Tricity fanfare double oven (fitted) - please help

[dave walsh]

The socket and the oven appear to be on the same supply. The OP plugged in the kettle [at post 7*] but we still don't know what happened? Were BOTH the kettle and socket switches on for example? Does the kettle actually work elsewhere? If it does and then doesn't when in the kitchen there may be no power available. I suspect that it's a mechanical timer but it may be relevant.

I recently bought a stand alone mini oven [of the type with hot plates on top] and the Oven appeared to be not working. Well hidden in th instructions was the comment that the Oven would not work until you set the [mechanical] timer[It should have been printed in large letters on the box].

If there is definitely no power at the socket/oven then the Fuse Box end needs to be looked at, as mentioned earlier. If the Oven has in fact failed in some way it would not be unusual for it's own fuse to have been removed for safety. I did that when my own built in Oven stopped working. Don't call an electrician out on a Bank Holiday! The neighbours might be a better bet.

Dave W

[Roger Ramjet]

I tried to sell an old Tricity freestanding cooker that once belonged to my mum & dad in 74'. The dealer straight away asked if the clock was working because clock failure was were common on these models.

The dealer was no longer interested when I confirmed the clock was faulty so I sold the oven to a neighbor instead. The oven still worked although I cannot remember how ....but it must have had a manual overide on the clock.

I hope you can get it working because it is bang on trend with those lovely old kitchen units.

Rog

UPDATE: Just showed my wife the piccy's in the OP & she said her mum & dad also had a Tricity freestanding oven & the clock never worked on that. The oven still worked so don't despair.

[its ur aerial]

I would also be of the Clock needs setting opinion.
Just as a matter of interest, in the pic, is that FCU any way connected to the Cooker Panel?
Ken, G6HZG.

[Graham G3ZVT]

Unlikely to be feeding the cooker.
Quite likely it's a spur off the cooker cable for the under-cupboard lighting that is viable.

[Station X]

I'm not yet convinced that power is actually reaching the unit. The "minute minder" could be a clockwork device. Turning off the power while the buzzer is sounding would prove whether or not this is the case.

I'd try turning on the grill to see whether it gets hot, it's unlikely to be fed from the timer.

[Amiemw5]

Originally Posted by Boulevardier

I tend to go all simple-minded when faced with such issues! So -
1. You said you plugged a kettle into the wall-socket. Do you mean that the kettle worked?
2. AFAIK, an oven timer would only ever control the oven. So do the hotplates work?

Answers to these q's would indicate how far the mains power is getting.

Mike

Yes I can confirm the kettle does work when plugged in, also now when switching on the oven under counter lights turn on and the oven does make an alarm sound when the timer runs out. The clock component however doesn’t change time on its own, so I’m thinking that is likely the issue?

[Amiemw5]

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

I'm pretty sure the Tricity factory was in Stoke on Trent, and though it's long gone, there are still lots of locals who know Tricity appliances inside out, so that may be a place to look for specialist service if you need help. It's only 40 miles down the M6.

Thanks very much for this info! We are happy to pay someone to help restore the machine / show us how it works - I’ll start looking into the area and see who has the right skill set / willing to travel to me (if we can’t get it working)

In the meantime we have a countertop mini oven so at least there’s no rush to get it fixed within the next few days

[Amiemw5]

Originally Posted by Tim

Wasn’t Tricity one of those brands sold by the/ an electricity board? LEC was another one I think.

We had a Tricity cooker very similar to that one for many years( actually I think my mum still does) and ISTR that you needed to pull or push one of the timer/clock knobs to activate the oven. The clock kept pretty good time BTW.

Now all you need are some seventies style mugs, a fondue set and a hostess trolley!

Just a thought, but would you have an Electrical Installation Condition report as part of the sellers pack? There may be some comments regarding the oven.

I never thought about that! We did get an electrical report when purchasing the house, so I’ll start going through those documents shortly! Hopefully there will be a note somewhere regarding the oven

[Amiemw5]

Originally Posted by dave walsh

The socket and the oven appear to be on the same supply. The OP plugged in the kettle [at post 7*] but we still don't know what happened? Were BOTH the kettle and socket switches on for example? Does the kettle actually work elsewhere? If it does and then doesn't when in the kitchen there may be no power available. I suspect that it's a mechanical timer but it may be relevant.

I recently bought a stand alone mini oven [of the type with hot plates on top] and the Oven appeared to be not working. Well hidden in th instructions was the comment that the Oven would not work until you set the [mechanical] timer[It should have been printed in large letters on the box].

If there is definitely no power at the socket/oven then the Fuse Box end needs to be looked at, as mentioned earlier. If the Oven has in fact failed in some way it would not be unusual for it's own fuse to have been removed for safety. I did that when my own built in Oven stopped working. Don't call an electrician out on a Bank Holiday! The neighbours might be a better bet.

