Lacanche Threads

La Canche Range
Posted by chardon (My Page) on Thu, Jun 27, 02 at 22:17
Looking for feedback from anyone who owns one of these. I started investigating these French ranges as a result of a recommendation in the Viking/Wolf forum. Apparently they are very high quality with an incredible service record. I've been only able to find one U.S. dealer who advertises online. Any input would be welcome.

Follow-Up Postings:

· Posted by: anna_chosak (My Page) on Fri, Jun 28, 02 at 20:06
Chardon, when I posted inquiring about an AGA cooker (it's several pages back now), someone named JamesK answered. He has a Lacanche now. If he doesn't show up to answer your question, perhaps you could e-mail him via the forum.

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Fri, Jun 28, 02 at 20:16
Thanks Anna! Actually James is the one who directed me to check it out and has been really helpful. I was just hoping for more input. There's just so little info on it other than the manufacturer's site (which is actually very impressive.)

· Posted by: anna_chosak (My Page) on Sat, Jun 29, 02 at 12:26
Yes, James was extremely helpful and friendly to me as well. I was very impressed. :-) I had never heard of La Canche before he mentioned it. There don't seem to be many US owners.

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Mon, Jul 1, 02 at 17:27
Hi Anna--just read your thread on AGA. What did you ever decide...or are you still agonizing over your decision like me? I checked out Wolf and Viking this past weekend. I just wasn't that impressed. The Wolf oven door was so hard to open, but maybe it was just the floor model. I emailed Lacanche and received their brochures. It is a beautiful range, and isn't priced that much higher than Viking or Wolf. There is only one distributor in Washington State. You can buy online and save on taxes, but shipping for the Cluny unit I was looking at is $895. I agree with your philosophy on making the investment. I do cook more than drive, and I really want to enjoy my kitchen. Did you end up researching La Cornue? What were your thoughts?

· Posted by: anna_chosak (My Page) on Sat, Jul 6, 02 at 21:48
Hi Chardon! I'm still agonizing. We won't be purchasing anything for at least a year (which is when we're tentatively planning to remodel the kitchen). I dragged my husband to Expo a couple of days ago. He dislikes the Aga even more now that he's seen one, so I fear my unrequited lust for one will probably remain unrequited We looked at the small La Cornue they had there as well; the oven really looks too little, and I can't see spending $20K+ for a Grand Palais. There was a nice Garland on sale for $5500, but the salesman told us Garland was going out of business or changing their name or something. Have to research that. We both liked the DCS six-burner range. We also liked the DCS five-burner cooktop. It has double gas rings, and the middle burner goes to 17500 BTUs--nice! However, I'm really more disposed to ranges than a cooktop/wall oven combo. The Lacanche Cluny is just gorgeous! *wiping drool from chin*

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Mon, Jul 8, 02 at 10:46
Ana-I've been emailing back and forth with the Lacanche dealer in Washington. They have been so helpful. They arranged for me to visit one of their customers in a nearby suburb. This Lacanche owner couldn't be happier. She completely sold me on the product, and she has an older model ('95) without the electric ignition! She has never needed service and cooks for parties of 20 or more all the time. It looked so great in her kitchen too. A friend of hers also owned a Lacanche and had a service issue; Lacanche offered to replace the entire range (wasn't necessary). Lacanche will be posting an increase in pricing soon. I think I'm going to order to beat the price hike.

· Posted by: anna_chosak (My Page) on Mon, Jul 8, 02 at 17:45
Chardon, sounds wise! I was thinking about the service issue, but it sounds like it wouldn't be a problem at all. I think I'll email the Lacanche people you talked to; can't hurt! :-)

· Posted by: janeb_md (My Page) on Thu, Jul 11, 02 at 15:47
To La Canche owners - are the ovens self-cleaning? I couldn't find anything in their promotional material or on the website that said one way or the other.

· Posted by: anna_chosak (My Page) on Thu, Jul 11, 02 at 17:08
Chardon, did you order??? Tell, tell!!! Jane, I got my info package today, and I was wondering the same thing. It wasn't clear from the spec sheet. I'll look again, and if I don't find it, I'll call them and ask, since I have other questions anyway.

