Heartland replica antique range

[Syncro]

Has anyone had any experience, or better yet own, a Heartland new 'antique' lookalike range? We're considering one for our mountain loft house. They look good, very much resemble turn of the century farm house cooking ranges, but how really good are they? Before we lay out a bunch of $$ it sure would be nice to hear some feedback from someone who actually has one.

 

[EddieWalker]

I was really curious what type of shooting you do at a heartland antique range. hahahaha

Obviously I don't have a clue, but it was funny to find out you're asking about a stove and not an old time rifle range.

Eddie

 

[Syncro]

I was really curious what type of shooting you do at a heartland antique range. hahahaha

Obviously I don't have a clue, but it was funny to find out you're asking about a stove and not an old time rifle range.

Eddie

Your heart's in the right place Eddie! Anybody that associates just the word 'range' with a shooting range is OK in my book!!

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Syncro,
I just took a look on there website and those stoves are beautiful !!! Im sorry I cant offer any real meaningful input on their products but they are eye catching !

My grandmother had a wood cook stove in her kitchen up on the farm very similar to one of the stoves on their website. It brought back some fond memories Good luck in your search!

 

[Syncro]

Mornin Syncro,
I just took a look on there website and those stoves are beautiful !!! Im sorry I cant offer any real meaningful input on their products but they are eye catching !

My grandmother had a wood cook stove in her kitchen up on the farm very similar to one of the stoves on their website. It brought back some fond memories Good luck in your search!

Thanks Scotty. We had a similar one too when I was a kid on our farm, it was a 'Home Comfort' brand and had coal on one side and propane on the other. Heartland is a pricey appliance though, ~$7000. so we're gonna look at one up close before buying. The price does include an antique looking hood, and has a built in convection oven, so the price starts looking better as opposed to buying all that seperate.

 

[Egon]

They look nice.

We have one that is about 10 years old. It came with the house when we bought it. Think it was about $4000. new.

Oven is small, some componets are difficult to get. Ours has no timers or self clean feature.

And oh are they hard to move. They are heavy, heavy and still heavy.

What you get is a very basic good looking stove for much dollar's.

Check the new ones out as they may have changed some things. Ask about parts avialability. For the oven switch I finally had to take a picture and send it to the main distributor. We spent Xmas without an oven.

 

[HappyCPE]

Heartland is a pricey appliance though, ~$7000. so we're gonna look at one up close before buying. The price does include an antique looking hood, and has a built in convection oven, so the price starts looking better as opposed to buying all that seperate.

Whoa! Seven grand! I have seen them and they look fabulous, but consider that you can get an antique, restored stove for $4-5k or less and still have money left over for modern, reliable cooktop, oven, microwave, etc.

Of course, you have to have the room for all these appliances in your kitchen. Also, I'm of an opinion that an original is better than a reproduction or copy.

Finally, you have to make the cook happy; modern appliances are easy to use, versus the compromises with the adapted technology of the Heartland products. Speaking from experience, I had a Chambers model B (circa 1940) in a restored kitchen in a previous house. It was fun to use.... for the first three months. It got old fast. Either that or I'm too used to eating microwaved food.

I think, long term, you might be happier with an ornamental antique and the "real" cooking appliances in the kitchen where you do the work. Obviously, my opinion.

Here is a source for restored kitchen stoves:
http://www.goodtimestove.com/antique_cooking_ranges.html
Here is my Chambers:
http://www.antiqueappliances.com/products/chambers/1941_chambers_b_model.htm
[gasp!] I'm glad the buyer of my old place didn't like it - look at that price! Maybe that 450 lb monster in the barn will go on ebay!

 

[Syncro]

Egon-
Thanks for the feedback, valuable info. The new models have lots of convieniences but I never considered getting parts, that could be a problem, and weight, didn't consider that aspect.

HappyCPE-
Also good advice, you may be right it could be more trouble than its worth. My biggest problem is my wife is set on getting one, I told her that looks alone won't cut it in the long run if the thing lacks user friendliness. (thats why I married her instead of Brittney Spears!!)

One other thing about any of those stand alone stoves is that they are not made to be built into a counter. None I remember as a kid were, fact is kitchens didn't have too much counters as we know them today. It really needs a dedicated place for it to sit, which means no counter space, which then means hard to use. Boy, its beginning to look like a loose loose situation and 7 grand to boot!

 

[Egon]

I just visited the Heartland website. It would appear there are some changes since our stove was made. In view of this many of my previous comments may not apply.

But one thing. The stove is not a standard size so requires a kitchen layout that may not be friendly if the stove is removed.

Egon

 

[Syncro]

I just visited the Heartland website. It would appear there are some changes since our stove was made. In view of this many of my previous comments may not apply.

But one thing. The stove is not a standard size so requires a kitchen layout that may not be friendly if the stove is removed.

Egon

Thanks Egon, we're going to a dealer next week and check one out up close.