The AGA Lady

service, restoration, installation of anthracite, wood and coal stoves

The AGA Lady

Identifying your AGA

model_d2big MODEL D 1934 - 1941

In March 1934, the AGA cooker was redesigned and the length of the inner barrel, and, in fact, the whole fire unit, was shortened. Originally known as the "De Luxe" model and later as Model 62 (since it cost £62) it eventually became known as Model SBD (short barrel D) to distinguish it from its predecessors all of which, both Swedish and English were generally referred to henceforth as LBD (long barrel D), it was distinguished from other earlier models by:-

  • The heightened position of the ashpit door which was reshaped to cover the auxiliary air inlet. (This auxiliary air inlet on LB stoves was positioned at the bottom eight-hand corner of the front plate). On some of the earlier SBD models a spin-wheel control was fitted to the auxiliary air inlet whereas in later models this control was omitted. The ashpit door had an additional hole, near the top, through which the grate could be riddled. The method however, was not entirely satisfactory and instructions were later issued for this hole to be plugged.
  • The chromium plated front rail was dispensed with and the top plate was extended forwards to take its place.
model_cbig

MODEL C 1936 - 1941

Introduced as the "New Standard" in 1936, this model later became known as Model 47/10 (it cost £47 10s 0d at the time) and then as Model C. It was the first plain AGA cooker with no tank. Recognition points include:-

  •  Above top plate flue outlet (on all previous models the flue outlet has been at the back). Two types of  flue chamber were available for vertical connection.
  •     The omission of a front rail.
  •     The omission of a tank.
  •     Cream vitreous enamelled cast iron lids.
  •     Early editions had a grilled air inlet on the bottom thermostat cover plate  whereas later editions
  •     reverted to the SBD type.
  •     The overall dimensions, particularly the back to front measurement of 2' 1", were decreased by  comparison with all other models.
 model_fbig

MODEL F 1936 - 1941

Originally known as Model 82 (it cost £82 at the time), but more generally referred to as Model F, this was the first four-oven AGA stove. It was distinguished from the other, and later, four-oven stove (Model E) by:-

  • The flue chamber, for which there were two types, one for horizontal and one for vertical connection.
  • The small oblong ashpit door.
  • The perforated lug-type ashpit door handle.
  • The cover plate over a stabiliser in the auxiliary air inlet (in early editions this was grilled, whereas in later editions it was plain).
  • The front rail which was held in extensions to the top plate.
In 1941, all existing cooker models, both domestic and heavy duty, were withdrawn and in their place a range of units was introduced with standardised parts which were, to a large extent, interchangeable between the various models, and uniformity in styling was achieved. The standard models C and E could be fitted with a 6 gallon (22.7 litre) water tank as an alternative, and front and top plates could be supplied plain where no tank was required, or with provision for the tank neck at the back left-hand corner of the top plate, and with the front plate drilled for the draw-off and drain-off taps. 
 standard_model_e_cookerbi-2 STANDARD MODEL E 1941 - 1972

The model E can be recognised by the same features which distinguish the standardised Model C from Model 47/10. In addition Model E had chromium plated lid domes in black vitreous enamel frames, though vitreous enamelled cast iron lids had to be resorted to for a time due to wartime and post war shortages. In external appearance Model E was exactly the same as Model C with the two left-hand ovens, of which, as already mentioned, a few were installed soon after the standardised AGA was introduced. Model E can be easily recognised, however, by the two convection slots in the left-hand panel of the bottom right-hand (baking) oven. AGA Standard Model CB cooker 1946-1972 Standard Model CB cooker 1946-1972 In 1946, a water heater was introduced which could be fitted into Model C, making it into Model CB. The external appearance remained the same except for the normal additions of:-

  • The drain cock in the front plate at the bottom centre.
  • The flow and return pipes.
  • The inspection panel in the left hand side plate. In some cases it was possible to make the flow and return connections through the back plate. If, in such cases, a drain cock was fitted in the return pipe instead of through the front plate and a plain left hand side plate was used, there would be no external differences at all between Model C and Model CB. Disregarding the flow and return pipes to the two models can then only be distinguished by the 8-barred grate and 40mm simmering plate plug in Model C compared with the 7-barred grate and 33mm plug in Model CB.
 standard_model_c_cookerbig STANDARD MODEL C 1941 - 1972

The standardised Model C is recognisable from its predecessor (which was normally referred to as Model 47/10) by the following main details:-

The restyled front plate and thermostat cover plates.
The oblong grille over the auxiliary air inlet.
The recessed front edge of the base plate.
Both top and bottom oven doors of the same size.
The heat gauge placed centrally in the front plate (instead of over the top oven door).
The front rail in the early editions of the standardised models the front rail brackets were bolted to the top plate, whereas in later editions they have been modified to screw on the front plate.
The square flue chamber which is adaptable for horizontal of vertical connection (in early editions this flue chamber was bolted on to the top plate, whereas it is now bolted to the flue manifold and a cut-out is left in the top plate to fit round it).
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