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Fri, Jul 12, 02 at 11:25
Just about to pull the trigger, so to speak! I got my preliminary sales order today for a black matte Cluny for $6210 and $895 in shipping. I am going with the Classique configuration which will include a smaller simmer plate to go over the two smaller burners. James (from the Viking/Wolf thread)recommended the Classique if you do a lot of Wok cooking. There is a wok ring to use over the 18,000 BTU burner. If you do a lot of French cooking (long simmering dishes), you might want the Tradition. He raves about it! The ovens are not self-cleaning, but the owner I visited said that they are a breeze to clean because of their surface. They sell a lemon-oil based cleaner that apparently works really well. The Lacanche owner I visited gets the cleaner "comp" all the time for just being open to showing her oven. Her oven was a matte black '95 Cluny and looked like new. She was a professed "non-cleaner" and it still looked beautiful. In fact, I was offered a free searing griddle for doing the same. It's like they are building a cult of Lacanche owners--in a good way. The two owners I've been speaking to just love their Lacanche ranges. They both say the range is simple yet high performance. They chose Lacanche saying American-style ranges (Viking/Wolf)are designed larger and flashier but less attention to quality. One of these owners has a Viking in one home and a Lacanche in the other--he says "no contest." He is actually thinking about replacing his Viking. I have to say after seeing the Lacanche I am a convert. The US dealer in Washington is highly service-oriented. Just yesterday they sent me a video, more articles from various gourmet magazines and all the additional info I asked for in 24 hours notice. There will be a price increase in about six weeks--nothing substantial, but if you are really interested you would be wise to order sooner. The prices are definitely more attractive in the UK, but those models are not compliant with US energy regulations, and shipping would make it a wash. Also, there is a famous cookbook chef that is a big proponent of Lacanche by the name of Diane Morgan. Apparently she has been on the Today Show and HGTV--I thought she was actually going to be on today, but must of missed her. If I hear about a new date, I'll let you know. My only concern initially was the interior of the ovens, but after visiting the Lacanche owner here and speaking with James from the earlier threads, I am convinced they will be more than adequate. Both say you can roast a 22lb turkey. The only thing that may not fit in the oven is one of the large roasting pans with horizontal handles...the ones with the vertical handles fit perfectly! I am an obsessive researcher before I make a purchase (especially at this price), and for my kitchen remodel, this is the only product I am ready to buy. Sorry for the long wind! I guess I'm just excited. Let me know if you have any questions. Better yet call Stan Barrett at Art Culinaire in Washington...he is so great!

· Posted by: anna_chosak (My Page) on Fri, Jul 12, 02 at 11:45
Chardon, I am jumping up and down for you!!!! :-D I would definitely order the Cluny, I think, just for the double ovens, since when we do remodel we're going to make it an authentically kosher kitchen. Both ovens are the same size on the Cluny, yes? I'd go with the Classique too. My husband is into wok cooking in a major way. So the only difference is that the simmering plate on the Traditional is nonremovable? And with the Classique, you remove the side burner grates and fit the simmering plate over the burners? I know the 18000BTU burner is in the middle, but how are the others laid out? The only thing that makes me a little nervous is the service issue. I know you spoke a little about it upthread, but I doubt there's a serviceperson in my area (NJ). How did the Lacanche people address that when you talked to them?

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Mon, Jul 15, 02 at 17:14
Anna-thanks for the words of encouragement! The ovens are the same size. I believe you are right about the Tradition being a permanent piece--at least that's my understanding from James. He cooks that way and seems to really like it. I like having the option. The range has a five burner configuration. From the diagram I received, it looks like the two 10,500 BTU (fast) are on the left if you were looking down on the range. The 5,100 BTU (semi fast) is on the upper right and the 13,000 BTU (intensive) is on the bottom right. They sent me a comprehensive data sheet you might want to request. Regarding the service issue. Maybe I'm too confident, but both Lacanche owners raved about service not being an issue. The sales person I spoke to (turned out to be the president of the company) told me they are not a volume dealer(hence the price). They rely on their service and word of mouth as their lifeline. I was told they would contract someone locally to service my Cluny. They stock all the American compliant parts in Washington--so no waiting. Apparently the range is not a complicated design; any decent repairman should be able to handle a repair. The owner I visited for the Cluny demo told me her friend was offered a new range. Apparently it wasn't necessary; her installer made an error and Lacanche sent out someone they contracted to make the fix. Helen has had her range since '95 without issue. I don't know how long James has had his, but he did mention he has been problem free. Maybe I'm too easily sold, but these owners really convinced me. If I were you, I would ask Art Culinaire for some testimonials. They keep an entire data base of their owners to help them secure future biz! I'm sure they would be more than willing to accomodate you--that's how I met the Cluny owner in my area. Hope this helps!

· Posted by: janeb_md (My Page) on Mon, Jul 22, 02 at 11:47
I just got material from lacanche, and was surprised that they listed the height of their ovens as 12 inches - is that correct or did I misread the specs? it seems really small to me. the width and depth don't seem especially tiny, but I don't see how anyone could bake or roast in a 12" high oven.

