UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > Specific Vintage Equipment > Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items

Notices

Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items For discussions about other vintage (over 25 years old) electrical and electromechanical household items. See the sticky thread for details.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 3rd Jan 2022, 8:16 pm   #1
LukeG83
Hexode
 
LukeG83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Garstang, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 283
Default English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

Hi I’ve just acquired an English Electric Rapide 66 cooker which I’m guessing is circa late 1960s

It’s in excellent cosmetic condition. Apparently the main oven has never been used so before I connect this I am going to remove the elements and use a blow torch to heat them to dispel any moisture.

My question - at the moment as I’m sure more will come - is whether any forum members know the name of the elements fitted to this model and pictured on the attached pictures. This would be useful in order to order some replacements if needed. Also any suggestion where to find some…

Many thanks
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	63984B54-D31F-4696-848F-E57C2996C8DA.jpg
Views:	201
Size:	81.8 KB
ID:	248957   Click image for larger version

Name:	77AD3E32-4F60-435B-B1B2-FC89DC112AAF.jpg
Views:	254
Size:	56.0 KB
ID:	248958  
LukeG83 is offline  
Old 3rd Jan 2022, 8:19 pm   #2
Ed_Dinning
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK.
Posts: 8,171
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

Hi Luke, try e spares on the web, always worked for me.
To save dismantling you can always feed an isolated low voltage (say 110v) into the element for some hours to dry them out. Much less drastic than a blow torch. Then megger before and after to check results

Ed
Ed_Dinning is offline  
Old 3rd Jan 2022, 9:28 pm   #3
Colourstar
Octode
 
Colourstar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 1,397
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

Hi Luke

I have a Rapide 57 as my everyday cooker, which looks slightly earlier than yours. I reckon mine dates from around 1966 at a guess.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=172996

Hope you get plenty of enjoyment out of using yours when it's up and running.


Steve
Colourstar is offline  
Old 3rd Jan 2022, 9:42 pm   #4
LukeG83
Hexode
 
LukeG83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Garstang, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 283
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

Thanks Steve - an interesting read and a great save by you!

Are your main oven elements the same as mine ( I posted a picture in the first post) if so have you managed to find any replacements ?
LukeG83 is offline  
Old 3rd Jan 2022, 9:49 pm   #5
LukeG83
Hexode
 
LukeG83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Garstang, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 283
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

Some more pictures of the cooker
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	535A7081-9A0B-4E39-BA23-39C7E3B3DA6C.jpg
Views:	153
Size:	75.8 KB
ID:	248962   Click image for larger version

Name:	4EF125E4-EF72-49B6-826E-FD55C0D968AB.jpg
Views:	152
Size:	56.4 KB
ID:	248963   Click image for larger version

Name:	9CC5A0DC-23CD-4C42-B816-491D07BBB65C.jpg
Views:	158
Size:	73.1 KB
ID:	248964   Click image for larger version

Name:	A2CA4F2F-1F17-461C-99A5-7A6863395198.jpg
Views:	141
Size:	73.3 KB
ID:	248965  
LukeG83 is offline  
Old 3rd Jan 2022, 11:18 pm   #6
Richard_FM
Octode
 
Richard_FM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Stockport, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 1,999
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

My family had a similar looking cooker, possibly a slightly later one as our house was built in 1973 & was probably installed then.

It was in use until 1985 when my parents bought an early Tricity Halogen cooker.
__________________
Hello IT: Have you Tried Turning It Off & On Again?
Richard_FM is offline  
Old 3rd Jan 2022, 11:23 pm   #7
Colourstar
Octode
 
Colourstar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 1,397
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

Hi Luke

My oven elements are nothing like yours! They are normally hiden behind removable side panels with slotted runners for the chrome shelves. To be honest I've never used the main oven, as I find the top oven/grill is fine for most of my requirements.

Steve
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Oven element.jpg
Views:	126
Size:	74.4 KB
ID:	248968  
Colourstar is offline  
Old 3rd Jan 2022, 11:29 pm   #8
LukeG83
Hexode
 
LukeG83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Garstang, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 283
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

Interesting to see the pictures of your elements - mine are also hidden by side panels that support the metal trays - I removed them for the sake of taking the pictures .

