On 8/9/2013 7:44 PM, wrote:
>
> I wouldn't have an all gas home, no matter how romantic gas light is. Changing
> the mantles is a pain, and of course they are radioactive.

Well OK, it wasn't literally an all gas home. The lights and the
refrigerator was electric as was the TV. :-) The clothes dryer and water
heater was gas. Over the decades, the money my parents saved was
substantial.

We once had a clothes dryer that died and I watched the repair guy work
on the machine I think it was either the belt or the door latch switch
that was faulty. He then said that it looked like the dryer had jets
installed for propane, not natural gas. The jets are nozzles with holes
of various sizes that controls the flow of the fuel. Jets for natural
gas are bigger than propane because propane contains about twice as much
energy as NG. Anyway, the repairman puts the dryer together and runs a
test. That thing sounded like it had a blowtorch in it - we had been
running it throttled way down for years. Boy, that dryer worked swell
after that.

>
> When I was a kid, the gas utility had a jingle: Gas does the big jobs better,
> for less. And consistently since that time, natural gas has been cheaper
> than electricity for heating, cooking, and drying clothes. And it is available
> whenever you want it -- there has never been a natural gas outage in my
> experience.
>

On 8/10/2013 3:29 AM, Cheryl wrote:
> On 8/9/2013 3:27 PM, Gary wrote:
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>
>>> Gas is not always an option. There are no gas lines run to where I
>>> live. Everything is strictly electric.
>>
>> Copout and denial, Jill. My first apt had gas stove with a small pipe
>> from stove into the wall. Outside was a large propane tank to fuel it.
>> Each tank lasted about 2 years. Sadly, my first tank ran out halfway
>> through the cooking of a Thanksgiving turkey. It cooked long enough to
>> fill the house with good smells, but then hours later when it should
>> have been done, it was half raw and cold. I had to throw it out and
>> actually had delivery pizza that time.
>>
>> G.
>>
> So that experience didn't give you any thoughts that it wasn't the most
> effective way to cook? It sure would for me. Electric doesn't run out,
> unless of course there's a power outage, and so many gas stoves these
> days have electronics in them to use so they won't work in power outage
> either.
>
Lengthy electrical outages are rare. I've experienced a few in my
lifetime, but mostly not. Running out of propane in the middle of
cooking... I'd rather not.

> I don't have the option for gas in my house either, and having to deal
> with something like a propane tank that has to be kept up doesn't appeal
> to me. Too much planning involved.
>
Thank you.

Jill

On 8/9/2013 5:38 PM, Mark Curry wrote:
> In article >,
> jmcquown > wrote:
>> Gas is not always an option. There are no gas lines run to where I
>> live. Everything is strictly electric.
>>
>> It takes a while if you're used to gas cooking to get used to electric
>> cooking. There is no problem with the stove or the cookware... IMNO
>> he's just not used to the stove.
>
> Funny related story - we've always had gas cooktops at our home.
> Summer vacation this year, we stayed in a cabin with a small electric
> stovetop. Early the first morning there, the 15 year comes into
> the bedroom asking where the lighter is so he can make breakfast.
>
> Half asleep, I mumble "picnic basket". A few moments later,
> "I can't get it to light." I wake a bit more, realize what's happening
> and go and explain to him how the electric cooktop works...
>
> --Mark
> <regular lurker...>
>
Welcome, Mark! That's a funny story.

Jill

"dsi1" > wrote in message
...
> On 8/9/2013 12:18 PM, Ophelia wrote:
>>
>>>
>> I guess you are happy with it, yes? That is all that matters) To me
>> it looks like the black arts ....
>>
>>
> Magic - that's a good word for it.