· Posted by: anna_chosak (My Page) on Tue, Jul 23, 02 at 18:56
That's correct, Jane. It seems smallish to me too, and my DH is VERY concerned about it. Chardon said upthread that they seemed adequate--and she (I'm assuming you're a she, Chardon) has seen them in person.

· Posted by: mktsurf (My Page) on Tue, Jul 23, 02 at 21:36
Hmmm. Was all set to order a Dacor 48 until read this thread. Just sent for my brochure package. Am I to understand that this line would offer everything Dacor would, like dual fuel, self cleaning ovens, product quality, electric ovens and gas cooktop, gas broiler. Service issue and only one dealer does bother me. Whats the warranty? Thx.

· Posted by: mktsurf (My Page) on Tue, Jul 23, 02 at 22:32
Help. Could someone post the web link to the Viking/wolf forum where James K mentioned this range? Sure is hard to research this range. Thx. mktsurf

· Posted by: mktsurf (My Page) on Tue, Jul 23, 02 at 23:05
One more question. Are the burners 100% sealed like those on Dacor? Thx. mktsurf

· Posted by: anna_chosak (My Page) on Wed, Jul 24, 02 at 10:18
"dual fuel, self cleaning ovens, product quality, electric ovens and gas cooktop, gas broiler" Dual fuel: Yes, if you mean gas burners and electric oven. You can get one gas oven and one electric oven, either conventional or convection, with the double-oven Cluny model. If you mean a dual-ring on the burners, no, I don't think so. You'd use the smaller output burners, or pop on the simmering plate instead. Self-cleaning ovens: No. Product quality: From what I've heard, this is one of the highest quality ranges on the market. Sealed burners: I haven't seen one up close, but they do appear to be, from the pictures. Service: See Chardon's comments above, or call the dealer once you get the package (which should be in the next day or so--they sent mine priority mail!).

· Posted by: hardwarehack (My Page) on Wed, Jul 24, 02 at 10:44
I believe James actually mentioned La Canche in the AGA thread... Here's the link he provided: Lacanche - USA --Tom.
Here is a link that might be useful: AGA thread

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Wed, Jul 24, 02 at 17:37
Hi everyone. Yes, Anna, I'm a "she." Chardon is the town where I live! Regarding the "smallish" oven...I did have that concern before seeing one in person. The Lacanche owner I was connected with was really great. She grabbed her largest roasting pan and put it in the oven to show me. It fit just fine. When I got home, I actually measured my current double oven. The largest is 14" on the inside--two inches taller...not enough to make a difference for me. The Lacanche owners feel strongly that the European ovens are sized adequately, and that the U.S. ovens are bigger than anyone would ever need. I would suggest again that you try to see the oven by contacting the Washington co. to see if a Lacanche owner in your area is willing to let you see theirs. Remember, Lacanche rewards current owners for doing this with Lacanche goodies.

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Wed, Jul 24, 02 at 18:01
Anna-forgot to mention the scoop on Garland. Apparently, they are getting out of the residential biz. I saw it on their site I think.

· Posted by: anna_chosak (My Page) on Wed, Jul 24, 02 at 19:37
Yeah, but will the large roasting pan still fit with the humongous American-sized turkey inside it, for the one time a year that that's a concern for me? ;-D I saw that about Garland too. The one we saw on sale was nice, but really more than we need. Ah well. You know how some people collect expensive cars? I feel like I need a collection of high-end ranges. An Aga here, a Lacanche there, a La Cornue tucked in somewhere else...*l*

· Posted by: janeb_md (My Page) on Thu, Jul 25, 02 at 12:02
I agree w/anna - I'm concerned about the height of the turkey also. Not only that, I often have things on both oven racks; wouldn't a 12" high oven cut down on that somewhat? I've called Lacanche about seeing one of their ranges for myself, but they haven't called back yet. I live near Washington, DC, and there may not be any in this area. Otherwise, it looks great, although I have reservations about going back to an oven that's not self-cleaning.

· Posted by: hardwarehack (My Page) on Fri, Jul 26, 02 at 4:35
Btw, re Garland - their residential line is being reborn as "Blue Star", which will supposedly have virtually identical specs to the Garland labelled products. I don't really know much more about them than what I've read here, but if anyone's interested, here's a recent thread... --Tom.
Here is a link that might be useful: Blue Star

· Posted by: MuseumKnitter (My Page) on Mon, Aug 12, 02 at 16:24
Even those of us who still dare to buy GE need a little bit of luxury to drool over, so I'm shamelessly bumping this up. Judith

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Mon, Aug 12, 02 at 19:58
Very timely Judith--I just got a card in the mail from Art Culinaire (US dealer). They will be hiking up their prices a bit at the end of August, just in case anyone is seriously thinking about it.

