A New Tappan Deluxe Discovery

I received the following email from Jon in Illinois regarding his V665-9 Tappan Deluxe....

"I’ve been reading your Tappan blog site for about 2 hours now. Incredibly interesting.

Well, my wife and I bought a house on auction, and this stove was in the basement (gas still hooked up). Based on the model number, I don’t see reference to it anywhere. A lot of people on your blog reference similar numbers, but not this exact one; nor can I find anything on this exact model number anywhere else on the web. I can send a picture of the model number and serial number if it will help.

I’m wondering what is it’s value. After looking at your blog I now want to restore it and keep it (although it’s still in really good shape)."

Jon's stove is a CP model (meaning the oven has a standing pilot). It has a Telechron clock with an interesting twist of having the 3 1/2 Interval Timer. I've added a some info. about how this clock works at the end of the post.  His stove looks a lot like mine, but I notice the backsplash light is operated by a knob and not a pull chain which most likely would put it later than 1948. Jon's stove also looks like it has the "gold package" on the backsplash metal.

I spotted one other very interesting thing in  Jon's photos that we have not seen in any previous reader's stoves.  If you take a look at the photos showing the main control panel & thermostat knob, you will see a little white knob on the left side.  I *think* this is a pin for a removable oven door feature.  If this knob is what I think it is...there is another one on the other side in the same spot in the storage area.  When these are pulled out, the oven door supposedly lifts out for easy cleaning.  Hopefully, Jon will let us know.

To address Jon's comment about model numbers.  I have yet to figure out how the model numbers work on the Tappan Deluxe.  When looking for information about your stove, the only way I have been able to determine model year is to actually look at the features of the stove.  There are probably 100 reader's stoves featured on this blog, and I have yet to see identical model numbers between two Deluxe stoves.

Thermostat Mystery

Connie and Tom sent me this email about their Tappan Deluxe...

"We are looking for an age for our Tappan Deluxe. HDV 64 -3 Serial number  254710.  My husband grabbed this almost 20 years ago  “free for taking”.  It is my prized possession…I absolutely love it!  We we’re so happy to find your blog…we have searched for years for info On these old stoves! Thanks for any input you can give us!"

The things I noticed about the stove: The model is a later version of the Deluxe...early 1950's. Probably '52 - '54. The broiler foot pedal was a later option. The stove has Telechron clock which is a little unusual for the later models which seems to have the time control clock. The clock also has chrome knobs...which is a nice feature :) It's also a little unusual for this model to be a non-CP (without a standing pilot). These later stoves seems to almost be made to order because there is so much variance in the features. The stove has those very nice chrome burner knob backs...those are special!

Connie and I exchanged a few emails about her oven not working properly. We originally discussed the possibility that their thermostat needed work, and then I received this update:

"Just wanted to let you know… I told you our Tappan oven was not working….not getting hot. We had the oven pulled out, so we took everything apart, Tom wanted To make sure that is was the oven control before we sent it away to be rebuilt. After taking the burners completely out and cleaning them, they did not work right either! If you got one burner lit, and lit another, the first one would go out! So Tom checked the gas line, low pressure! He went down and tried to light the hot water tank… It had low gas pressure. We called the gas company. Our meter was broke, they replaced it. While we have the “old girl” pulled out he is replacing the flexible gas line, then I should be BAKING Christmas cookies!!"

A good reminder to start with the basics when addressing stove problems. And, yes, I am that far behind in posting reader's stove pictures (those Christmas cookies she baked are long gone, I am sure).  Be patient, I have many more reader's stoves to share....





Connie and Tom - Thanks for sharing your photos and info.!

Gleaming

Joe dropped this email to me about his shiny Tappan Deluxe...