Indeed)

--
--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

> wrote in message
...
> On Friday, August 9, 2013 2:48:37 PM UTC-7, dsi1 wrote:
>> On 8/9/2013 9:19 AM, Gary wrote:
>>
>> > jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> >> Not everyone has the option of gas or propane. Electric is the only
>> >> way
>> >> I can cook, unless I use my grill (which is not propane).
>>
>> > And that's exactly why you should sell that place and move. You like
>> > to cook and evidently do a good job of it. Find yourself a place with
>> > a good gas stove and formica countertops that can withstand constant
>> > use and abuse.
>>
>> Nobody buys a house because it has a gas appliance, at least, I
>> wouldn't. I grew up using gas and I can take it or leave it. OTOH, a gas
>> line into our house was a big deal back in the early 60s. I remember
>> there was literature from the gas company telling my parents how great
>> the all-gas home was. My main beef with gas is that in the tropics, it
>> can be very uncomfortable. We have 70 percent relative humidity and that
>> thing puts out heat and water vapor.
>
> I wouldn't have an all gas home, no matter how romantic gas light is.
> Changing
> the mantles is a pain, and of course they are radioactive.
>
> When I was a kid, the gas utility had a jingle: Gas does the big jobs
> better,
> for less. And consistently since that time, natural gas has been cheaper
> than electricity for heating, cooking, and drying clothes. And it is
> available
> whenever you want it -- there has never been a natural gas outage in my
> experience.

When I was a kid our cottage was very late getting electricity. We had all
gas and mantles for the lights. We had a very elaborate thing for our
sitting room, brass with three tiny mantles and long fancy chains on each
sides The bedrooms just had standard lamps.

--
--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On 8/10/2013 4:51 AM, Ophelia wrote:

> When I was a kid our cottage was very late getting electricity. We had
> all gas and mantles for the lights. We had a very elaborate thing for
> our sitting room, brass with three tiny mantles and long fancy chains on
> each sides The bedrooms just had standard lamps.
>
I used to live in a house where some of the older light fittings were
dual gas and electric - gas mantle on top, light bulb on the bottom.

"S Viemeister" > wrote in message
...
> On 8/10/2013 4:51 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>
>> When I was a kid our cottage was very late getting electricity. We had
>> all gas and mantles for the lights. We had a very elaborate thing for
>> our sitting room, brass with three tiny mantles and long fancy chains on
>> each sides The bedrooms just had standard lamps.
>>
> I used to live in a house where some of the older light fittings were dual
> gas and electric - gas mantle on top, light bulb on the bottom.

Oohh posh <g>Never heard of those)

--
--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

jmcquown wrote:
>
> Gas is not always an option.
>The only propane tank I have is for the fireplace,

So then your HOA does permit propane... therefore propane IS an
option... somehow I was under the impression that you didn't have a
gas stove because your association didn't permit propane.

>I sure as hell wouldn't want to rely on propane in order to cook.

Why not... propane is much more reliable than electric... propane
doesn't go out during a power outage, when the power goes out you can
still cook. Propane is safer too... far more house fires are
attributable to electric stoves than to gas ranges, and 220V electric
stoves are responsible for electrocutions. One relatively small
propane tank (50 gallons) can easily last more than a year cooking for
a family of four... and when the gauge shows it's near time to refill
all that's required is a phone call... only need one tank... and
propane tanks can be buried so they are out of sight, but it's easy to
plant a shub if one finds the tank unsightly, however a 50 gallon tank
is rather unobtrusive. Another benefit in these times of high energy
prices is propane cooking costs about 1/3 as much as electric cooking.

On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 03:29:35 -0400, Cheryl >
wrote:

>On 8/9/2013 3:27 PM, Gary wrote:
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>
>>> Gas is not always an option. There are no gas lines run to where I
>>> live. Everything is strictly electric.
>>
>> Copout and denial, Jill. My first apt had gas stove with a small pipe
>> from stove into the wall. Outside was a large propane tank to fuel it.
>> Each tank lasted about 2 years. Sadly, my first tank ran out halfway
>> through the cooking of a Thanksgiving turkey. It cooked long enough to
>> fill the house with good smells, but then hours later when it should
>> have been done, it was half raw and cold. I had to throw it out and
>> actually had delivery pizza that time.
>>
>> G.
>>
>So that experience didn't give you any thoughts that it wasn't the most
>effective way to cook? It sure would for me. Electric doesn't run out,
>unless of course there's a power outage, and so many gas stoves these
>days have electronics in them to use so they won't work in power outage
>either.

With gas stoves the top burners operate with no electric.

>I don't have the option for gas in my house either,

Of course you have that option, are gas grills banned where you live,
I doubt it. Propane tanks for residential use are far safer than
portable gas tanks.

>and having to deal
>with something like a propane tank that has to be kept up doesn't appeal
>to me. Too much planning involved.

