Love the pictures and yes, I have a soft spot for these vintage beauties. But I've always wondered how practical they are for modern use. Anyone know if there a way to outfit them for today's cooking needs?

My apartment came equipped with a Royal Rose stove that's over 60 years old. It's so solid, it anchors the rest of the kitchen. It's needed some maintenance over the years from repairmen who enter my kitchen and stare at it in awe as if it's the Stove God.

Kinda hard to keep it shiny and white, though!

I've always found that old stoves work better than the newer (post -1950s) ones I've had. I LONG for one of these beauties!!

I would love a vintage stove, but the process of getting one seems intimidating. How about a how-to on how to find a vintage stove and where/how to get it restored and serviced?

I have an O'Keefe and Merritt pretty much like the one in the last photo except the ovens have windows. Two ovens, two broilers, four burners and a griddle--I love it! The ovens run a little hot but I''m too cheap to have them adjusted so I just keep an oven thermometer in there. My only caveat is that the ovens are a bit smaller than the ones in modern stoves. I got it from a guy in Sonoma CA who sells restored vintage stoves--expensive but worth it not to have to get it fixed. I did notice a lovely vintage stove in one of the kitchen posts on this site that the owners found cheaply on Craigs List.

If you like the vintage style stoves, I recommend checking out Bertazzoni.

Their stoves make fire and have a light and a fan - there isn't even a clock. And they're absolutely gorgeous. Painted in the same factory that paints ferraris and mazeratis, if you're looking to sell a car-fanatic on the idea.

I have a gorgeous O'Keefe and Merritt if anyone is interested in buying it from me? It came with the house my husband and I just bought. It works extremely well! I am only getting rid of it because my husband and I are big cooks and the oven wasn't large enough for us. If you are interested, let me know!

I'm located in Oakland, CA

Old stoves are wonderful. We used to have a 1947 Roper with a single oven. Only problem was that the built-in timer did not work. Hands down better than this silly new electric thing we have now.

My grandmother's stove, purchased in 1954, still works today. It's been serviced once. Old stoves are real work horses and a pleasure to cook on.

That 3rd stove isn't vintage. It's an Aga Legacy, and it's a super high-test range. Very popular in Europe.

I have a "vintage" apartment stove, and it is the bane of my (kitchen) existence. It's from 1959, and was probably the cheapest thing on the market at the time. Vintage only carries that air of romance when you're not working with the bottom-of-the-line model.

we bought a home with a 1951 stove. it isn't practical if you bake big meals in the oven. like the thought of cooking cupcakes for my son's first seemed overwhelming. we love it though she really is a true gem to our kitchen.

if we do every replace her it is going to mean we have to replace all the cabinets too as she is so much larger then modern appliances.

@Natalie635 - I'm in Berkeley and I'm in the market. I just love these stoves and was a little heartbroken the house we just bought didn't have one of my dream stoves like I'd hoped. Would you mind sending me an email with details? k dot gaines at gmail

Ah. We had a little Royal Rose in our apartment of 12 years. I cried when we had to leave it.

The apartment before that we had a Real Host. It had a cover that folded down to cover the burners. Our cat LIVED there. :) The pilot light continually warming the cover.

I LOVE vintage stoves. Forget granite countertops or custom cabinets-- my big kitchen splurge (if I ever get the opportunity) would be a vintage stove.

I have an old 1948 Chambers gas stove that I bought 20 years ago through the want adds in our city paper. It's marvelous! I have used it to cook for a family of 9 and have never had the first regret! Old stoves are so fun to have and a joy to use - at least in my experience.

for an amazing resource for vintage stoves, especially for those on the left coast, check out: www.buckeyeappliance.com

they really know their stuff and the "backlot" is filled with some amazing specimens. these old stoves were built to last. my 50's occidental with the "griddle in the middle" works perfectly. buckeye repaired and serviced it.

