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Vintage Stove Advice Needed

8 years ago

We are going to purchase a vintage stove to replace our Maytag stove that recently went crazy. We are looking mainly at O'Keefe & Merrits, but also one Gaffers & Sattler. I've done a lot of reading and research, so I feel like we can handle any little thing that comes up. But I would like to have y'all's opinions about whether it is OK to buy one that has been sitting a year or three, or if we should only get one that has been working, at least within the last 6 months.

I am looking at one that has been stored for 3 years, but was working at the time it was taken out, so they say. I am also looking at one that has been off for a shorter time, and looks really nice, but has a pilot light that "occasionally goes out". I've been told that that should not be a big deal and I could just turn off the stove pilot lights and leave on the oven pilot light.

So, bearing all that in mind, what do you think? An antique stove restorer told me never to buy an old stove that has been turned off and stored for more than 6 months. He said they were too risky and wold have big problems. Thoughts? Ideas?

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Comments (3)

justinandbritt
8 years ago
I'm no expert but with gas coming in I wouldn't take any chances - the other side of the coin is if you buy something and have questions on it I just find someone to pressure test it before you install it.
AvatarWalt
8 years ago
I'm no expert either, just an OKM owner, but I'd guess that it's really hard to generalize. I think I'd rather have one that was well-maintained and safely stored over one that'd been abused up through the last six months, even if it's still working. Are you in a location where there are people who can look at and repair these--there are quite a few in California and you said you'd spoken with a restorer? Stove top pilot lights are easy to adjust, and there are a few threads here and elsewhere outlining people's restoration of vintage stoves.
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chas045
8 years ago
I had an O&M for many years. I believe it had been stored when I got it but I'm not sure. I have heard stories about equipment that got attacked by mice or rats (not stoves specifically) and I suppose it could be a problem. It certainly didn't cross my mind. I think the only thing rats/mice could do is chew up some wiring. There isn't really very much wiring anyway and not much else that can go wrong with a stove except rust. The panels can come off to get to anything if you are handy. I certainly was. I admit that I didn't understand the oven thermostat control at the time. At this point I would just replace it if it were an issue. I assume that a replacement is available. Perhaps that is no longer true. I would also guess that some other controller would work with a little fitting to get another thermostat knob to fit in right.

If you or someone you know is handy, I would suggest you get which ever unit looks nice; you will probably just have to do a few adjustments and you're cooking with gas!

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