There is no planning involved, the propane company automatically
refills the tank on a schedual the same as a fuel oil company would
fill an oil tank... you do nothing... the tank truck pulls up, unreels
its long hose and refills the tank in under five minutes, even if you
are home at the time you won't know until you see the bill stuck in
your door. You'll have no more involvement than you do when the power
company comes to read your electric meter. And buying bulk propane by
the gallon costs about half as much as your having to schlep a
portable grill tank to be refilled with propane by the pound... my
Weber grill is connected to my bulk propane tank too, I never have to
bother with refilling portable tanks... I never run out and much safer
not having those portable tanks around. And with propane you can have
a tankless on-demand water heater, a tremendous savings over an
electric water heater, I love mine, the best investment I made in many
years. Anyone having to replace their water heater they'd be a fool
not to go with tankless on-demand.

On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 12:41:12 +0100, "Ophelia"
> wrote:

>
>
>"S Viemeister" > wrote in message
...
>> On 8/10/2013 4:51 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>
>>> When I was a kid our cottage was very late getting electricity. We had
>>> all gas and mantles for the lights. We had a very elaborate thing for
>>> our sitting room, brass with three tiny mantles and long fancy chains on
>>> each sides The bedrooms just had standard lamps.
>>>
>> I used to live in a house where some of the older light fittings were dual
>> gas and electric - gas mantle on top, light bulb on the bottom.
>
>Oohh posh <g>Never heard of those)

Most older city homes are plumbed for gas lighting... electric
lighting is relatively new... as electric lighting became popular
(only about 100 years ago) the piping was cut, capped, and plastered
over... the gas piping is still inside the walls. The house I grew up
in was built in 1911, it originally had all gas lighting, so did all
the the houses around... some left the gaslight fixtures because they
are so decorative, some were electrified. We electrified those in our
entryway and center hallways on both floors.

S Viemeister wrote:
> When I had my gas stove installed, I got two tanks with an automatic
> switchover. When one runs out, a red flag pops up and I have plenty of
> time to schedule a refill/exchange/replacement of the empty one.

That's the way to go. If I ever get into a house again with a tanked
gas situation, I would definitely opt for that.

G.

"Brooklyn1" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 12:41:12 +0100, "Ophelia"
> > wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>"S Viemeister" > wrote in message
...
>>> On 8/10/2013 4:51 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>>
>>>> When I was a kid our cottage was very late getting electricity. We had
>>>> all gas and mantles for the lights. We had a very elaborate thing for
>>>> our sitting room, brass with three tiny mantles and long fancy chains
>>>> on
>>>> each sides The bedrooms just had standard lamps.
>>>>
>>> I used to live in a house where some of the older light fittings were
>>> dual
>>> gas and electric - gas mantle on top, light bulb on the bottom.
>>
>>Oohh posh <g>Never heard of those)
>
> Most older city homes are plumbed for gas lighting... electric
> lighting is relatively new... as electric lighting became popular
> (only about 100 years ago) the piping was cut, capped, and plastered
> over... the gas piping is still inside the walls. The house I grew up
> in was built in 1911, it originally had all gas lighting, so did all
> the the houses around... some left the gaslight fixtures because they
> are so decorative, some were electrified. We electrified those in our
> entryway and center hallways on both floors.

Yes I hadn't heard of both types of working lighting in a single unit.

--
--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On 8/10/2013 9:07 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> Gas is not always an option.
>> The only propane tank I have is for the fireplace,
>
> So then your HOA does permit propane... therefore propane IS an
> option... somehow I was under the impression that you didn't have a
> gas stove because your association didn't permit propane.
>
Yes, they permit it for faux fireplaces. The gas lines don't run to the
kitchen. I'd have to dig up the slab foundation to have lines run to
the kitchen. I don't see the point. Electric works just fine.

Jill

Ophelia wrote:
>
> "Gary" wrote:
> > Sadly, my first tank ran out halfway
> > through the cooking of a Thanksgiving turkey. It cooked long enough to
> > fill the house with good smells, but then hours later when it should
> > have been done, it was half raw and cold. I had to throw it out and
> > actually had delivery pizza that time.
>
> Oh Do those things not have some kind of meter on them?