"I took some pictures of my tappan for you. I bought this in 2006 from the granddaughter of the original owner. It was in good shape but needed a major cleaning. Over the last 4 years, I found the burner covers and the oven racks on ebay, ordered new burner knobs and replaced all of the bulbs. The only thing I have left to do is to rebuild the thermostat, find a pair of pyrex burner trivits and rebuild the clock again. I have attempted to rebuild the clock two times already out of parts I found on ebay, but it dosen't keep time very well. I think the problem is in the coil, because the telechron rotor works fine and the gears turn easily. The inside of the oven is almost spotless as is the porcelan finish on the exterior. We have the stove in our basement kitchen and it works better and is alot easier to clean than the new stove upstairs.
Thanks, Joe"

If anyone has Telechron clock repair advice for Joe, I'm sure he'd be happy to hear it. Check out the Tappan Chef salt & pepper shakers in the top of the stove. And if you peek in the pull out cutlery drawer on the open right storage area, I think I spot the same set of solid white Roman arch shakers that Katie showed us a few months ago.

Also, does anyone have any ideas for reproduction versions of the pyroglass plates that fit on the burner grates of some of the Tappan Deluxes? There certainly are quite a few stove owners looking for them.

Thanks, Joe for the photos. Your stove looks great in that kitchen!

A Southern Tappan Deluxe

Yesterday I posted photos of an early 1940's stove sent to me by Dionne. As it turns out, Dionne has two Tappan stoves.  Here is the email Dionne sent to me with the photo of his Tappan Deluxe.

One thing that caught my eye it that the previous owner said the stove was purchase in 1958. The model number on the Tappan Deluxe is TV62-28 with a (perfectly working) Robert shaw thermostat.  If you look at the burner grates, they match those of the later PHADV stoves we have seen from other readers (burner grates). The burner knobs are either replacements or a newer version for the later Deluxe stoves. This stove has a Telechron clock. It would be fun to see a Tappan stove in a custom color. The Chambers stove owners currently have a corner on the colored vintage stove market.

I also obtained a Tappan Deluxe range so now I have the 2 stoves.  The Deluxe came from a house in New Orleans where the owner stated that his parents bought the stove in 1958.  It is in great condition and I can't believe how clean it is for it's age.  I brought the burners, burner valves, and the clock to a place about 30 miles from me that restores antique stoves.  I also bought replacement knobs from them.  The place is called "Hugh's", and they have a website.  I am thinking of restoring the older one also and put it in my outdoor kitchen.  I would like to know if you have ever had experience with having an old stove reporcelained by those people who refinish bathtubs.  I spoke with someone who gave me a quote of $250.00 and guaranteed the finish for 5 years.  I am thinking of doin that to the older one, and changing the color from white to apple green or poppy red.  Maybe even thinking of purple and gold LSU colors since this is an LSU crazy town.  That would be the one for the outdoor kitchen.  I just think that I need to really coat the finish inside and out with something durable if it is going to be exposed to heavy humidity.

June's Tappan Deluxe

These photos are of June's Tappan Deluxe with a model number of TV-6219. Her stove is original to her 1950's house and she is only the 3rd owner of the Tappan!  June sent the photos with a few questions.

She was hoping to discover what year her stove was manufactured; if the silver burner rings were original or if they once were glass; and what to use to clean the stove.

My response to her included the following observations.

I suspect the stove is a 1950's (or so) model. It has a knob turning on the back splash light instead of the earlier pull chain.

The stoves are amazingly easy to clean. If you look on my blog, you will find pages on how to clean the burners..how to removed the manifolds to clean...how to clean the broiler, etc.

I'm almost certain that the chrome rings are original to the stove. They were typical for your model. If a stove had glass rings, they would have little light bulbs behind the rings to light them up.

I like to use the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers to clean my stove. Goof Off works really well to remove built up grease, ect. A straight edge razoe also is good just to scrape off gunk,

I am very curious about the switch on the far right side of the back splash. What does it  turn on? The oven? This is only the second stove I have seen with that feature.

Okay Tappan Talk readers, now it's your turn. What feature do you see on June's stove? What cleaning tips do you have?  Do you know what the switch on the back splash does?

