| My Vintage Stoves Past and Present |
| I started my search for my "dream stove", an O'Keefe and Merritt ,several years ago and came across this beautiful 1937Magic Chef by answering an ad in the local paper. I couldn't believe it when I walked down the stairs to the owner's basement and saw it sitting there! The outside of this stove had been cared for very well and I had to have it. Even tho it wasn't the stove I had been looking for. My dear husband brought her home for me. It was actually fun cooking on this stove. But the burners being all clustered together made it difficult to use more than one bigger pan at a time. About a month after we bought this stove we purchased another one just like it off Ebay for parts because we wanted to replace the handles and knobs. We replaced the timer with a new timer purchased off ebay. The oven worked perfectly for a couple of years and then wouldn't reignite the oven burners once the set temperature had been reached. Instead of spending the money to have the Loraine thermostat and the pilot light rebuilt I decided to look again for an O'Keefe and Merritt. |
Living in Northwest Indiana does not make it
easy to find an O'Keefe and Merritt Stove
locally. I see stoves on Ebay all the time I'd love
to have but never wanted to pay the freight to
have it shipped. When I saw this one on Ebay
listed in Detroit Michigan I was so excited that
it was close enough to pick up that I started
bidding. It was smaller than I wanted, only 36
inches wide (actually 34 1/2" wide). The picture
to the right is one of the pictures that was on
the Ebay listing. The couple had purchased it in
Texas when they lived there, I think at a yard
sale and moved it with them to Detroit. It
needed cosmetic work but operated perfectly.
easy to find an O'Keefe and Merritt Stove
locally. I see stoves on Ebay all the time I'd love
to have but never wanted to pay the freight to
have it shipped. When I saw this one on Ebay
listed in Detroit Michigan I was so excited that
it was close enough to pick up that I started
bidding. It was smaller than I wanted, only 36
inches wide (actually 34 1/2" wide). The picture
to the right is one of the pictures that was on
the Ebay listing. The couple had purchased it in
Texas when they lived there, I think at a yard
sale and moved it with them to Detroit. It
needed cosmetic work but operated perfectly.
When buying a "vintage" stove be prepared that it will not be perfect. Unless, of course,
you buy a restored one. The chrome top on this stove had really been abused. Someone
sprayed high temp black paint around the burners, which was nearly impossible to
remove. The entire top needed to be stripped and re-chromed. The top is in 3 sections,
each sections was going to cost nearly $200 to have re-chromed. The burner grates need
to be re-porceleined, as did the burners. When I started figuring out how much it would
cost to make the stove look the way I wanted it to look I decided it would be much
easier to keep searching for one in better shape. Plus, the problem of not being able to
use the stove while the pieces are being restored is a hindrance.
you buy a restored one. The chrome top on this stove had really been abused. Someone
sprayed high temp black paint around the burners, which was nearly impossible to
remove. The entire top needed to be stripped and re-chromed. The top is in 3 sections,
each sections was going to cost nearly $200 to have re-chromed. The burner grates need
to be re-porceleined, as did the burners. When I started figuring out how much it would
cost to make the stove look the way I wanted it to look I decided it would be much
easier to keep searching for one in better shape. Plus, the problem of not being able to
use the stove while the pieces are being restored is a hindrance.
| Purchased April 2007 off EBAY O'Keefe and Merritt Model 425-12 |
| Purchased Late 2004 listed in Classified in local paper |
I still have not confirmed this but I think the handles on
this stove are NOT orginal O'Keefe and Merritt handles, but
the OKM handles I have found seem too big to fit on this
stove. This stove does not have a safety valve on the oven
but the oven worked beautifully, the temperature is right on
with the thermostat. The clock/timer does not work on this
stove. I have looked for one to replace but haven't been able
too. They can be rebuilt and restored for about $300-$400.
We were in the process of remodeling our kitchen when we
bought this stove, but we left the space for the stove big
enough for a 40 inch wide stove because I knew someday I'd
eventually find one.
this stove are NOT orginal O'Keefe and Merritt handles, but
the OKM handles I have found seem too big to fit on this
stove. This stove does not have a safety valve on the oven
but the oven worked beautifully, the temperature is right on
with the thermostat. The clock/timer does not work on this
stove. I have looked for one to replace but haven't been able
too. They can be rebuilt and restored for about $300-$400.
We were in the process of remodeling our kitchen when we
bought this stove, but we left the space for the stove big
enough for a 40 inch wide stove because I knew someday I'd
eventually find one.
| and.....I'm glad we did |
| Purchased December 2007 |
MORE TO COME.........
| Griddle in the middle of the four burners!! The heat gauge for the griddle is even visible!!! |
| Clock/Timer assembly on top of the backsplash WITH THE SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS!!! AND THE CLOCK WORKS!! |
| o'Keefe and Merritt Model 4348 40 inches wide with grillevator |