-
I can hardly believe it, but the seller contacted me this afternoon. Somehow, the backsplash must have been torqued forward while in storage, because when the seller looked at the stove today, it was CHIPPED. It's about 3/8" x 1.5", right along the chrome trim edge to the left and below the Chambers logo.
How on earth could these stoves have survived 50+ years without chips, and then just practically throw their porcelain at us when they're disturbed? It makes me nervous. Am I going to agonize over getting the prefect stove, just to have it chip once it's installed. Do I have to worry every time I try to cook on it that I might drop a spoon on it wrong?
I am so disappointed. Again.
Not sure what I'm going to do. Again. Maybe I'll get more reporcelaining estimates, maybe I'll just move on...
My hiking name is starting to become a reflection of my Chambers stove experience thus far.
Sincerely bummed out,
Not-So-Chipper / Jenn
-
Chipper,
I'm just [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img] for U!!
But I saw a pic in a magazine with a vintage stove that was custom painted. It was so "vintage" looking! It was pale yellow and green.
[img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] Do you still have your "original" Miss Daisy??
Just a thought.
I wouldn't give up yet. I'm like a bull in a china closet!! Big Bertha has held up quit well with me.
Could the colored Chambers porcelian be more "brittle" than the standard white??
Just a thougt.........
Berlyn
-
Chipper;
What a disappointment! Is the stove in great shape otherwise? How clean is it? It's worth a lot to not have to spend dozens of hours cleaning gross, old grease off. You could see what kind of a discount they'll give you, get the stove if it's reasonable, then touch up the chip with appliance or autobody paint for now - until you find another part, get it reporcelained, or get used to it.
I don't even notice the painted chip on my stove and it's about twice the size of this one, but it's not in quite as prominant a spot.
Good luck and keep up posted.
Ann
-
Chipper,
So sorry to hear about the stove.I know you must be frustrated at this point, but I think annnt has some good points and so does Berlyn.
I went to see a lot of stoves before I came across the one I have now. Sometimes it takes awhile to find the right one. As perfect as my stove is, very clean no rust etc, it did have a nice size chip on the oven door which I will have to change.
If you decide to not take the stove let me know. I can keep my eyes out for you at tag sales. I've seen the prices start at 250 and go up from there.
Treatmaker
-
Chipper,
Here's another thought - contact Paul from Central Range 516-794-0288/718-776-4800, he might have a green back for you. I know last time I was in his shop he had quite a few stoves.
P.S. He services Rachael Ray's stove on the cooking show.
Treatmaker
-
Hi guys,
I'm really not ALL that bummed out. But, man, I could hardly believe it when I got the message. It's crazy.
The real problem is that my area is devoid of Chambers stoves, so that I need to buy one that I can't see in person (or drive hours to see one I may not buy). I'm finding that Ebay is a very flawed medium for buying a large appliance.
I'd much prefer to have the choice of 10 different stoves all at one time, so I could choose the best of the bunch and move on.
Instead, one comes up for sale, and then it's the same routine all over again. Contact seller, get the photos he/she didn't want to pay to post, ask lots of questions, hope for honest answers, decide about the merits of said stove, decide what I'm willing to pay, go through the bidding war. Lose. I've now bid on at least 6 stoves. Honestly, it's getting to be a drag.
Maybe I will just get this stove and call it good enough, chip and all. What a place for the chip though, front and center. Tomorrow I'll start calling around again.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Jenn
-
Hi Jenn!
Let not your heart be troubled - you'll find the right one eventually (or, at least, a replacement part in pristine condition)!
People whack on things, and bend things, and abuse things, and this is what happens - after all, you can ruin and ANVIL if you don't know what you're doing.
There are PLENTY of people with undamaged units out there - so don't give up!
Maybe he'll knock off a bunch off the original price so you can afford a replacement back...
-
Well, things may be looking up with "my" stove. I called around and found an intact highback in pastel green for, thanks to Treatmaker's contact. (THANK YOU Virginia!) Central Range is the place. It's not a cheap fix by any means, but it's original, so I won't have to worry about the color not matching. I will need to switch over the light fixtue and chrome shelf.
Now I'm just waiting to hear from the seller again to see if he'll knock the price down a bit to compensate for the diminished value of the stove I bought.
I've got my fingers crossed that this will work out. I'm so eager to get my stove project going again.
-Jenn
-
Jenn,
I'm so glad you were able to get the green high back. Let me know if you want me to go look at it for you. Central Range is very close to me.
Virginia
-
Chipper,
If it's any comfort to you, I've got a chipped back splash too and here's how simple it can happen.
Washed all the porcelian and left on the deck outside. High winds over the weekend (we were out of town) and when we got back the back splash and one of the side panels were blown off the deck! No damage to the side panel but the back splash now has a large chip in the top right corner.
I've been so carefull handling the porcelian and other parts. It's really maddening.
Ron