I think mine has 1000w elements -I wonder f different element types can be used? This might help open up some more options !
LukeG83 is offline  
Old 3rd Jan 2022, 11:30 pm   #9
The Philpott
Dekatron
 
The Philpott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
Posts: 4,081
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

You do like your cookers.. This model has received a flicker of memory recognition from the deep archive in my head, i never thought i'd see one again...certainly not in concours A1.
Dave
The Philpott is offline  
Old 4th Jan 2022, 2:10 am   #10
McMurdo
Dekatron
 
McMurdo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK.
Posts: 5,263
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

mineral insulated, formed, sheathed elements, the outer sheath being incoloy, copper, stainless, or mild steel.
If you can't find any NOS then they can be made, last ones I had were 1KW incoloy (for immersion) with welded threaded bushes at around £65 each. Generic oven elements which may need a small amount of bracket modification can be had for just a few quid from appliance spares suppliers.
__________________
Kevin
McMurdo is offline  
Old 6th Jan 2022, 4:35 pm   #11
LukeG83
Hexode
 
LukeG83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Garstang, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 283
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

Managed to get all 4 hob rings working by running each ring on a very low heat for some time and gradually increasing the heat setting over the course of an hour or so.

Main oven causes the RCD to trip immediately so removal of the elements and heat treatment will have to be used at the weekend, but pleased with progress so far
LukeG83 is offline  
Old 6th Jan 2022, 5:12 pm   #12
Guest
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

I would cook them electrically, remove them, put in series and then in series with a big (proper tungsten) bulb and wait for a week or so. Obvious safety observed of course as the outer will be live until it is dried out.
 
Old 7th Jan 2022, 12:09 am   #13
Refugee
Dekatron
 
Refugee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,549
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

Just connect the cooker to a battery charger with the element you want to dry turned on and leave it to dry out for a day or two.
I made a boot warmer with an 80 ohm rice cooker element connected to a 24 volt wall wart.
Cooker elements are usually 20 to 50 ohms.
Refugee is offline  
Old 7th Jan 2022, 3:35 am   #14
usradcoll1
Heptode
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, USA.
Posts: 823
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

Quote:
Originally Posted by merlinmaxwell View Post
I would cook them electrically, remove them, put in series and then in series with a big (proper tungsten) bulb and wait for a week or so. Obvious safety observed of course as the outer will be live until it is dried out.
Just connect the two elements in series so they receive half the voltage, 120 volts each. I never knew that the elements could be sensitive to moisture.
My range has a glass top and does not use the "Calrod" type of element.
In our wiring practice, we don't use a master RCD, instead an individual RCD device for the circuits, that require them.
Dave, USradcoll1 60+year radio collector and retired electrician.
usradcoll1 is offline  
Old 7th Jan 2022, 11:49 pm   #15
Graham G3ZVT
Dekatron
 
Graham G3ZVT's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 18,675
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

Quote:
Originally Posted by usradcoll1 View Post
.
In our wiring practice, we don't use a master RCD, instead an individual RCD device for the circuits, that require them.
Dave, USradcoll1 60+year radio collector and retired electrician.
Indeed.
My board is up to an earlier "code" we call the 16th edition, it has a single GFCI which takes out everything if it trips , power, lighting, the lot!

Later 17th edition boards are split load with a pair of GFCI's

I think current 18th edition boards can still be wired like that, but a separate combined breaker+GFCI (called RCBO's), one for each circuit is the best way.

A cooker will typically be on an exclusive circuit.
__________________
--
Graham.
G3ZVT
Graham G3ZVT is offline  
Old 8th Jan 2022, 12:41 pm   #16
Brigham
Octode
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Co. Durham, UK.
Posts: 1,111
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

My pre-war Jackson cooker is on an exclusive circuit, using fuses rather than breakers.
Brigham is offline  
Old 8th Jan 2022, 4:20 pm   #17
Guest
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

Quote:
Just connect the cooker to a battery charger
Brilliant, I may add (in hindsight) power the whole thing off a power supply at it's limit for a few days.
 
Old 15th Jan 2022, 8:13 pm   #18
LukeG83
Hexode
 
LukeG83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Garstang, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 283
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

Well the battery charger trick worked!

One side of the oven is now working! Tomorrow I will install the other element.

Then only the clock to fix!
LukeG83 is offline  
Old 15th Jan 2022, 8:14 pm   #19
LukeG83
Hexode
 
LukeG83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Garstang, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 283
Default Re: English Electric Rapide 66 cooker

Pictures attached
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	4826FFA0-3878-4623-93C4-545B315C1F7B.jpg
Views:	82
Size:	44.0 KB
ID:	249744   Click image for larger version

Name:	8E7C361D-5DC6-4413-9817-17C80D729142.jpg
Views:	88
Size:	36.7 KB
ID:	249745  
LukeG83 is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 3:11 pm.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.