1950 okeefe and merrit owner, old stoves/ovens work great, are extremely simple/easy to repair, the only downside is that their oven compartments are considerably smaller than bigger single modern ovens. The plus side is you trypically have dual ovens with the 36"+ units. If you're not cooking large dishes for large parties, they will work fine. Average used price for a working good cosmetic condition 36" vintage stove in Los Angeles area is around $300-800. Expect to pay $1000 for a mint one. Double those numbers if you buy it from a store instead of private party. When shopping private party try to buy one that is still installed and inuse so you can verify it's operational condition. Check that all the oven door hinges are solid and not lose, worn out hinges wont seal the oven properly and you will have problems reaching high temperatures. Also check to see if it's been retrofitted with a modern gas shut of valve.

We also have a Roper circa 1947/48 in my grandmother's old house - still cooks like a dream! Reliable, even heat - tons of space. I've made meals for 40 with ease. It's very similar to the first photo but has six burners. It's in need of some cleaning & servicing for a few loose parts - anyone have recommendations for servicing in the Washington, DC area?

We have a 1940 Magic Chef Country Stove that was converted from propane to natural gas sometime before we bought our house (and the stove!) in 1990. It is fabulous for everyday cooking. The only drawback, as pointed out by other commenters, is the oven size -- fine for roasting a chicken, but not big enough to make a Thanksgiving turkey (I bought a countertop roaster for that once in a blue moon event). We've never had to have it repaired or serviced. But we did have a local couple who specialize in the service and sale of vintage stoves out to look at it and they said it would continue to serve us well for many, many more years.

Not to mention it fits in perfectly with our 1938 home's cottage style.

I've been searching Craigslist high and low for a Wedgewood or something like it, but once I get one, I'm not sure how to hook it up to the gas line. Dumb question, but is that something I have to hire someone to do? (I'm a clueless first time homeowner)

Also, is it worth it to buy a shabby one on the cheap and pay to have it refurbished?

My old apartment had an O'Keefe and Merritt and I still regret that I did not steal it when I moved out! It is the best stove I have ever worked on to date, and that includes my mother's Viking. I would rather have one of those old workhorses than any of the impossible to keep clean stainless steel models on the market today.

This place is great. They sell refurbished stoves and also do refurbishing on old stoves. Plus they're really nice. http://www.savonappliance.com/

I've had lots of these old stoves and I like them as well as newer ones for cooking and better as far as looks. They are HEAVY, tho. Hard to move.

We have a refurbished 6 burner, double oven O'Keefe & Merritt which works beautifully ... and sadly, are having to sell it. It's breaking our heart but we have to do a major kitchen remodel and it just doesn't make sense to rebuild an entire kitchen around this giant stove, which, being vintage, may not last the next 20 years. It's 4 inches wider and two inches deeper than any current stove, so if we did have to replace it, we would end up having to redo all the cabinetry in the kitchen.

Plus: It's impossible to child-proof these old stoves. My two year old daughter is constantly turning it on, opening the doors, etc. And the stove gets frighteningly hot when the ovens are on - easy to burn yourself touching it.

So, bottom line, we're replacing it with modern appliances. Sad, but I think we'll be happier a decade or two down the line.

(PS: If anyone is in Los Angeles and looking for a vintage stove, let me know. We'll be selling it very soon.)

Wow, this is fantastic. Love the old stuff. What happened to design? I'm a hugger of the past...

I have a late 1930s Magic Chef four-burner. I use it daily and it is great. A few notes for anyone considering a vintage range.

The ovens are usually smaller, as people have already noted. How small? I did a 14-lb turkey this year and that's pretty much the max I'd want to try in mine.

This is a VERY important point: Early ranges like these almost always have ovens that must be lit with a match. (EG, you turn on the gas to the oven, and literally light the oven with a match. The burners generally do have a pilot light, but not the ovens.) Building codes frown on this today, and might prohibit installation of a match-lit oven. There are companies that retrofit old rangesto install a safe pilot light in the oven. I had mine retrofitted for several hundred dollars. It now works like any modern gas stove: This is an important safety feature: If the oven pilot light burns out, it's impossible to accidentally turn on the gas to the oven and risk explosion.

