period range cookers

[jocelyn plummer]

Over the years we PPUK'ers have debated the ups and downs of Aga living. As a devoted and much grieving fan of my 2 previous Aga cookers I am investigating installing a second hand one. There are some really good deals to be found on one particular site. I am sure somebody here said they had installed a second hand cooker--if so, I would be interested in feedback . I sold a 6/4, and will be selling my Esse through that company, but buying is another matter.

 

[Owain]

If your period is 1846 to 1929 then you'd have an Esse rather than an Aga.

 

[LadyArowana]

Isn't it Family Wiggs that had the rebuilt Aga? Let's hope he pops in and can give you an answer. Would guess that if the thing is carefully handled when being taken apart and put back together it shouldn't be a problem. I remember seeing ours being serviced ( it's a gas one, maybe 20 years old, came with house ) and it didn't exactly look like the most complex bit of kit. I committed the ultimate sin though and said to the engineer that I wasn't sure I was going to keep it, didn't love the colour for a start, and I thought he might actually start foaming at the mouth he was so beside himself with outrage :lol: he told me it was an "old" green and apparently much loved. After that I didn't bother with the "but you have to have them on all the time and isn't that a bit wasteful" part of the conversation.

 

[88v8]

Somewhere I have a reprint of the (1930s?) salesmans' booklet where it marshals the arguments in favour of owning one. I saw it recently, errm.
When it surfaces again, you're welcome to it.

Ivor

 

[Flyfisher]

I think there must be quite a thriving market for secondhand range cookers. We sold our old Rayburn through ebay and they came all the way from Wales to collect it. When I mentioned that was a long way they explained that they were on a fairly regular journey around the country collecting and delivering them. Ours was originally solid fuel but had been converted to oil and they were going to refurbish it, convert it back to solid fuel and resell it. It was in very poor condition and a fairly unfashionable brown colour so we were very pleased to get £450 and not even have the bother of removing it. There must be quite a mark up on them, even secondhand, to make all that effort worthwhile, though having seen the prices of new Agas :shock: I can quite understand it.

 

[vicky whitworth]

Last week my elderly neighbour's 1930s aga went for scrap. It broke my heart. She even had to pay to have it taken out and taken away. She's moving and the woman buying the house said she didn't want the aga and wouldn't complete on the property until it was removed. She doesn't bode well - the lovely old ceilings will be coming down, she's taking the stairs out and turning them round, knocking the wall down between the kitchen and the parlour and the butt and bead boxing of the stairs is coming out. I can't bear it. I have to look away as I drive past. I've spent many a happy afternoon in that cottage sitting in front of the fire. So sad.