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We just bought a 1946 Model B highback and love it. My 1936ish Magic Chef died two weeks ago and although I loved the look of that range, it was not functioning great. So when the oven door spring sprung and I knew I couldn't do Thanksgiving I went shopping. We looked at the fancy new ranges and I just didn't like them. I happened upon this stove through Craigslist in Cleveland. It was a single owner stove in pristine condition. The only thing missing is the dial knob on the timer. the enamel on the thermowell burner looks like it's never been used.
We have the triple pots, but are looking for a single. in the mean time i picked up a popcorn kettle and a stainless steel lid from the restaurant supply store and we're making due with that.
I just put a pot of bean on and then "turned the gas off".
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Congrats on your "new stove". Pots do come up on ebay. I've been successful finding them at tag sales and garage sales.
This is the place for any questions that need answering.
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Congrats and welcome to the board.
If you ask it, we can answer it. Cause we've "all been there done that".
Be sure to get a copy of a service manual for your model and "The Idle Hour Cookbook" a must for Chambers owners!!
You'll be "cooking with the gas off" in no time.
Berlyn
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Welcome to the CHAMBERS family!
Let me know if you need any literature.
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Thanks Todd. I've just got my Idle Hour cookbook and have the card stock oven and thermowell guide. The woman I bought the stove from thought she had some more manuals and said she'd forward them to me. But I will probably be in need of something.
The website is great.
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Welcome to the Chambers clan:
And... to the sub niche of the reveered "Model B".
We are the B's. You have been assimilated.
The others will be assimilated.
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My first love was always for the B's. Those shiny chrome shelves were (and are) to die for!
Although, I'm getting a hankering for a red C. But, alas, where to put it? 2 stoves in the kitchen would be goofy (plus there's no room - can't get rid of the fridge and live out of a cooler and remain married). Maybe put it in the living room in place of the woodstove? With some properly angled mirrors and magnification the blue glow of the mica window might provide a woodstove-ish ambiance. This is definitely worth pondering.
Ann
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Does the "B" offer cooking advantages the "C" doesn't or, is everyone's great love of the "B" for the styling ? If we had a larger kitchen, a "B" most likely would have been first choice...but I love the way the "C" lowback fits into a smaller space. Another thought and question, are most of you folks bakers and rosters or stove top cookers ???
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I've been joking with friends that I've fallen into a stove cult. I had no idea there was such a following of these stoves. I have to smile about some of the above posts. My "B" is so much more charming in my kitchen than the 2K Kenmore from Great Indoors that I looked at. Besides I doubt there is a discussion board for Kenmore's. In answer to the question, I typically do more stove top cooking because my old stove took too long to heat up. But now with this stove I can do more. Baking has never been my strength but maybe I'll start.
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If i could post a pic here of the oven currently in use in our house, well, I think you guys would fall off your chairs in fits of hysterical laughter ! It is a 1940's enamelled box that sits on top the stove's gas burner. Just turn on the gas and wait for the box to heat up..quite effective and charming but anything bigger than a five pound chicken winds up outdoors in the gas grill ! The people whom I purchased my Chambers from are replacing it with a GE slide in range.
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I too have the B, and love it. When I was out looking for a "new" chambers it had to be a B. I don't think there's any cooking advantage between the B & C, (and someone can correct me if I'm wrong about that) I just love the high back and beautiful chrome that hugs the shelves and timer along with the lights on each side. I do a lot of baking and the oven is great.
Virginia
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Although I am a B deciple, (Ann said it all perfectly) the C's and BZ I'm restoring have two major improvements that make them more efficient than the B.
First is the Thermowell. The B has an exhaust vent, identical in operation to the oven. Turn the gas on and it opens, turn the gas off and it closes. The BZ and C eliminated the vent, which greatly improves the heat retention of the Thermowell. (BTW, With these upgraded models, Chambers introduced the Themobaker, and related recipies, I assume to take advantage of the better thermal retention characteristics of the modified Thermowell).
The other major improvement of the BZ and C is the broiler's heat reflector. According to the sales/tech info Ann sent me, the stainless steel "burner shield" allows the broiler and griddle to cook "with less external heat and considerably less gas (the flame height of the C and BZ broiler burner at full should be 1/4", as opposed to the B's 3/4". That's a big difference for the same cooking power!).
The C has a pretty nice look and improvements, and it was a C that first captured our attention. But, we happened to blunder into a B when we were looking to buy, and really love it.
Regards,
Joe
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I'm a B disiple too. [img]biggrin.gif[/img]
It's cause it was given too us. It was my dear friends late MIL's. Couldn't beat the price either!! She knew we would restore it, enjoy it and it's perfect for our 1880's vintage house and kitchen!!
Oh, DH is tinkering with the stove pilot light. Isn't having much luck. I'll more than likely I'll have to do a post on that soon. If he doesn't have much luck!!
I'm so addicted to the thermowell and broiler, this will be the first time we use the stove!!
I'm one of those who try one thing at a time.
Again good luck & welcome,
Big Bertha's journey...................
Berlyn
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You folks really know your stoves ! As usual, this is first class information for a novice like me. The brolier holds a certain facination with me...can't wait to use it for the first time. It's so cool to chat with people who truly understand and appreciate great design and manufacture ! Hope everyone has a peaceful holiday !