Yes they do but I was young and stupid. I moved in there and the
stove worked. The stove worked for another 1 1/2 years... After all
that time, I never thought to check out the meter...my stove just
always worked.... until that fateful Thanksgiving day. Live and
learn.

G.

Cheryl wrote:
>
> So that experience didn't give you any thoughts that it wasn't the most
> effective way to cook? It sure would for me. Electric doesn't run out,
> unless of course there's a power outage, and so many gas stoves these
> days have electronics in them to use so they won't work in power outage
> either.

Most apartments in my neighborhood have the nifty new gas stoves with
electronics. I've been offered one since I've lived here so long but
I've resisted. My old one (with pilot lights) works fine and I can
cook during power outages unlike my neighbors. Here, I am hooked up
to the city supplied natural gas. That has never gone out.

My pilot-lit oven also maintains the perfect temperature to make
yogurt and to dehydrate vegetables overnight.

G.

On 8/10/2013 9:58 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 12:41:12 +0100, "Ophelia"
> > wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> "S Viemeister" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On 8/10/2013 4:51 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>>
>>>> When I was a kid our cottage was very late getting electricity. We had
>>>> all gas and mantles for the lights. We had a very elaborate thing for
>>>> our sitting room, brass with three tiny mantles and long fancy chains on
>>>> each sides The bedrooms just had standard lamps.
>>>>
>>> I used to live in a house where some of the older light fittings were dual
>>> gas and electric - gas mantle on top, light bulb on the bottom.
>>
>> Oohh posh <g>Never heard of those)
>
> Most older city homes are plumbed for gas lighting... electric
> lighting is relatively new... as electric lighting became popular
> (only about 100 years ago) the piping was cut, capped, and plastered
> over... the gas piping is still inside the walls. The house I grew up
> in was built in 1911, it originally had all gas lighting, so did all
> the the houses around... some left the gaslight fixtures because they
> are so decorative, some were electrified. We electrified those in our
> entryway and center hallways on both floors.
>
There are lots of old homes in downtown Charleston that still have gas
lighting. Outside. Purely decorative these days. Flickering gas lamps
by the front door on the veranda. Some have a free-standing lamp by the
drive, also gas. It's charming.

Jill

On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 04:09:28 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

> On 8/10/2013 3:29 AM, Cheryl wrote:
> >
> Lengthy electrical outages are rare. I've experienced a few in my
> lifetime, but mostly not. Running out of propane in the middle of
> cooking... I'd rather not.
>
> > I don't have the option for gas in my house either, and having to deal
> > with something like a propane tank that has to be kept up doesn't appeal
> > to me. Too much planning involved.
> >
> Thank you.
>
Living where I do, the power never goes out unless something major
happens, like a transformer going out or a fire at the substation -
and it hasn't happened on my part of the grid. My kids thought they
were doing me a favor by giving me a gas grill after my trusty Weber
died... but my grilling days ended there because I don't like guessing
how much gas is left or changing a tank in the middle of cooking
something.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On 8/10/2013 10:43 AM, Gary wrote:

> Most apartments in my neighborhood have the nifty new gas stoves with
> electronics. I've been offered one since I've lived here so long but
> I've resisted. My old one (with pilot lights) works fine and I can
> cook during power outages unlike my neighbors. Here, I am hooked up
> to the city supplied natural gas. That has never gone out.
>
When the power goes out, I use matches to light the burners (no pilot
lights on mine).

"Gary" > wrote in message ...
> Ophelia wrote:
>>
>> "Gary" wrote:
>> > Sadly, my first tank ran out halfway
>> > through the cooking of a Thanksgiving turkey. It cooked long enough to
>> > fill the house with good smells, but then hours later when it should
>> > have been done, it was half raw and cold. I had to throw it out and
>> > actually had delivery pizza that time.
>>
>> Oh Do those things not have some kind of meter on them?
>
> Yes they do but I was young and stupid. I moved in there and the
> stove worked. The stove worked for another 1 1/2 years... After all
> that time, I never thought to check out the meter...my stove just
> always worked.... until that fateful Thanksgiving day. Live and
> learn.

