Vintage Stove Restoration

Vintage stove restoration brings your antique stove back to life.  At Belgrove appliance, we specialize in vintage stove restoration.  Traditionally, the kitchen is the gathering place in most homes where meals prepared with love, for the ones we love, are created. Many of us have fond memories of family meals prepared on an old-fashioned antique stove; be it something from our past or something we saw in a movie. We can’t travel back in time to when these stoves were made but, it is possible to bring a fully restored antique stove into our present-day life.

Owning a newly restored antique stove is not only sure to be the topic of conversation at your next dinner party it also has additional benefits:

  • ​Our restored antique stove is outfitted with a safety system that lets you light them like a modern stove; without a match
  • Stoves like the Chambers models “cook with the gas off”, saving you on gas.
  • Others, like Retro Crown stoves offer features not available on modern stoves (ex. 40″ double ovens and six burners)
  • These ranges will outlast any new stove as they are built with solid steel, porcelain enamel and intricately crafted parts
  • Fully restored antique stove could possibly last another 30 years or more
  • Antique stoves are all the rage and are prominently featured on TV programs
  • We restore all gas ranges and most electric ranges (in a many colors) from a wide range of manufacturers including but not limited to Chambers, Caloric, Roper, Crown, Welbilt, Magic Chef, Garland, Maytag, Anderson, and many more.

Vintage stove restoration is our business, and our goal is to make your grandmother’s stove brand new again so you can pass it down to your granddaughter. Restored Antique stoves are absolutely gorgeous in any kitchen and will make everyone feel at home.

Full Vintage Stove Restoration…

Full vintage stove restoration is the term we give to the most extensive restoration that we can do to your range. It will include the complete teardown of your unit to the basic shell. We restore each individual part, install some new parts, and re-assemble your range. This means that if a part was originally chrome, we have it stripped and plated in chrome. All-porcelain enamel burners, grates, and drip pans get stripped and re-enameled. Any bad wiring gets replaced as well. The insulation is saved on Chambers ranges, but replaced on many other ranges if it’s damaged. Screws are replaced and/or restored, and attention is paid to every little detail. Minor chips are repaired, unless the client indicates that they want them to remain there to look authentic. We only re-enamel the outer shell of the range if the customer requests that it be done, and if the damage is beyond what chip repair can accomplish. A modern-day, commercial-grade safety system is added unless the client says otherwise.

The goal in a full vintage stove restoration is to have a restored antique stove that looks almost brand new, showroom ready and works like it did 50 years ago. Take a look at our work. SEE OUR ONLINE PHOTO CATALOG!

The Restoration Process…

First, detailed pictures and videos of the entire unit are taken. The serial plate and customer’s name are logged.  The stove is then dismantled into the smallest pieces until the shell is fully exposed. Each part is cataloged then cleaned, polished, painted and/or fully restored to its original finish.

Once the vintage stove is completely dismantled the parts are separated into three piles; in house work, enamel work, and chrome work.  The thermostats are also sent out to be rebuilt.  Each pile is photographed for record-keeping purposes.  Outside vendor work orders are completed and the items are shipped out or carried directly to the vendor.  A customer purchase order number is assigned to each job to keep orders identified and organized.

The parts done in-house are stripped, sanded, painted and/or polished as needed.  The gas valves are rebuilt and polished.  Each gas line that was removed from the range is polished.  The brass fittings and accents are polished to a shine.  Screws are either replaced or restored, depending on the type and availability.  Springs are replaced.  Many other small tasks like knob restoration are also performed.

Minor blemishes may remain, but only if they lend to the authenticity of the stove’s age. You can even change the color of your stove to almost any color you want (ex. from white to yellow, cobalt blue, grey, red, etc.). As long as our enameling company can handle it, we can offer it.  We are experts at offering the best vendors in their class.  Once each piece has been fully restored your stove is reassembled and reviewed to see if it meets our standards.

During the process we may send you some progress photos, time permitting.  In the beginning we send you the “before” photos.  In the end we send “before” (just in case you forgot) and “after” photos so you can have something to look forward to.

Finally, your newly restored antique stove goes through “Quality Assurance Testing”. We ensure the oven thermostat is calibrated correctly and that all parts are functioning properly. We test three times or more to make sure there is no gas leaking.  We run the unit for several days to make sure everything is working properly.  We make sure we complete the vintage stove restoration to your satisfaction.

