O'Keefe and Merritt

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O'Keefe and Merritt Manufacturing Company
TypeDefunct
IndustryAppliance
Founded1920
Fateclosed down: late 1980s (approx.)
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
United States
Products, electric ranges, , refrigerators, dishwashers

O'Keefe and Merritt (often written as O'Keefe & Merritt) was a Los Angeles-based appliance company. Their gas ranges and stand-alone ovens were particularly popular in Southern California in the middle of the 20th Century.

History[]

O'Keefe and Merritt Manufacturing Company began operations in Los Angeles in 1920.[1] In 1950, Tappan purchased the company in a $5 million transaction, but management remained in Los Angeles and the company continued to produce 500-600 ranges each day.[2][3]

The company brand also appeared on microwave ovens, which were manufactured by .[4] In 1970, the company faced labor issues, but Tappan claimed they had been largely resolved by October of that year.[5]

Features[]

Stove features included the "Grillevator," designed for broiling large items like hams or turkeys. The Automatic Burner Control (A.B.C.) allowed chefs to set the burners to turn off after a particular amount of time.[6] The large Aristocrat model featured three ovens and two broilers, weighing 734 pounds. [7]

In 1960, a built-in barbecue unit could be added to a cooktop.[8] By 1964, all O'Keefe and Merritt electric ovens had built-in clocks that could be used to turn on the oven, cook for a certain time, and then turn off the oven.[9] In 1965, O'Keefe and Merritt sold, among other models, a 36-inch range and a 21 inch wide oven. The deluxe versions of these products included a warming feature which kept food at 170 degrees until serving.[10] In 1967, the company sold Teflon coated ovens.[11]

The 1962 built-in dishwasher featured an "alternating roller impeller" designed to better distribute water throughout the machine.[12]

Popularity[]

In December 1951, Stanley Marcus of Neiman Marcus fame ordered an Aristocrat for his wife, having it shipped from Los Angeles by air.[7]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Decisions and Orders of the National Labor Relations Board. National Labor Relations Board. 1947.p. 780
  2. ^ "What's new with manufacturers". Gas Appliance Merchandising Vol. 23. January 1951. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) p. 22.
  3. ^ "California". Industry Week Volume 128, Part 1. 1951. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) p. 127.
  4. ^ "Litton Industries to Set Up Microwave Oven Sales Force". The Wall Street Journal: 16. August 5, 1971.
  5. ^ "Tappan Net Plummeted in 3rd Period, 9 Months". The Wall Street Journal: 22. October 21, 1970.
  6. ^ Care and Use of your new O'Keefe & Merritt Automatic Gas Range. O'Keefe and Merritt.
  7. ^ a b "Wanted one gas range Via Air Express". Gas Appliance Merchandising Vol. 24. March 1952. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) p. 13.
  8. ^ Rodgers, Beulah (April 10, 1960). "What's New and Different in the Wonderful World of Home Appliances". Chicago Tribune: NW_AE.
  9. ^ Poore, Nancy (April 12, 1964). "Range Styling Keeps Pace with Technical Advances". Chicago Tribune: N22.
  10. ^ Hollwager, Nikki (April 18, 1965). "Good Cooks Are Even Better with Ingenious New Ranges". Chicago Tribune: NW11.
  11. ^ "There's a New 'Mod' Look in Convenient Gas Cooking Units". Chicago Tribune: S_A5. April 29, 1967.
  12. ^ "Kitchen Implements Pace Trend to Modern Styling". Chicago Tribune: SC. March 18, 1962.
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