It had to happen at the worst time of all eh?
--
--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"S Viemeister" > wrote in message
...
> On 8/10/2013 10:43 AM, Gary wrote:
>
>> Most apartments in my neighborhood have the nifty new gas stoves with
>> electronics. I've been offered one since I've lived here so long but
>> I've resisted. My old one (with pilot lights) works fine and I can
>> cook during power outages unlike my neighbors. Here, I am hooked up
>> to the city supplied natural gas. That has never gone out.
>>
> When the power goes out, I use matches to light the burners (no pilot
> lights on mine).

Nor on mine

--
--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"Ophelia" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "S Viemeister" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 8/10/2013 10:43 AM, Gary wrote:
>>
>>> Most apartments in my neighborhood have the nifty new gas stoves with
>>> electronics. I've been offered one since I've lived here so long but
>>> I've resisted. My old one (with pilot lights) works fine and I can
>>> cook during power outages unlike my neighbors. Here, I am hooked up
>>> to the city supplied natural gas. That has never gone out.
>>>
>> When the power goes out, I use matches to light the burners (no pilot
>> lights on mine).
>
> Nor on mine

If we ever decided to spend much more time at the cottage I might consider
getting a rayburn type cooker that would run on the oil.
--
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On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 15:30:50 +0100, "Ophelia"
> wrote:
>
>
> "Brooklyn1" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > Most older city homes are plumbed for gas lighting... electric
> > lighting is relatively new... as electric lighting became popular
> > (only about 100 years ago) the piping was cut, capped, and plastered
> > over... the gas piping is still inside the walls. The house I grew up
> > in was built in 1911, it originally had all gas lighting, so did all
> > the the houses around... some left the gaslight fixtures because they
> > are so decorative, some were electrified. We electrified those in our
> > entryway and center hallways on both floors.
>
> Yes I hadn't heard of both types of working lighting in a single unit.
>

AFAIK, they don't come that way in Victorians out here in the West
(unless you like house fires). They removed or capped off the gas
plumbing and wired the gas light fixtures for electricity.


--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 10:44:20 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

> There are lots of old homes in downtown Charleston that still have gas
> lighting. Outside. Purely decorative these days. Flickering gas lamps
> by the front door on the veranda. Some have a free-standing lamp by the
> drive, also gas. It's charming.
>
I saw a lot of that after dark in the historic section, but you can
get the flicker effect with electric bulbs now - so there's no need to
bother if you don't already have the gas line going to a lamp post
(I'd never take a chance with a gas lamp attached to my house).


--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 16:03:09 +0100, "Ophelia"
> wrote:
>
>
> "S Viemeister" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On 8/10/2013 10:43 AM, Gary wrote:
> >
> >> Most apartments in my neighborhood have the nifty new gas stoves with
> >> electronics. I've been offered one since I've lived here so long but
> >> I've resisted. My old one (with pilot lights) works fine and I can
> >> cook during power outages unlike my neighbors. Here, I am hooked up
> >> to the city supplied natural gas. That has never gone out.
> >>
> > When the power goes out, I use matches to light the burners (no pilot
> > lights on mine).
>
> Nor on mine
>
I wouldn't know how to do that and no electricity would mean no
internet, so I couldn't Google for instructions.


--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 15:52:59 +0100, "Ophelia"
> wrote:

>
>
> "Gary" > wrote in message ...
> > Ophelia wrote:
> >>
> >> "Gary" wrote:
> >> > Sadly, my first tank ran out halfway
> >> > through the cooking of a Thanksgiving turkey. It cooked long enough to
> >> > fill the house with good smells, but then hours later when it should
> >> > have been done, it was half raw and cold. I had to throw it out and
> >> > actually had delivery pizza that time.
> >>
> >> Oh Do those things not have some kind of meter on them?
> >
> > Yes they do but I was young and stupid. I moved in there and the
> > stove worked. The stove worked for another 1 1/2 years... After all
> > that time, I never thought to check out the meter...my stove just
> > always worked.... until that fateful Thanksgiving day. Live and
> > learn.
>
> It had to happen at the worst time of all eh?
> --
Isn't that always the case? Something major seems to happen on or the
evening before a major holiday when you're the one hosting an event.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

sf wrote:
>
> My kids thought they
> were doing me a favor by giving me a gas grill after my trusty Weber
> died... but my grilling days ended there because I don't like guessing
> how much gas is left or changing a tank in the middle of cooking
> something.

