Old Bob, our 90cm freestanding Smeg cooker, has been replaced.
After sixteen years of faithful service, working above and beyond the temperatures and hours he was rated for, Bob finally wore out. One of the back fan elements stopped working a month or so ago and it wasn’t going to be a simple fix.
Now, as you know, I don’t like replacing appliances, but Pete the electrical engineer pointed out that we’d run Bob so hard that we’d started to melt the insulation off the electrical wiring. Once something becomes a fire risk, it’s time to upgrade…
. . . . .
The problem was…I didn’t want an upgrade.
According to Pete, Bob’s longevity was due to his old school construction. Unlike newer ovens, he operated solely on fuses and mechanical switches – there were no electronic components or circuit boards to break down. And because he was a commercial model, his parts were easily replaceable – over the sixteen years that we had him, we’d changed both rear elements at least three times, the fan motors twice, the door seal once, and the lights half a dozen times. He was going to be a hard act to follow.
It took a bit of research, but we finally found our replacement cooker. The problem was that the model we wanted (Smeg SA9010X) was now a “commercial only” product, which meant we weren’t allowed to buy one new.
Thankfully, we were able to find a seconds model (dented but otherwise new) at Home Clearance in Auburn. Hooray! The online advertised price was $2,200 (full commercial price is close to $3,000) but when I rang, their end of financial year sale was on and we were able to get Bobby II for just $1,700. He came with a one year manufacturer’s warranty, the company was happy to take our credit card over the phone, and delivery was free. We were thrilled.
Best of all, Bobby II is virtually identical to Old Bob, which means he fits perfectly into the space in our kitchen. We’ll be able to strip out the old cooker and keep the racks, trays, elements, fans, burners and trivets as spares. It’s as environmentally-friendly an upgrade as we can manage…
Big Boy and I have a grand plan to turn the stainless steel shell of Old Bob into a hot smoker – I’ll let you know if we’re successful. In the meantime, the kitchen is open again and the bread is baking! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
You deserve a fabulous cooker, dear Celia. I hope Bobby II serves you well.
Nothing like a happy ending!!!!!
He looks like a beauty. I hope he gives you many hours of pleasure. I also hate the way products are built now to be replaced rather than repaired.
What a treat! Lucky you……….bake on!!
You have answered a question that’s been simmering away in the back of my mind… Before we moved here fulltime we replaced simply & cheaply the very old all electric cooker in our house for a domestic all gas Australian made cooker. It’s not great but good enough and cost less than the oven door we had to replace on the European model in our city apartmemt. But one day it will be replaced, and I’ll endeavour to now purchase as you’ve done a seconds commercial model.
May you and Bob II have a long, happy & productive life together ♡
Huzzah! Welcome New Bob! (And hurray for the six burners. I have four, well three and a half, and when you’re cooking a lot of different things I imagine six comes in mighty handy.) Congrats! Hugs, Maz.
Five, Maz. We didn’t want six – Old Bob had a huge wok burner in the middle. This was the only model with the same hob configuration! x
Amazing stove! No wonder you didn’t want to change. Well done!
Mo
A new stove, a bargain, and no learning curve – some days you win!
What a wonderful story. I saw the email and had to see the new cooker. Well done and welcome home, Bob!
He already looks very much at home!
A grand cooker! With the amount of baking (and cooking) you do, a commercial cooker is a must! The new one looks amazing. Hopefully your plans for Old Bob turn out. Win/win either way. Have fun catching up on the baking.
I wonder what the rationale is for not allowing domestic cooks to buy a commercial oven? Clearly Bobby II had your name on him and what a fabulous bargain. How fantastic that Old Bob might have a new lease of life as a smoker. I love it:)
All;s well that end’s well and tastes good too.
Hi even though you had to replace the diehard …the new one -sure is pretty! Fig jam does that taste good? I’m glad I found your blog tonight. Therese.
Happy baking with Bobby II. xx
You got a great deal, well done! I never thought to name my appliances.
I’m sure you will break him in gently! 😂
Fab idea to make the smoker out of old Bob. Look forward to hearing all about it
What a fabulous oven, looking forward to following your blog.