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Ann and the others: I think you might have hit on something that would be alot of fun, a Chambers Convention!! And since hauling our Chambers around would probably kill all of us, maybe doing it Internet-style would be more practical.
I would like to take a shot at putting a website together (I'm an amateur, so don't expect too much) that would show off everyone's stoves and their Chambers accessories collections. It would be especially fun to see some photos of people's restorations efforts, with some "before" and "after" pictures.
I'll take a shot at this, if I can get a volunteer or two to give me some material to work with. Would anyone want to send me some pics with some story wrapped around the pics so I can see what kind of format would work?
I think, though, that I want to follow Berlyn's lead and have everyone name their stove - that way the profile would be shown by stove name, not the owner. :-)
Whaddya all think?
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I think it is a great idea and would love to be a participant ! I still don't own my own chambers but....i can send you a pic of what i will be getting rid of ! Tonight i am looking at a range only a mile from my house and am very excited hoping it will be THE range for me. The only modern appliances i will be keeping in my house are the washer and dryer. Daily, i use an IRONRITE for all ironing and am also on the lookout for a good vintage refrigerator.
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Hey Tura,
Great idea! It would be awesome to see some of the stoves everyone has, and how they've restored them.
It would also be really interesting to see how you all have integrated these great old stoves into your "modern" kitchens. It must run the gamut of styles, and it would be great inspiration for people planning a kitchen remodel to incorporate their new (50s) stoves.
Todd has a section on his site that's marked as under construction called an "Owner's Gallery" Perhaps he would be interested in putting a link to your site there. Or, perhaps you could work out something together. I'd imagine he might be interested in sharing the load, so to speak.
-Chipper
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GREAT IDEA!!!
We had no idea what we were getting into.
If we can do it, anyone can do it!!
How many times was I on here asking questions, tips and suggestions. It took several months of restoration and we saved $$ and enjoy "Big Bertha" so much!!
So the effort was a joint effort with help from this board.
Tura,
Also how about a story behind the name?? We can call it "Behind the Chambers"
That's my story & I'm sticking to it!!
Berlyn
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I didn't have to do any restoration, just cleaning, (and that didn't seem too exciting to document). But, I'd be glad to include a photo or two of my stove installed and in use in my kitchen.
Ann
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Ann, are you KIDDING? You have a FABULOUS story to tell - your stove came with all those salesman charts, and some other history that the rest of us don't have (and find immensely interesting.) So I think a "Story" section about our stoves would be a stellar idea.
I'll see what I can get started this weekend. Berlyn, can I have your permission to use your pics/story from your webshots posting as initial material?
Also, y'all be thinking of your stoves names.
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Tura,
Yes you have my permission.
Berlyn
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i'd like to participate, but as tura can tell you, i cant seem to get my camera and my computer to communicate. im hoping for a new camera for christmas....
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I decided to copy lowracer/Mark's excellent idea to use Flickr to put together a storyboard about my stove's restoration. Mark, that is a great site!!
I would still like to get the Chambers Convention idea put together, and will work on that later today, but in the meantime, it would be a great idea if others want to put storyboards together too. Then I'll just post everyone's link to their story on the Convention page. That way y'all have total control over your stories and pictures and it's maintenance free for me (that's the best part!) :-) I was struggling with how to put the Convention idea together without creating a maintenance nightmare for myself until I saw Mark's post last night with Flickr.
It's not hard to do. Just go to http://www.flickr/com and sign up (again, it's free). It is actually rather fun to do.
I created my little storyboard too. Here it is:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miss_elvia/sets/1448974/
<font color="#FFFFFF" size="1">[ November 26, 2005 04:47 PM: Message edited by: Tura Heckler ]</font>
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Tura that's a great storyboard. I read the whole thing. Learned a lot too, just this afternoon some neighbors and I were puzzling over how to lift the pots out of the thermowell, and there you had a picture of the exact gizmo we mentally "invented" for the purpose. Didn't get any of those with my 61C. Also liked reading how you named yours. I will consider calling "The Beast" "Mrs. Adams" for that same reason. Gotta run it by the wife first...
[EDIT: wife approves the name, "Mrs. Adams" it is!]
<font color="#FFFFFF" size="1">[ November 27, 2005 09:05 PM: Message edited by: lowracer ]</font>
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Tura,
Great pictures of your restoration. I don't have any great stories of either of the B's that I have. The first one I bought is as is and being used that way until I redo my kitchen and put in my "new" B. My new B was bought locally at a tag sale. It was used by one owner and she really didn't cook. The stove looks like its out of the showroom. I really lucked out. She's now sitting in my dining room waiting for her perfect spot. I don't have a name for her yet. I will probably tackle a restoration on my old B when the time permits and keep for one of my children when the time comes.
Virginia
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Thank you, Tura. Looking at these restoration pictures (Miss Elvia's and Big Bertha's) has been very inspiring.
Beautiful job. How did you find so many stoves? I have no idea where to look locally.
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Great story and pics, Tura. I didn't take many photos along the way, but I'm thinking I can do a few recreations to add to what I've got. Yours, Mark's, and Berlyn's are a great start to our virtual convention. Can't wait to see others.
Ann
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I haven't seen photos of Mark's restoration. Is there a link?
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Hi Joe,
I think you are right about the Thermobaker being introduced with the "C". I bought a couple of C's to part out (that's how I've paid for my restoration) and the Thermobaker came with one of them.
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Tura,
I purchased a b model from the original owner and a thermowell was included...prehaps she purchased it after? Unfortunately when I bought it at the tag sale she wasn't there. She had already moved in with her daughter so I really don't have any history behind the stove. I do know one thing for sure....she didn't cook! The stove looks like it came out of the showroom and the pots were never used. I still don't have a name for her, I guess when I start using her something will come to mind.
Virginia
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Hi Tura, What a great trip inside your world of restoration ! It certainly is impressive, the work you did starting from absolute zero and winding up a true pro. Congrats ! You've given me courage to go further than planned with our new stove...more thanjust a thorough cleaning. This morning, we boiled water for the first time on the Chambers. It turned out beautifully ! By this evening, we may advance to heating maple syrup and melting butter ! Who knew the first recipe selection would be so difficult !? Ha_Asfan [robert]
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Tura:
Wow! Really enjoyed your virtual restoration tour. Did you get all of the accessories with the original stove? I am curious if the "Pizza and Pie Baker" came with the B, for I am fairly certain, the Thermobaker didn't come out until the Model BZ was introduced.
Joe
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I've added photos to the flickr site....having trouble though. The photos are under the title "finerooms"...hope you can access them. Robert