Jeff's New Tappan Deluxe Stove

Jeff and his wife just purchased a 1948 ranch house in Milwaukee that was part of an estate sale. The house had been vacant for 13 years...and came complete with a Tappan Deluxe stove. The previous owners selling the house weren't sure anyone would want the old stove. When Jeff & his wife asked for the stove, the sellers where happy not to have to get rid of it themselves.

Jeff emailed me because he was able to get the oven to light up immediately, but only two of the top burners was working. We did some brainstorming & came to the conclusion that the pilot light to two of the burners was having some trouble lighting. One of the first things I suggested was cleaning the burners (the holes can get clogged over the years). Also keep in mind that because it's a standing pilot, gas is always flowing to the burner. If the pilot is out, turn off the gas until you can get the pilot lit.

After a little work, Jeff was able to get all burners working.  He sent photos for us to enjoy.

This is an earlier stove (we can tell by the pull chain for the light on the back splash). Model # TV 65-16. It has a Telechron clock. It's a virtual twin to my stove, except it has a chrome oven interior, a crisper draw in the left storage area and the pull out drawer/towel rack on the right.

The house still has it's original vintage interior. Look at that great wall tile complete with the chrome trim on the corner....and swing out towel rack on the wall.

Thanks for sharing your photos, Jeff!

Joe B's Tappan Deluxe Stove

This is Joe B's stove in Chicago. He just rediscovered this Tappan Deluxe in a former tenant's apartment. The Model # is STV 62-1. This stove is very similar to mine except that it has chrome oven/broiler handles, as well as chrome burner knob backs. The chrome burner backs seems to be on the rare side; I don't see them very often.

You can spot the original white burner covers stored in the side storage doors.  This is an earlier Tappan Deluxe so it is a non-CP model. you can also spot the chain hanging down from the back splash to turn on the light (later models have a switch). This stove has a Telechron clock (you can tell by the two white knobs).  The Robert Shaw thermostat knob is a little unusual - I'm still trying to learn about those, so I can comment too much other than to make note.

Joe is currently working on getting the burners and burner knobs back in working order. The last shot is particularly interesting because it shows the burner knob taken apart (note the spring).

Oh, a get a look at that oh-so-cool ceramic hex floor tile!

Thanks Joe B - keep us posted on the burners.

Restoring the Clock

There is a lot of interest in restoring the Telechron clocks found on some Tappan Deluxe stoves. With the help of one of the folks on twitter @clockhistory, I was able to track down an excellent video on reviving a Telechron clock rotor

@clockhistory says NOT to turn the gear with a pliers like they do in the video....and the NOS H and S rotors are still available - if coil hums but gears doesn't turn, the rotor is the problem. For rotors go to timesavers.com, search for "rotor", you'll see S (the smaller type) and H rotors.

I have not tried the steps in the video, so try it at your own risk (although I can't see much that could go wrong) I am very interested to hear from anyone that does get a non-working clock going again. The video is actually quite good to watch, even if your Telechron clock is currently working.

Working the Clock

The Tappan Deluxe has two different versions of clocks.

The first is the Telechron Clock, generally found on non-CP stoves.  It functions as a clock and has a timer that buzzes. Pretty simple.

There appears to be a few different versions of this clock. Mine has large red numbers on a face plate (and does not say "telechron" on it), but I have seen older stoves with smaller numbers with intervals for timing. If anyone has more info. on this, I'd be interested in hearing it.

The second style is the Time Control Clock.  This is the clock style found on CP stoves. It has three knobs on the right side (black, red and metallic or white).  It functions as a clock, but it also works as a timer to turn the oven on and off. Tappan advertised that you could set this clock with your full meal int he oven and then leave the house. I don't think I'd be brave enough to try that, but a handy feature nonetheless.

P.S. I realized that I had the blog comments accidentally set so you had to register in order to comment. Oops. That has been fixed. If you tried to comment before and it was a huge hassle, I apologize.