Depending on your location you may need to have a safety system installed to be sure the range is in full compliance with safety code regulations. We do install a safety system in every range unless the customer asks us to do otherwise. Once the restoration is done, detailed “after” photos and videos are taken to record the professional and amazing transformation of your range.  Most people are amazed at the results.  We want to amaze you too so email us photo of your range and get a free general quote for full restoration today!

Cleaning and Partial Vintage Stove Restoration…

We offer cleaning and partial vintage stove restoration, unlike many restoration companies.

Cleaning and partial restoration is a cleaning job in which we hand select parts to be restored based on the stove’s needs, your goals, and our quality standards. This process can be done in your home or in our shop. Please note we cannot quote a price without first seeing the range in person as there are various levels of partial restoration jobs.

Partial Vintage stove Restoration Process (usually completed in 2 visits; 3 visits if we give you loaner parts):

  • We visit your home to look at the range, take pictures, check the functional parts and gather your wish list.
  • We discuss the various options available based on the condition of the stove and your goals.
  • We return to the shop to create an individualized, written quote and provide you with the job details, and possibly our recommendation via email (sometimes more than one quote is created to give the client options).

Note: Not everyone has the same goals and we give individualized service. Some people want the range to have a basic thorough cleaning and others want it to look restored without the expense of a full restoration.

In-home cleaning & partial restoration: Usually two trips are made to complete in home jobs, one to remove the parts to be cleaned and restored and a second to clean the shell and re-assemble the range. Sometimes a third visit is made to furnish the client with loaner parts. While the shell of the range is cleaned in the client’s home burners, drip pans and grates are restored at our outside vendor location.

In-shop cleaning and partial restoration: These jobs are more extensive. The condition of the stove and the customer’s goals will determine whether we recommend Tier 1 or Tier 3.

Tier 1: The stove is dismantled similar to that of a full restoration and the stove top is re-chromed. Handles and knobs are re-chromed and we may or may not fix any chips on the exterior of the stove, based on the client’s preference. Tier one jobs could also include a color change, but most times we recommend a full restoration if you are changing the color of your range. The goal of a tier one job is to have that fully restored look without the expense of a full restoration. There are interior items that are not done with a tier one cleaning and partial restoration job and the warranty is limited to items repaired or restored. A safety system is usually installed in a tier one job.

Tier 3: Under a Tier 3 cleaning and partial restoration, the top of the stove is taken off and cleaned, the valves are rebuilt, the burners, grates and drip pans are restored (re-enameled or re-chromed), but we don’t re-chrome the stove top or re-enamel the outer shell. The goal here is to have your range cleaned more thoroughly than in your home, but not as extensively as a Tier one job. The mechanical overhaul is limited to the rebuilding of the valves and the possible installation of a safety system. Only mechanical issues are addressed (may or not include include electrical wiring and lighting). This job is for people who have used their stove for years and are only concerned about cleanliness, functionality and safe operation without regard to cosmetics.

Cleaning Jobs Only…

The appliance is only cleaned; parts are not restored nor repaired. This service is for people who have carefully cared for their range over the years, but have hard to reach debris that needs a professional cleaning.

Process:

  • We (usually) remove the removable parts from the range
  • Removed parts are thoroughly cleaned in our shop.
  • We return to the home, clean the shell, and make any minor adjustments to the gas system.

Note: This job can be combined with a repair, if necessary. Again, the goal here is cleaning and not cosmetics.

Which One is For Me?

Full restoration or cleaning and partial restoration, which one is for me?

More than just the cost goes into making a decision. After seeing your range and speaking with you, we recommend the best option for you based on your plans for your kitchen, lifestyle, cooking habits, family needs, etc.

Cleaning only jobs are for customers who have cared for their stove over the years and are really just looking for a more thorough cleaning without respect for cosmetics.  Chances are that if you have grease so thick that you can’t see your gas lines and that grease is holding your range together, you need a full restoration or a Tier One cleaning and partial restoration.

Tier 1 (the Stove Lady’s favorite) allows the range to keep its character, but still look restored.  It is also less expensive because there is less work involved.  Most customers cannot tell the difference between a full restoration and a Tier One cleaning and partial restoration.

Full restoration jobs are recommended if a customer is renovating his/her kitchen. Our thought is…Why put an old range into a new kitchen when you can put a restored range in and it will outlast every other new appliance you bought for the renovation? Our warranty exceeds the warranty provided with the new ranges on the market.  We are that confident in the work we do and the work of our outside vendors who are experts in their field.

Here is a video we created to show you what a Tier One Cleaning and Partial Restoration with Color Change looks like.  This IS NOT a full restoration.