· Posted by: AKAsTJ_Northern_CA (My Page) on Sat, Aug 31, 02 at 7:27
One more time, just in case anyone is out shopping for one of these very pricey but attractive ranges... TJ

· Posted by: kasa (My Page) on Thu, Sep 12, 02 at 0:21
If you really want a La Canche range, it is is much less expensive to order it from England. Checkout www.Appliances.co.uk for great prices. The Cluny (for which Chardon payed $6200 plus $900 or so shipping) is priced at 2297 pounds which with the exchange rate is $3560. There is no VAT tax (UK sales tax) since it is being exported to the US. There is also no customs duty because of the nature of the item, the trade status and the personal use. Shipping it by ocean is usually less than $100. An independent customs expediter (see US Customs website for a list) can whisk it through Customs and arrange for it to be shipped on to you by freight line. The expediter's fee is quite minimal. The freight charges from the port to delivery will be FAR LESS than $895. From Baltimore to Chardon, Ohio (I assume that is where "Chardon" lives) will probably be under $300. With these numbers, that Cluny would have cost around $4000 - not over $7100. All the Customs and VAT information has been confirmed with the appropriate agencies. Appliances.co.uk has some great range cookers. The Stove Ltd cookers are very reasonably priced and their "Newhome" line has the appearance of an AGA or La Canche without the cost. It is one of the most popular cookers in the UK. A 40" Newhome GDL with 2 ovens, 1 grill, 1 storage compartment, 6 burners and a removable griddle is only about $900. It comes in dual fuel, all electric or all gas; and offers a choice of 4 colors. Kathy

· Posted by: rebecca_l (My Page) on Thu, Sep 12, 02 at 1:56
Kathy, Do you know anyone who has ordered and received a large appliance from www.appliances.co.uk? I received the brochures and spec sheets for the LaCanche ranges from Art Culinaire and then put them aside because of the cost. Ordering through this British retailer might make this range a feasible choice. Rebecca

· Posted by: maxwell (My Page) on Fri, Sep 13, 02 at 13:15
Watch out for warrenty problems if you buy abroad and import. You'll probably be stuck with paying for any repairs, assumiong you find a dealer who'll do the service.

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Fri, Sep 13, 02 at 22:35
Kathy--painful to read your post, but still feel confident I made the right choice. I researched long and hard before making my purchase and challenged the US dealer with these same issues. Don't know how true, but I bought the story...the UK models are not US compliant and getting parts/service would be a challenge, not to mention the warranty issue. The $4000 price tag is still a lot to pay and risk the warranty if heaven forbid you were to get a lemon. Lastly, I still made an effort just to see if I could buy one from the UK. I was politely turned down when I told them I resided in the US (I emailed two UK dealers). Must be some kind of gentleman's agreement! In any case, if these challenges can be overcome by anyone else out there looking to buy Lacanche...than more power to you.

· Posted by: ceguice (My Page) on Sat, Sep 14, 02 at 1:53
After “lurking” in this forum for the past few weeks, I recently joined the GardenWeb community. I am in the planning stage of a major remodeling effort, including new windows throughout the house (rolled steel), and a new kitchen and main bathroom. I had all but decided on a 30” DCS five-burner dual-fuel range (as opposed to a 36” range to save expense) when I read this thread on La Canache ranges. I received the product literature today via Priority Mail, and was surprised to learn that they are not much more than many of the other ranges I had been considering (DCS, Thermador, and Viking). My wife immediately fell in love with the red finish, although the stainless steel finish would be fine for me and would better fit our planned décor. Needless to say, however, I am “hooked” and have even considered giving up my wine refrigerator, if need be. On to my question, though. I do plan to contact a representative at Appliances.co.uk to determine whether or not they ship to the U.S., as well as the other considerations mentioned above on European and U.S. electrical standards, but am curious as to whether or not prices from the U.S. distributor are “fixed”. Is there any room for negotiation? Thanks in advance, Chuck

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Sat, Sep 14, 02 at 9:44
Chuck--they wouldn't budge on price with me. In fact, they warned me of a small price hike in August, but did throw in the griddle for free. But I say go for it, you might want to mention the comments on this forum! This dealer apparently is the only one in the US, although I did find a high end kitchen design store on line that claimed to sell them in California. Please keep us posted. Would love to hear what you learn. By the way I had them send me a red chip to check out the color. The red color is more burgundy looking than the red reproduction in their brochure (more fire engine red IMHO). Have them send you a chip if you go the color route. I ended up with matte black--got all conservative at the end!