These ranges are beautiful and sturdy. I have an 80-year-old range, unrestored and totally original except for the oven safety pilot, that I use every day.

ShannonLat, as with most restored items, you will end up spending more money buying a shabby item and paying to have it restored, than you will buying something thats already been done. unless you plan on restoring it yourself, buy one already done up or in good original condition.

Janelleb - I live in L.A. and would be interested. I have a 1948/1949 unrestored O'Keefe and Merritt sitting in my garage, but feel more comfortable buying one that works versus doing the restore myself. I'll be re-flooring the kitchen mid-2012 at which point I'd move drawers/cabinets to squeeze in a vintage stove. Is there a PM function or way to contact you?

The house I'm renting had a vintage GE Frigidaire stove from the 1950's when I first moved in. It recently shorted out and is in need of a new part that will control the oven temperature. It's in very good condition and looked awesome in my kitchen. I was sad to see it go. My landlady is hanging on to it to see if she can sell it.

I adore the look of vintage stoves, especially when they come in a fun color. I've been tempted to replace my stainless steel stove with a vintage stove in my MCM home. Crazy, I know. But I'm hesitant to do so, just in case something goes wrong with the stove (despite being restored) and my house burns down.

But for those that are interested in vintage stoves, the Retro Renovation blog had some good posts on finding restored stoves and getting them fixed.

http://retrorenovation.com/2011/11/04/13-places-to-buy-restored-vintage-stoves/

http://retrorenovation.com/2011/08/29/parts-service-and-advice-to-fix-old-stoves-and-other-vintage-appliances-a-list-of-9-online-resources/

DOGDOKKEN - Just saw your note. Email me at awewwe@janellebrown.com and I'll tell you more!

I just bought a Beauty Range yesterday at an estate sale. No rust. An older couple owned it and they kept it perfect. Even top plates and stove is like no one ever cooked in it. I got it for $ 50.00 . Hope my husband and boss don't curse me too much when they lift it out of their basement! Wondering what the exact year might be, need a picture.

If you love old stoves, you'll love this book. My friend just let me borrow her copy. Makes me wish I hadn't just remodeled my kitchen last year. I should have put in an old stove... *sigh*
http://www.amazon.com/Old-Stoves-are-Hot-history/dp/0984908005

I have a Wedgewood double oven with glass doors that I have working in the kitchen here in Philly. It has 4 burners and a griddle. I just found a 6 burner model that I plan to restore for my kitchen renovation. I find that the 40" model accommodates my need for two ovens but I don't need to give up any counter space for wall ovens. Plus you can't beat the timeless beauty of these beasts!

By the way, that new book is great! The only thing that I would have liked to see is photos of contemporary kitchens that incorporated old stoves. All in all though it puts all of the technical developments in perspective.

I am the author of Old Stoves are Hot. Thanks for your nice comments. It is a history of antique cooking stoves from about 1880 to the mid 1950s with hundreds of vintage advertising images. In addition to Amazon potential readers can also find my book at www.oldstovesarehot.com. and save $5.00.

A few comments: The classic era of gas ranges was just after WW II and ended about 1955 They were simple, durable, easy to repair and will last indefinitely. They become a treasured posession for most people The styling was considered timeless in the sense that they will look good in an old or a new kitchen. The stoves from the 20s and 30s are also very durable but are generally more "antique" looking.
Most models after 1939 (and a lot of them from the 30s also) have safety valve systems so you don't have to light them with a match and they are safe to use. Models between 1939 and about 1955 will have a small CP written on the control panel. That tells you they have a safety system plus other standardized stuff.
One final comment, While the ovens are smaller than new stoves, they will bake up to at least a twenty pound turkey. They would not have made stoves that people could not use for the holidays. Anything but the largest, oversize baking dish will fit in the oven. It is true though that you can't fit the current large size cookie tins in the ovens.
I like talking about old stoves and can be reached at: Pilotlightpress@pilotlightpress.com. Skip