Cannon Stratford 10531/36 LPG

...every home.

Cannon seemed to offer a bigger range then any other manufacturer. We made a list of their models with lpg conversions and went round all the showrooms in our local area for a closer look.
I took a cardboard template of my biggest baking tray, to test ovens for size, and got some very strange looks.
We decided on a Cannon Stratford as it was the only one we saw in our price range that had a really large oven.
...two bottles that change over automatically, so I'll never run out.

If I ever have to replace it I'll have a look at what Cannon have to offer, but I'll be hoping the design has changed, and that there'll be a wider choice of models.
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I've always preferred gas cookers, but when we first moved to our present home there was no gas supply to our village and I made do with a second hand electric cooker for a while. This helped me remember why I like gas so much.

After two years I was desperate, so we started to look for a new lpg cooker. We'd used lpg (liquid propane gas) several times before, for cooking and central heating so we already knew our cooker would have no difference in performance compared with a mains gas cooker. The only big difference is the outdoor space you need to stand the gas bottles, so it's not suitable for every home.

Cannon seemed to offer a bigger range then any other manufacturer. We made a list of their models with lpg conversions and went round all the showrooms in our local area for a closer look.
I took a cardboard template of my biggest baking tray, to test ovens for size, and got some very strange looks.
We decided on a Cannon Stratford as it was the only one we saw in our price range that had a really large oven.
We expected to be able to haggle as we were actually trying to buy two cookers, one for friends who left the choice to us. This didn't work and eventually we ordered from a firm in Newcastle (our first experience of shopping on the web) who supplied two cookers for £310.00. This was in 2002. The price included delivery and two fitting kits.

The cooker had a twelve-month guarantee with it and a leaflet about Cannon's after sales service. There were no instructions for use or cleaning.

The Stratford looked smart. Sparkling white with black glass windows in the oven and grill doors, and a neat striped glass top that lifts to become a splash back when the burners are in use.
This top is heatproof, and incorporates a safety cut-off if you try to close it while a burner is still alight.
The control knobs are easy to see. One for each burner, the oven and the grill. The ignition button is on this control panel too.
The burners can be turned right down to a slow simmer without any thing sticking after long cooking time. This works much better than on some cookers I've tried before.
The control knobs are nice to use and can't be accidentally knocked, as you have to turn and push to use them.
The grill looks huge and it's big enough to store the grill pan inside, but the actual cooking area is quite small. I'd describe it as six beef burger size, so not really good enough for a big family.
The oven is large. It has two shelves with five position settings. The shelves slide in and out smoothly, but have a clever curve at the back of each slider. The shelf has to be lifted upwards to come all the way out which makes it very safe, as it's impossible to pull a heavily loaded shelf all the way out. Less chance of wearing a hot Christmas turkey on your foot!
The only fault I've found with the oven is a slightly hot spot on one side. It's not a problem now I'm used to it.

I'm very happy with the way it cooks, but keeping it clean is not so simple. I wipe it over every time I use it so nothing gets a chance to build up.
The air vents at the back of the hob discoloured, almost at once. This often happens and is the hardest part to clean. (Try Astonish chalk based cleaner).
The aluminium-look side trims attract grease and crumbs and are very fiddly to clean properly.
The brushed metal burner guides stain badly and always need scouring. The black covers have chipped round the edges and the enamel has started to look cracked.
The main white enamel hob top is easy to clean. Each burner sits in it's own separate area, so big spills can't go far, and the four separate pan rests fit into a washing up bowl or can go into a dishwasher.
The control panel gets very sticky. I think it's because of being angled upwards to make it easy to see. I'm constantly pulling off the knobs and adding them to the washing up bowl. But they are quick to wash clean, and the writing and numbers haven't worn away at all.
The grill and oven doors both have full width pull down handles. These have an annoying little groove running along them which soon looks dirty and need a knife blade, wrapped in a cloth to run along them. I do it, but I think how much time I must have spent on doing it since I bought it.
There are several other bits of trim that need a lot of attention too.
Both doors are simple to clean, and so are the oven shelves and grill pan.
The stay clean oven liners work perfectly and I just wipe the oven floor each time I finish using it.

I almost forgive it for being so hard to keep clean as it cooks so nicely.
It's used all day, three days a week as well as daily bread making and ordinary family mealtimes. Nothing has broken.
Gas costs £22.17 for a bottle. One bottle lasts four months on average. It's usually delivered and connected the day after ordering, but I keep two bottles that change over automatically, so I'll never run out.

If I ever have to replace it I'll have a look at what Cannon have to offer, but I'll be hoping the design has changed, and that there'll be a wider choice of models.
 

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