chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on May 8, 2015 6:33:07 GMT -8
I have a Princess brand stove/oven that cosmetically is in pretty good condition. But functionally it has a bunch of problems. Firstly, the oven portion does not work. It is missing its burner plate and the gas line has been cut to the regulator. The stove top burners all have gas flowing to them and light up, but gas is leaking from many of the fittings, joints, etc. I have someone who is looking at it right now, so I have to decide whether to rebuild it or look for something else. I've been searching for another vintage Princess, but they're not easy to find in good working order. I also don't want to purchase another used one just to discover that it needs "work" as well. Is it worth rebuilding the innards of this appliance to make it safe and functional?… What might some other alternatives be to that if I wish to have a working stove/oven in the trailer. Thanks <a href="http://s1281.photobucket.com/user/sligobeach2/media/00C0C_b9y1E9SsyY3_600x450_zps0c1a471b.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a517/sligobeach2/00C0C_b9y1E9SsyY3_600x450_zps0c1a471b.jpg" border="0" alt="Original Stove/Oven (oven not connected) photo 00C0C_b9y1E9SsyY3_600x450_zps0c1a471b.jpg"/></a> |
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on May 8, 2015 7:30:08 GMT -8
If I were going to go with a non-vintage replacement, I'd put in a new cook top and leave out the oven. It is possible to find vintage stove/ovens in working condition because often they were not used. The Princess might be difficult to find. The not Princess in my '62 looks like the oven has never been used it all works perfectly. The one in my 65 looks good, but mice tore the insulation out for a nice nest. Had I not seen their little home, I'd have never known so be careful if you go with another. If you really want the Princess, my opinion (which means nothing) is refurbish what you have.
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chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on May 8, 2015 8:04:11 GMT -8
If I were going to go with a non-vintage replacement, I'd put in a new cook top and leave out the oven. It is possible to find vintage stove/ovens in working condition because often they were not used. The Princess might be difficult to find. The not Princess in my '62 looks like the oven has never been used it all works perfectly. The one in my 65 looks good, but mice tore the insulation out for a nice nest. Had I not seen their little home, I'd have never known so be careful if you go with another. If you really want the Princess, my opinion (which means nothing) is refurbish what you have. You're opinion certainly means something...  Here's why: I think you're right about the difficulty of trying to find a working Princess replacement. Installing a new cook top only, would include the cost of the unit, plus building out a cabinet where the oven used to be. A compromise might be to repair the stove top burners and leave the oven as "storage" for pots and pans; leave it in its non-working state. This would also leave the galley in a more "original" looking appearance. As much as I'd like to have the oven working, I'm pretty sure that will be the most costly part of the rebuild…there's even some damage to the interior of the oven container that would have to be reckoned with. So… I think I have a plan, unless anyone else sees something I'm not... |
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on May 8, 2015 10:10:38 GMT -8
I like your plan!
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RinTin
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Post by RinTin on May 8, 2015 11:54:40 GMT -8
It may also prove difficult to find a replacement that will slide right in and fit correctly. More than any other fixture, these quaint little ranges give that vintage feel that attracts all of us to these old trailers. In your shoes, I'd do the same thing.
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chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on May 8, 2015 12:40:05 GMT -8
Thanks all… Fixing the stove top may just be a matter of disassembly, cleaning and reassembly. Possibly some parts as well. It's not a complicated device! If I get ambitious at a later time, I can always bring the oven back to life. But for now, effort and money better spent elsewhere.
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swirlygirls
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Post by swirlygirls on Jul 12, 2015 5:54:56 GMT -8
I've just come across the same problem with the stove in my trailer. None of it worked but with some cleaning and fancy fiddling the stove top burners work fine but in spite of taking the entire oven apart, it's dead. Really dead. I had lovely thoughts of baking cookies in Dottie but I think I'm going to be zen about this and use the oven for storage. As a bonus, it'll be better for me not to have ready access to cookies (or cakes for that matter).  |
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Ten
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Post by Ten on Jul 12, 2015 7:24:24 GMT -8
The Princess model has a shutoff valve beneath the stovetop, front-RH corner. This controls the gas to the pilot for the oven. If this is shut off, no gas will reach the pilot,and without the pilot to control the thermocouple, the oven burner will not function either...  |
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mel
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Post by mel on Jul 12, 2015 20:04:33 GMT -8
I was just going to make a post about my Holiday stove too, I wanted too see if anyone with a working one could post some photos of the burners area with the top lifted up? Just want to see if mine looks like everything is there. Also when cleaning up under the top, is there anything specific I should be doing or avoiding? Or just go at it with cleaner? Chametzoo- some one is selling a working vintage stove near me for $200, seems high to me, but I'm so cheap, I really have no clue what they go for, I was not impressed with the photos he sent me, one knob is different, and a few dark spots by the burners, but here's the add if your interested, detroit.craigslist.org/okl/for/5117381543.html |
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Post by vikx on Jul 12, 2015 22:48:07 GMT -8
 A Princess out of a 58 Cardinal. Oven is an on/off affair, no pilot. Turn the valve and light the oven OR ELSE... |
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mel
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Post by mel on Jul 13, 2015 3:55:27 GMT -8
That is exactly what mine looks like under the top, so I guess that is a good start for me. So basically you turn the knobs and gas just leaks out of the burners until you light it? strange
Is that a photo of a working stove? with all that rust? mine is pretty rusty too
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jul 13, 2015 5:06:27 GMT -8
mel are you sure yours is a Princess? Or is it a Holiday? The brown Holiday in my 62 Shasta Compact is a is manually lit and has no pilot light for the oven. They are easier to find.
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mel
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Post by mel on Jul 13, 2015 5:54:49 GMT -8
mel are you sure yours is a Princess? Or is it a Holiday? The brown Holiday in my 62 Shasta Compact is a is manually lit and has no pilot light for the oven. They are easier to find. Yeah mine is a Holiday for sure, I don't know why I keep thinking Princess. I think everything looks normal inside mine, so I just need to test it out, and see if it works or has any leakes |
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Post by vikx on Jul 13, 2015 11:05:56 GMT -8
The Princess wasn't tested above. I cleaned it and it works fine, not much to fail. Use a BBQ lighter for the burners; easy to light. Holidays are more complicated to operate, and have more safety mechanisms. There is a valve under the top for the oven:  You can see the valve lever on the right; that's your pilot supply. |
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jul 13, 2015 12:52:42 GMT -8
The Holiday in my 62 Shasta Compact does not have the valve. The Holiday in my 65, does. Also, the 62 has an off/on oven knob and the 65 has temp markings on the oven knob. As soon as my internet decides to load pics, I'll show you. I'm guessing Mel's is most likely like the brown Holiday in my 62. The Holiday in the 65 is almond colored. I've seen more of the brown Holidays for sale than any other. My 65 is disgustingly dirty and as I mentioned had critters pull the insulation out for a nest. If I can make it fit, I'm going to replace it with my turquoise Travel Eze. They are not the same size.  |
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