Charcoal grills are your friend. I think the food tastes better too.

G.

S Viemeister wrote:
>
> On 8/10/2013 10:43 AM, Gary wrote:
>
> > Most apartments in my neighborhood have the nifty new gas stoves with
> > electronics. I've been offered one since I've lived here so long but
> > I've resisted. My old one (with pilot lights) works fine and I can
> > cook during power outages unlike my neighbors. Here, I am hooked up
> > to the city supplied natural gas. That has never gone out.
> >
> When the power goes out, I use matches to light the burners (no pilot
> lights on mine).

Ok... I was wondering if you could safely light the electronic gas
stoves like that when the power is out. So no worries doing that?

G.

Ophelia wrote:
>
> "Gary" > wrote in message ...
> > Ophelia wrote:
> >>
> >> "Gary" wrote:
> >> > Sadly, my first tank ran out halfway
> >> > through the cooking of a Thanksgiving turkey. It cooked long enough to
> >> > fill the house with good smells, but then hours later when it should
> >> > have been done, it was half raw and cold. I had to throw it out and
> >> > actually had delivery pizza that time.
> >>
> >> Oh Do those things not have some kind of meter on them?
> >
> > Yes they do but I was young and stupid. I moved in there and the
> > stove worked. The stove worked for another 1 1/2 years... After all
> > that time, I never thought to check out the meter...my stove just
> > always worked.... until that fateful Thanksgiving day. Live and
> > learn.
>
> It had to happen at the worst time of all eh?

No kidding. Murphy's Law there.

G.

On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 10:31:37 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

> On 8/10/2013 9:07 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> > jmcquown wrote:
> >>
> >> Gas is not always an option.
> >> The only propane tank I have is for the fireplace,
> >
> > So then your HOA does permit propane... therefore propane IS an
> > option... somehow I was under the impression that you didn't have a
> > gas stove because your association didn't permit propane.
> >
> Yes, they permit it for faux fireplaces. The gas lines don't run to the
> kitchen. I'd have to dig up the slab foundation to have lines run to
> the kitchen. I don't see the point. Electric works just fine.
>
I've had gas for a few years now and I still don't understand all the
hooha by the people who claim it's so danged wonderful. Makes me
think their mouths are bigger than their ability to cook, so the way
to build up their fragile little egos is to talk smack about electric
stoves.... which is exceedingly childish and boorish behavior.


--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 15:30:50 +0100, "Ophelia"
> > wrote:
>>
>>
>> "Brooklyn1" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >
>> > Most older city homes are plumbed for gas lighting... electric
>> > lighting is relatively new... as electric lighting became popular
>> > (only about 100 years ago) the piping was cut, capped, and plastered
>> > over... the gas piping is still inside the walls. The house I grew up
>> > in was built in 1911, it originally had all gas lighting, so did all
>> > the the houses around... some left the gaslight fixtures because they
>> > are so decorative, some were electrified. We electrified those in our
>> > entryway and center hallways on both floors.
>>
>> Yes I hadn't heard of both types of working lighting in a single unit.
>>
>
> AFAIK, they don't come that way in Victorians out here in the West
> (unless you like house fires). They removed or capped off the gas
> plumbing and wired the gas light fixtures for electricity.

Pretty much the way I knew it. When we eventually got electricity, they
only installed it in downstairs. Upstairs we still had gas lighting.

--
--
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"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 15:52:59 +0100, "Ophelia"
> > wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> "Gary" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Ophelia wrote:
>> >>
>> >> "Gary" wrote:
>> >> > Sadly, my first tank ran out halfway
>> >> > through the cooking of a Thanksgiving turkey. It cooked long enough
>> >> > to
>> >> > fill the house with good smells, but then hours later when it should
>> >> > have been done, it was half raw and cold. I had to throw it out and
>> >> > actually had delivery pizza that time.
>> >>
>> >> Oh Do those things not have some kind of meter on them?
>> >
>> > Yes they do but I was young and stupid. I moved in there and the
>> > stove worked. The stove worked for another 1 1/2 years... After all
>> > that time, I never thought to check out the meter...my stove just
>> > always worked.... until that fateful Thanksgiving day. Live and
>> > learn.
>>
>> It had to happen at the worst time of all eh?
>> --
> Isn't that always the case? Something major seems to happen on or the
> evening before a major holiday when you're the one hosting an event.

