"I'm glad to discover your blog. I have a Tappan stove,This stove looks a lot like a Deluxe, except the clock on the backsplash is rectangular, the door handles are more streamlined, the burner knobs and manifold panels are chrome. It has a pull out utensils drawer and towel holders in the right storage area, but I've never seen a blue drawer before. Finally, the thermostat knob is larger than a typical Deluxe. 1953 sounds like it might be about right.
The label on the stove says it is model number ZCKV 2662 Lot #2. Serial # H13088. Based on the description of the stove, which I found online, I think it is the 1953 Model 60. A previous repair guy told me it was the Standard model and so not worth saving, like a Deluxe. It came with the house I bought 8 years ago. The previous owner had bought it, fixed it up and installed it. The back lights up like a jukebox. There is a light in the oven, a clock that moves but doesn't keep time and recipies on the backsplash."
Any other observations?
I like the color of that blue tray
ReplyDeleteI just received this email from long time Tappan Talk readers Ron & Aiden (see their stove in an earlier post). They had a friend that worked at Tappan and have some great insights:
ReplyDelete"The stove featured on the site now is a Korean-war era Tappan. At that time, they were using up all the parts for the "Doughboy" models and moving towards a different, more "modern" design. This particular stove is one of the crossover models, with a little of the best features.
Our late "Tappan Guy" told us that in the mid-50s, Tappan "squared off" the stove design and went in for what he called a "zephyr" look. Hence, the metal trim, re-designed knobs and ultra-50s "dashboard" look. No clue about the blue-enameled drawer, a first for us.
There weren't a lot of these made. They weren't custom, but there weren't a lot of them, either. Aiden and I encountered one of these when we were looking at a duplex in St. Paul - it was a mess, but could've been cleaned up. It was working (they never die).
Anyone who says this piece of cooking history "isn't worth saving" needs a reality check. Or they just want it for themselves. Nothing's wrong with a good, sturdy Tappan that works - EVER. The whole world doesn't have to be Deluxe to get the pie baked."
My mouth dropped open when I saw these pics. Ron & Aiden explain this VERY well and now it makes total sense to me. One thought that immediantely occured to me when I saw the handles,knobs & backsplash was that someone had retrofited a Deluxe but their e-mail clarifies it. I think the merger with O'Keefe & Merritt influenced the streamline 50s direction.
ReplyDeleteAre any of you aware of sites for selling mid-century cooktops and ranges? I have just removed one from my kitchen, and it is destined for the scrap metal dealer, but I'd like to see whether anyone would want it. I've listed it on the local craiglist, but if there's a place where people who like them would see it, I'd love to give it a second chance at life.
ReplyDeleteThis looks more like a 57 or 58. The blue porcelain matches my 58' wall oven, as do the handles, and if you notice the visualite frame, It has the large window/narrow door...They went to large window wide door in 59'and beyond. In the mid 50's it was narrow window/narrow door...this is a very rare beast.
ReplyDeleteA friend just gave me her parent's stove, which was in regular use until about 2006. It's a sister to this one, model# ZCKV 262 Lot# 1C Serial 380989. The appearance is identical, down to the blue porcelain - the only difference I can see is the oven thermostat knob is a little different. Sadly no documentation came with it, and I'm digging around trying to find info.
ReplyDelete