In Need Of a Good Home

In the Twin Cities?

Looking for a vintage Tappan at a very good price?

This stove is currently being offered for free on Craigslist. He says he even has the original manual.

The owner says if he doesn't find a taker soon, the stove is going to the dump.

It looks like maybe a Series 70 (the model after Deluxe)

You know you want it. Give him a call.

(UPDATE: I exchanged emails with the owner today. If you are seriously interested, mention TappanTalk and he'll hold the stove for an appointment)

(UPDATE: No takers came forward. Stove ended up at an appliance recycling place. I'm a little sad about this.)

Adjusting the Oven Door Spring

I've found three versions of instructions for adjusting the oven door spring.  The first instructions below are from a 1949 Owner's Manual. The second set of instructions are from a 1950 Owner's Manual. The final set of instructions is from an early 1948 Owners Manual.

I'm posting all of them because they each give a little different information...and starting in 1950, it looks like the spring mechanism changed.

The photos are from my stove. My stove does not have a wing nut to adjust on the bottom edge of the broiler, but it's an earlier stove...so I'm not sure what to make of that. I've also noted that none of the manuals show the insulation that is stuffed into my spring compartment. I guess that's the ideal vs the reality.

Chaz's Early Tappan Stove

Another reader has volunteered to let us see his stove. Chaz has a 1934 Tappan (pre-Deluxe). You can definitely see the Deluxe model starting to emerge. The metal plate on the top of the left storage compartment makes me think this stove is a Philgas-Tappan stove. The right burner shows one of the early burner covers. It looks as if the little box in the center of the back splash is an "opal glass" floodlight (?)

Chaz's stove looks a lot like Model 640 from my 1940's Philgas Sales Manual (could it be a model 634?). The turn handles on the side compartments must have been changed to "trigger touch" lift release knobs about 1940...because there are also photos in the same Sales Manual that show the turn handles.

Chaz - thanks for the photo.

Someone's In Trouble

Here is a page out of a 1941 Sales Manual for Philgas-Tappan stoves.

Keeping it in the Family

Photos of another reader's Tappan Deluxe AV-669 model for you.

"Max" was discovered in blog reader Charles' grandmother's basement. It had been untouched for many years since his grandfather passed away. His grandfather had taken apart the thermostat and parts but never got around to replacing them.  Charles was able to replace the thermostat with a Robertshaw 2200 and get the stove hooked up in order to use it for Thanksgiving.

The Robertshaw 2200 is a non-CP thermostat, so Charles is now on the hunt for a Robershaw 2200-s that has both manual and automatic operation.

Max also has a replaced light fixture inside the oven, reconnected wiring to make the light on the top operable, and has newly functioning illuminated burner knobs (thanks to some creative soldering).

On the "to do" list is rewiring the clock. If anyone has tips on rewiring the clock, please comment.

This Tappan Deluxe will eventually be the focal point in a retro/modern kitchen in an renovated apartment in an old sweater factory that was a speakeasy during prohibition  (1931-33).

Charles - thanks for sharing your photos!

Another Version of White

This set of salt and pepper shakers came with a Tappan Deluxe stove purchased by one of Tappan Talk's readers. She was told that they originally came with the stove.

 Has anyone else seen this white version of Tappan salt and pepper shakers?

Notice that they have little "roman arches" similar to the blue and yellow McKee salt & pepper shakers.





Thanks Katy for the photos!

Tappan Accessories

These pictures were taken out of the 1940's Sales Manual for Tappan Philco stoves. The manual also includes a number of non-Tappan Philco stoves (the mentioned Model 440 isn't a Tappan).

I thought it was fun because it shows the Tappan Chromelite cast iron griddle sold as an extra for the early Tappan stoves. It also shows a similar non-Tappan cast aluminum griddle. In 1940, the list price for both of these griddles was $4.50.

The "Thrifty-Maid" Economy Cooker was sold as an accessory to all of the Philco stoves (Tappan or not). List price for the Thrifty-Maid was $8.50.