O'Keefe & Merritt

[Professor]

For many years O'Keefe & Merritt was an appliance manufacturer here in Los Angeles. SEE THE FORMER O'KEEFE & MERRITT PLANT IN LOS ANGELES

This is my grandmother's 1937 stove, which until 1987 was in her Highland Park house. It was used again briefly in the mid-nineties, but otherwise has been in a storage locker since my grandmother's death. I recently moved into a 1930 duplex, and now have the perfect spot for it!

 

[Bluebird Marsha]

That is one gorgeous stove! Would you mind telling me what the various drawers are for, and is everything still functional?

 

[Professor]

That is one gorgeous stove! Would you mind telling me what the various drawers are for, and is everything still functional?

Thanks. The drawers on the left are just that, drawers, whereas the right side is the oven and broiler. I don't have it hooked up yet, but it should still be fully functional, though the clock hasn't worked in ages.

 

[Oldsarge]

I grew up with a Wedgewood from around 1950. It cooked every meal my mother prepared until they retired to Napa Valley. I learned to cook on that stove and when Mom and Dad moved, my wife and I had it fully reconditioned and use it to this day. When my son and daughter in law finally get their own place, it will go to them. So beloved an heirloom deserves to be used for its intended purpose. Wonderful stoves.

 

[Professor]

I just spent the last two weeks trying to find a connector that would fit the wall valve in this old place, and only today did I get someone on the phone in Pasadena who not only knew exactly what I was talking about, but explained to me that the valve in question has been illegal for a number of years! :eusa_doh: That would explain my difficulty. Now it's a matter of replacing the valve, then I can use a 15/16" connector and finally fire this baby up.

 

[listenone]

some cookies?

 

[PoohBang]

Love that stove! I have a 54 model low back and love it... they alway work.

 

[Guttersnipe]

That's a seriously great stove! I really want to retrofit my kitchen with a vintage stove and fridge but my lease explicitly forbids renovation or instillation of permanent fixtures or appliances . . . sigh

 

[Professor]

Finally, finally got the gas company out today, and with the new valve installed we were able to connect the old thing and light 'er up!

 

[dhermann1]

While antiquing in Dutchess County NY with my GF, we found a very similar stove at a lawn sale, just a couple of weeks ago. It was lying pathetically on its back, but it still looked pretty cool. We got it upright, and to make a long story short, for a mere $60 my GF now has it in the garage. The brand is Detroit Jewel, a very common make in the 30's. It looks as if it's never been used, from the lackof crud on the burners and broiler pan. However the trivets are gone. The two drawers are called warming drawers, for leaving a roast to stay warm, or the let bread rise, I guess. Anyhow, she's got a friend who may be able to fabricate trivets. The inside of one of the drawers has a lot of surface rust, which should be easy to get rid of. It's got a lovely pattern in the enamel that will look great with the 30's-ish kitchen in her 1837 farmhouse.
I'm curious as to what your experience will be with actually cooking. This specific format was extremely common back in the day, almost every manufacturer had one almost identical.