Always! We called it 'sod's law' )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sod's_law

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On 8/10/2013 11:23 AM, sf wrote:
> On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 10:44:20 -0400, jmcquown >
> wrote:
>
>> There are lots of old homes in downtown Charleston that still have gas
>> lighting. Outside. Purely decorative these days. Flickering gas lamps
>> by the front door on the veranda. Some have a free-standing lamp by the
>> drive, also gas. It's charming.
>>
> I saw a lot of that after dark in the historic section, but you can
> get the flicker effect with electric bulbs now - so there's no need to
> bother if you don't already have the gas line going to a lamp post
> (I'd never take a chance with a gas lamp attached to my house).
>
I was there in the daytime and they still had them turned on. I have no
idea why. The ones I saw were gas lamps, not electric lights that
flickered. I kind of wondered about their gas bills. (laugh)

Did you ever see the PBS series '1900 House'? They took an ordinary
English family and set them up in an old London rowhouse. It had been
converted into flats but they restored it to Victorian era. As Sheldon
said, the original gas lines were still there, behind the plaster.
They'd been capped off. It was an interesting experiment. Trying to
cook on that stove... yikes!

I'm with you, I wouldn't want gas lighting. Kabooom! I do just fine
with my electric stove/oven, thank you.

Jill

On 8/10/2013 11:31 AM, sf wrote:
> On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 10:31:37 -0400, jmcquown >
> wrote:
>
>> On 8/10/2013 9:07 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Gas is not always an option.
>>>> The only propane tank I have is for the fireplace,
>>>
>>> So then your HOA does permit propane... therefore propane IS an
>>> option... somehow I was under the impression that you didn't have a
>>> gas stove because your association didn't permit propane.
>>>
>> Yes, they permit it for faux fireplaces. The gas lines don't run to the
>> kitchen. I'd have to dig up the slab foundation to have lines run to
>> the kitchen. I don't see the point. Electric works just fine.
>>
> I've had gas for a few years now and I still don't understand all the
> hooha by the people who claim it's so danged wonderful. Makes me
> think their mouths are bigger than their ability to cook, so the way
> to build up their fragile little egos is to talk smack about electric
> stoves.... which is exceedingly childish and boorish behavior.
>
>
The only benefit I ever saw with having a gas stove was instant flame.
Which means next to nothing. I'm not in such a hurry that I can't wait
a few minutes for the an electric coil to heat up. While waiting for a
pot of water to come to a boil I'm busy chopping/prepping vegetables.
It all works out.

Jill

On 8/10/2013 11:46 AM, jmcquown wrote:

> I was there in the daytime and they still had them turned on. I have no
> idea why. The ones I saw were gas lamps, not electric lights that
> flickered. I kind of wondered about their gas bills. (laugh)

They aren't permitted here any longer (so I've heard) but the people
across the street had a gas lamp from before the ban. It was never
turned off, you just didn't notice it during the day.

nancy

On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 11:59:23 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

>On 8/10/2013 11:31 AM, sf wrote:
>> On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 10:31:37 -0400, jmcquown >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On 8/10/2013 9:07 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>>>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Gas is not always an option.
>>>>> The only propane tank I have is for the fireplace,
>>>>
>>>> So then your HOA does permit propane... therefore propane IS an
>>>> option... somehow I was under the impression that you didn't have a
>>>> gas stove because your association didn't permit propane.
>>>>
>>> Yes, they permit it for faux fireplaces. The gas lines don't run to the
>>> kitchen. I'd have to dig up the slab foundation to have lines run to
>>> the kitchen. I don't see the point. Electric works just fine.
>>>
>> I've had gas for a few years now and I still don't understand all the
>> hooha by the people who claim it's so danged wonderful. Makes me
>> think their mouths are bigger than their ability to cook, so the way
>> to build up their fragile little egos is to talk smack about electric
>> stoves.... which is exceedingly childish and boorish behavior.
>>
>>
>The only benefit I ever saw with having a gas stove was instant flame.
>Which means next to nothing. I'm not in such a hurry that I can't wait
>a few minutes for the an electric coil to heat up. While waiting for a
>pot of water to come to a boil I'm busy chopping/prepping vegetables.
>It all works out.
>
>Jill

What I like about gas is the instant reduction in heat so that you can
bring to the boil and then instantaneously turn down to a simmer, no
waiting for the hotplate or coil to cool off, no boiling over.

