Mystery Vintage Stove Restoration Project
After spending a very nomadic summer, I have settled in Astoria, Queens.
Through some serendipitous dealings and generosity of many, I was able to move into an old apartment – affordable but in need of TLC. The kitchen had a quarter inch think solid grease coating everywhere. The walls were cracking, mice holes and leaks here and there, and there were reports of bed bugs.
A team of handy guys was assembled to fix up the place. After much peeling, painting, cleaning, debugging, and degreasing, I have come to realize that the kitchen of the apartment has the original enamel stove, refrigerator, and cabinets that were never replaced, and still functioning, since 1920′s when the building was built. The kicthen here has the entire set in tact, including the stove, cabinets, drawers, sink, and the refrigerator.
Under-the-counter refrigerator was rumbling noisily and had to be unplugged for the fear that it guzzles up enormous amounts of electricity. We now use it to store cleaning supplies and cooking oils. One totally “modern” feature of the refrigerator, is that it does not have any handles, and only opens when you push a silver button next to it.
The landlord lives elsewhere, but he lived in the building for a long time. He and his wife moved into the building after he came back from the war (WWII), and they ran a hardware store that used to be downstairs.
Here’s the link to an entire “Before & After Cleaning” Flickr Set.
This unusual combination (nowadays, they don’t make it in all in one piece anymore) has the sink and the stove/oven, as well as the refrigerator under one piece of enamel coated steel. Some details almost look like a well made motorcycle.
the knobs, the handles, cabinets doors, and drawers feel heavier and much, much more sturdy. This kind of tangibility, I think, got lost somewhere in the mid-20th century in the name of efficiency and profit.
A little Googling of the company name on the stove “Murphy-Cabranette” reveals nothing more than a few auction pages and a web Q and A site asking for more information.
Here’s what I found from WebAnswers.com:
“I was given a Murphy Cabranette and I cannot find anything about it on the internet or anywhere. It is a model G 39, manufactured by Dwyer Products Corporation in Michigan City, Indiana. It is enamel white, with two burner stove, sink and fridge. I have contacted both the Murphy Bed Company and Dwyer Products Company and no one seems to have anything on this item. I know that the Murphy Bed Company began manufacturing them in the early 1920′s and stopped either during WWII or directly after WWII because of rationing. Any help on this item would be appreciated.”
Some questions I’d like to ask are:
Who is collecting them?
How many people out there still use them?
Who designed it, and what happened to Dwyer or Murphy division that made it?
Any advice is appreciated!!!
Update January 2010: I managed to clean the oven up to the point where the broiler works now. And the food that comes out of that broiler is so amazing, I can’t believe I could live without it before. I also got an oven thermometer, and preheated it enough that it could be used to bake lasagna. Still working on figuring out how to unblock the tube that leads to the oven gas…
We recently obtained two very old Murphy Cabranettes from Cabins in Drake Colorado that are in great condition. They were on LP Gas and we want to convert them to Natural Gas but need to change the Orifices in order to do it. We need information on how we can purchase these Orifice parts. Thank you
> Hi Mike
I’m not a professional stove restorer and can’t help you with that one… Googling “vintage stoves” will get you to some restoration professionals such as:
http://www.antiquegasstoves.com/pages/rebuild.html
I recently cleaned one of these in a vacated apartment while doing some work for my landlord. If I were rich, I would pay any price to own it! The refrigerator unfortunately does not work anymore, the broiler pan is missing, and there are some areas that need repair. I will be posting pictures somewhere soon and will send you a link if you’re interested. I had a hell of a time cleaning the mass of gunk at the back of the oven. There are still some baked-on stains that I cannot get out, despite hours of scrubbing and using oven cleaners.
I, too, am curious to know more about these marvelous appliances. When were they made, and how many were manufactured? How many are still around? How many still work? I went online to try and find more information, and that is how I found your web page and Flickr account.
It is a shame that appliances are now made to be so flimsy that they don’t last long. I have seen many appliances from as far back as the 1920s–ovens, refrigerators, wringer washers, etc.–that are still in working order, but I cannot imagine a single appliance made from the 1980s onward that will even be around 100 years from now, let alone still be usable.
>Hi Lois
I totally agree with your sentiment: “I have seen many appliances from as far back as the 1920s–ovens, refrigerators, wringer washers, etc.–that are still in working order, but I cannot imagine a single appliance made from the 1980s onward that will even be around 100 years from now”
If the home appliance & consumer electronics industry is serious about “greening” their products, they need to re-think how long their appliances last. Making something last 100 years, would be just as green or even greener than simply making it from recycled and reclaimable metals, non-toxic materials, etc. etc. Make it right and make it last. After all, the gigantic pool of broken down plastics floating in the middle of the ocean that we hear about in the news, is probably mostly from discarded CE and home appliances!
Having a reliable appliance reclaiming system still in place after 100 yrs would be an interesting business challenge to ponder.
I bought a combination stove and refrigerator in 1976 at an auction. It was working and I jus rented a studio apartment so it was perfect for me. I paid $12.00 for it and it ran good up until 1997 when my partents had it in there basement using it for cold drinks. Anyway I have tried to find out about thecompany with no Luck. It was made by General Air Conditioning Corp. Los Angeles ca. in the early 50′s I believe. Have you heard of this company? The brand was General Cheff. I would love any information you have on this unit.
Thank You,
Chris
The company is still around (http://www.dwyerkitchens.com/Pages/default.aspx) and believe it or not, there is an entire site dedicated to retro metal cabinets (retrorenovation.com). Good luck!
Hi Jayke,
Wow, the Dwyer company DOES still exist.
Thanks for the link to retro site too.
Unbelievable that there is a whole movement around pink bathrooms now…Read about it in NY Times, and this site does have a big pink bathroom fan base…
Best,
Kazumi