January 13, 1949

[AHI in AR]

That's the birth date for this beauty I found today. Gotta love this beast. Chambers brand, built like a tank. Neat little griddle feature on the left under the cover that rotated up with a flip of the hand lever on the far left. There was a folding porcelainized top to cover it all up when not being used. Note the safety warning -- apparently a forerunner of all the idiotic warning labels we have today.

The owner had thoughtfully saved all of the documentation, including the factory inspection tag indicating the date it left the assembly line. At the right rear corner there was an unusual feature. By today's standards, anyway. The burner control knob referred to it as a "well" and it indeed was a recessed area with three fitted aluminum containers. I'm guessing that you filled the well with water then put your individual vegetables in the containers and into the well where they were heated by the water surrounding them. Anyone know if that's right?

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[Chad Fabry]

That is one sweet daily driver- great find!

[Jim Katen]

That's a beauty.

My Aunt Margaret had a stove from about the same period that had a well at one of the rear burners. It was for a built-in double boiler. I've never seen one with three separate cooking compartments like that, though.

[Jim Baird]

No doubt the rest of the dwelling was just as spotless. I love it when people take care of things.

I had one inspection where no shoes were allowed inside, period. The realtor hung around in his sock feet to make sure I didn't cheat.

[Richard Moore]

I don't get it. I too was made in 1949, am still in (mostly) functional condition, can also cook multiple items, and yet no one seems to wax poetic over me.

[AHI in AR]

I don't get it. I too was made in 1949, am still in (mostly) functional condition, can also cook multiple items, and yet no one seems to wax poetic over me.

Perhaps you should consider chrome plating some of your small parts...