Dave W

Power is indeed supplied to the kettle and I’m assuming oven as when switched on I can get the timer to ring, but still can’t figure out the mechanical clock element

I can change the time on there but I don’t know how to actually have it set to start. I’m not sure but if you have any advice going off your mechanical clock please let me know!

[Cathovisor]

Originally Posted by Tim

Wasn’t Tricity one of those brands sold by the/ an electricity board? LEC was another one I think.

Most people purchased their white goods from the local electricity board shop back then, but the Electricity Board-specific brand you're thinking of is Electra. These were made by Thorn Major Appliances division - our fridge (bought in 1987) was only pensioned off nine years ago, still working. The Chinese-made Swan "retro" fridge-freezer chosen by the person who did the renovation of my house died within three years.

LEC are AFAICR still in business.

Originally Posted by Tim

We had a Tricity cooker very similar to that one for many years( actually I think my mum still does) and ISTR that you needed to pull or push one of the timer/clock knobs to activate the oven.

You did just that on the 1975 Tricity 'Marquis' I was given by my brother when we got married in 1987; same applied to an early 70s Belling 'Compact Three' my great-aunt owed.

To the OP - it might be worth just advancing the clock until the time matches that in the "timer set" window and seeing if there's a "clunk" and it bursts into life. Also, could you post a photo of just the clock and timer controls, please? It'd be helpful.

[Station X]

Does the grill work?

[Amiemw5]

Originally Posted by Station X

Does the grill work?

Sorry I replied but didn’t press send about the grill!

The grill does not work - which makes me think I should be looking for another switch? I’ve looked all around the kitchen but can’t seem to find one

[paulsherwin]

In that case it's very likely that the problem isn't the timer, and the cooker has simply lost its electrical supply for some reason. A competent local electrician should be able to work out what's wrong if you don't have the expertise to investigate yourself.

There may be a circuit breaker on your consumer unit supplying the cooker which has tripped.

It's unfortunate that you can't contact the previous householder.

[Nickthedentist]

Usually with lovely “time warp” houses like this, you’d need a medium

[locknut]

Just my two penn'orth.

If the socket on the old MK cooker switch works, then you must have power to there. Switched spur above maybe for lights or extractor?

Push the MK cooker switch DOWN, the clock should run. You may hear it whirring if you put your ear to it.

You should be able to set the clock by pushing in the 'minute minder' knob and turning left or right.

All oven/grill functions can be disabled if someone has played with the auto timer controls. To return the oven to manual control

Set 'START' knob to clock time, knob should pop out. Oven indicator light will come on.
Set 'STOP' knob to clock time, knob should pop out. Oven indicator light will go off.
Push in 'STOP' knob lightly, do not turn.
Oven indicator light should now be on.

Procedure should work even if clock is faulty, and bear in mind knobs may be sticky.

Good luck!

[Cathovisor]

Originally Posted by locknut

Just my two penn'orth.

If the socket on the old MK cooker switch works, then you must have power to there. Switched spur above maybe for lights or extractor?

I don't think that's an MK cooker control unit - it looks a bit like the 'Nettle' one I had here... which failed on the cooker circuit. That was replaced with an MK... installed sideways. It looked terrible, but worked. A normal 50A MK with the double-size plate will replace it, but you'll lose the socket.

https://mkelectric.presti.media/uk/#page/40-41

[usradcoll1]

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

Usually with lovely “time warp” houses like this, you’d need a medium

Look though the house! The previous owners might have left the instruction manual and information on other items pertaining to the house.
I have a drawer full of information that came with the house!
BTW, Avocado green was a popular color in the late 60's, early 70's.
Dave, USradcoll1

[Ed_Dinning]

Hi Folks, note that on some of these Tricity ovens, especially those with grill/ top oven facility the control switch was a special unit and very difficult to find. I added a mains rated relay to mine and solved the problem

Ed

[Boulevardier]

I see from another forum - https://www.discusscooking.com/threa...en-70s.136167/ that the OP has decided to call in professional help. A wise move if he's inexperienced - 40+ Amp cooker circuits aren't a good place to start learning.

Mike

[locknut]

Originally Posted by Cathovisor

I don't think that's an MK cooker control unit - it looks a bit like the 'Nettle' one I had here... which failed on the cooker circuit. That was replaced with an MK... installed sideways. It looked terrible, but worked. A normal 50A MK with the double-size plate will replace it, but you'll lose the socket.

https://mkelectric.presti.media/uk/#page/40-41

Scratch that, I think you're right. Nettle.

I thought it looked similar style to the single MK 13A socket below.