However, my current stove is electric and I live with it just fine.
Mine has solid plates so if I do make a mess it just ends up on top of
the stove not underneath like on a coil type.

JB

On 8/10/2013 11:15 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>
> If we ever decided to spend much more time at the cottage I might
> consider getting a rayburn type cooker that would run on the oil.

I have a no longer-in-use Rayburn - a multifuel converted to oil years
ago. It used to heat the hot water as well as run the central heating.
My daughter likes it, but she isn't the one who pays the oil bills...

On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 10:43:52 -0400, Gary > wrote:

>Cheryl wrote:
>>
>> So that experience didn't give you any thoughts that it wasn't the most
>> effective way to cook? It sure would for me. Electric doesn't run out,
>> unless of course there's a power outage, and so many gas stoves these
>> days have electronics in them to use so they won't work in power outage
>> either.
>
>Most apartments in my neighborhood have the nifty new gas stoves with
>electronics. I've been offered one since I've lived here so long but
>I've resisted. My old one (with pilot lights) works fine and I can
>cook during power outages unlike my neighbors. Here, I am hooked up
>to the city supplied natural gas. That has never gone

You should be able to use the gas stoves with electronics even when
their is no electricity. You just have to light the burners by hand
because the auto ignition will not work. Stove top burners do not have
pilot lights, not any that I have had anyway.

JB

>
>My pilot-lit oven also maintains the perfect temperature to make
>yogurt and to dehydrate vegetables overnight.
>
>G.

Never heard of many folks worrying about that kinda stuff. If the elements are touching the bottom of the pan..not too much heat is going to be lost. Have you got any good cookware? That should help more than anything. Making sure the pan construction contains one of our two best available heat conducting metals i.e. copper or aluminum. I have a giant high dollar All Clad brand SS stew/bean/chili pot which has a waffle bottom made of Aluminum. Its a cooking marvel. lol Cast iron is tolerable but not as good as the other two. Solid SS has terrible conductive properties. Now the cats meow is hard anodized aluminum. That is what the big boys and girls use. They tend to be proud of those when you go to buy one. Kindly keeps us posted as event's unfold themselves. Thanks.

On 8/10/2013 11:29 AM, Gary wrote:
> S Viemeister wrote:
>> On 8/10/2013 10:43 AM, Gary wrote:
>>
>>> Most apartments in my neighborhood have the nifty new gas stoves with
>>> electronics. I've been offered one since I've lived here so long but
>>> I've resisted. My old one (with pilot lights) works fine and I can
>>> cook during power outages unlike my neighbors. Here, I am hooked up
>>> to the city supplied natural gas. That has never gone out.
>>>
>> When the power goes out, I use matches to light the burners (no pilot
>> lights on mine).
>
> Ok... I was wondering if you could safely light the electronic gas
> stoves like that when the power is out. So no worries doing that?
>
None at all.
Strike match, press knob, turn gas on, apply match to burner. Done.

Until you get the hang of it, you might want to use extra-long matches.

The oven won't work without electricity, though.

On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 08:25:37 -0700, sf > wrote:

>On Sat, 10 Aug 2013 16:03:09 +0100, "Ophelia"
> wrote:
>>
>>
>> "S Viemeister" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > On 8/10/2013 10:43 AM, Gary wrote:
>> >
>> >> Most apartments in my neighborhood have the nifty new gas stoves with
>> >> electronics. I've been offered one since I've lived here so long but
>> >> I've resisted. My old one (with pilot lights) works fine and I can
>> >> cook during power outages unlike my neighbors. Here, I am hooked up
>> >> to the city supplied natural gas. That has never gone out.
>> >>
>> > When the power goes out, I use matches to light the burners (no pilot
>> > lights on mine).
>>
>> Nor on mine
>>
>I wouldn't know how to do that and no electricity would mean no
>internet, so I couldn't Google for instructions

Strike a match, turn on the knob for the selected burner, apply match
to the burner.

JB