new home. I was going through the box of parts that were sent down to me after the refurb and noticed that the burners had some rusty metal dust come out of them when I picked them up. Aside from a good shake is there any suggestions as to what is needed to make sure these are safe to use? Also still looking for a thermowell top. The ones I've seen on ebay look sketchy.
|
|
|
Post by vaporvac on Apr 12, 2014 22:29:07 GMT -5
I boil mine out with washing soda, rinse inside, dry in the oven and season like a skillet. I'll see if I can find my post outlining the details. It works great. This is a must, bty as tiny bits of rust, oil or debris can clog the holes.
|
|
|
Post by metrowmn on Apr 14, 2014 7:13:08 GMT -5
Hi vaporvac. I posted a reply but it didn't take for some reason the other day. Thanks for the advice. If you do find the post please link to it here. Much appreciated. I'm so ready to start so my red beauty will finally have a home.
|
|
|
Post by 5talents on May 23, 2016 15:15:41 GMT -5
vaporvac - How did you get the brown gunk off of your stove? My "new" 90C has some of that, too. I tried DPD and a rag. Didn't want to use anything too abrasive.
|
|