1957 roper supermatic

The last thing cooked on this fifty four year old stove was organic home grown fried red okra with Olathe corn from Colorado. She has served approximately 58, 320 breakfast, lunch’s and dinners in that time. Warmed baby bottles, canned food, turkeys, biscuits and countless pies. She is made of chrome, cast iron, enameled steel, aluminum and seasoned with 54 years of grease. Her clock gave out before I came into possession of her but the timer still works with a solid ticking followed by a loud sturdy bell. No buzzing three times, no computer voice, just a bell, clear and firm. Her broiler had illustrations to set the level of the grill just in case you forgot. Her pancake griddle never could heat evenly, but she is beautiful. her oven finally gave out this spring. The burners and old pilot couldn’t stay on anymore. The top burners work “okay”, I learned her moods according to the varying gas pressures, two of her top burners had to be lit by match, but one held out right through to the end. She was bought brand new in 1957 by Mae Rue and R. Dean the fosters parents of my friend Chuck. I “bought” it when I was able to find a $150.00 thermostat for her at a junk yard ten years ago.
She isn’t’ just a stove to me. In this age of fast food, (McDonalds’ was barely and idea) and microwaves, cooking shows which never mention the stoves; she is part of a by- gone era of American manufacturing. She is durable., lasting, has natural character. Sure, there are “vintage” remakes now costing thousands, but she is the real deal.
George Roper started the company that built appliances in the late 1800’s. They now do communications and engineered solutions. I googled and found someone trying to sell one with a leaky oven box. When I looked for the part I was told that Maytag had bought the stove company and now they are whirlpool.
I had looked at retro fitting her but she isn’t conducive to that. I am sure that the Kenmore we bought today, or any stove we would have replaced her with for that matter will not last 54 years. I couldn’t bring myself to take her to the metal collector. That just seemed to ignominious for the grand old lady. She will sit in a place of honor where she will become a grill stand, hold grill tools and potted pansies. Let someone else scrap her, I just can’t let it go.