· Posted by: kasa (My Page) on Sun, Sep 15, 02 at 22:06
Rebecca I don't know anyone who has ordered from them. That was the website with the lowest price on the Stoves Newhome 100CM gas cooker and it had La Clanche listed. There are a lot of sites for appliances. Stoves (yes, that is the manufacturer's name) are quite nice to deal with. They will happily sell me a range through their stockists (ie: dealers) in UK. This was confirmed by a distributor from the UK (his shipping quote was by air - ouch.) Stick to ocean freight. Check www.shipit.co.uk. Max - Warranty work might be an issue if I took warranties seriously. Sounds great on paper but waitng 2 or 3 weeks for the little man from the warranty repair is not my cup of tea. Anyway, warranties are generally only good for 1 year or so on most appliances anywhere. If you buy a low end appliance, then the warranty should be an issue. With name brands from the UK such as Hotpoint -part of GE, and Whirlpool - UK division, or top quality UK brands, it is not such an issue to get parts or have work done. As to the Stoves range cooker that works solely on gas (without the funky bells and switches that I have never used anyhow), that is a very simple piece of equipment to maintain and repair. Since my mail from the UK arrives 3 times faster than the mail from our state capitol (1 1/2 hours away), any part I might need would be here in 48 hours or so. I will admit that I am of the KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid- school of thought. The less fancy and unneeded extras, the less to go wrong. For example, we have a Brown gas range with a pilot and NO ELECTRIC requirements. No repairs until at 12 years lt it needed new burners. Chardon - The difference between UK and Ameican appliances is primarily in the electric systems. Europe is 110 Volts at 50 Hertz: US is 120 Volts at 60 Hertz; and the US plugs are rectangular and the UK are roundish prongs. The electrical current differences really are not an issue but if it is a concern for someone, there are stepdown transformers ($10 - $150) to lower the voltage. In any household wiring system there is always a voltage and hertz drop the further the current travels from the junction box so that appliances are made to accept a wide range of current/hertz. The only effect on a 120V/60H appliance when it is run on 110V/50H is that it runs a little slower; conversely a 110V/50H appliance runs a little faster on 120V/60H. The effect is scarcely noticeable. As to the plugs, they are readily available for less than $10. The Uk plug goes into the adaptor and the adaptor plugs into the US outlet. Done! Apparently La Canache has a distributor arrangement - A won't sell in B's territory. If a UK seller balks at shipping to the US because of such restrictions, then try one of two things. First, don't mention it is coming to the US, just order it and have it delivered to the terminal of the freight company that will shipping it over ("your name" care of "freight company.") Second, if buying it in the UK will result in a significant savings (ie: difference in La Clanche prices), you might consider a trip over to the UK (flights are quite low now and Icelandic Air has always had very low cost fares); buy the thing; and then instruct your freight company (see website above for trucking, air and ocean shippers) to pick it up and ship it out. You file a form at the airport as you leave and get the VAT back that way. If nothing else, this is a great excuse to go to the UK. We are renovating a historic house in Virgina and have decided to go with UK appliances all the way - refrigerator (14 cu ft and only 440 KWH PER YEAR and 50% of the cost of the US Equator which is way smaller and not as efficent); dishwasher (2 KWH hours per program and 45% the cost of an Equator); clothes processor (washer and dryer in one that does 30% more laundry per load than Equator or other US combo washer/dryers, is 60% the cost and only uses .95 KWH per cycle); and the Stove Newhome 1000 GDL in all gas with the cooker hood. Even the apron front sink by Villeroy Boch is over 50% less than Kohler's version (and actually far nicer.) Shipping on all of this will only be at most $675 by ocean. The savings on the prices and through energy efficency more than makeup for any repair issues or costs that arise. All the products I have picked are by top-of-the-line manufacturers in the UK. Go figure. European friends used to tell me that the custom over there is if an American wants to buy something from a EU seller, they automatically raise the price to the buyer because "the dumb Americans don't know any better and are used to paying inflated prices so if they pay less they think that product isn't as good." Maybe it is true???? Kathy

· Posted by: ceguice (My Page) on Mon, Sep 16, 02 at 2:53
Thanks for the information, Kathy. I sent an email to Appliances.co.uk, and will await a reply. One of the questions I asked is whether or not I can order a range with U.S. specifications from them, e.g., Fahrenheit as opposed to Celsius, 120v as opposed to 110v, and the like. If I can (and I don't see why I should not be able to), but they will not ship to the U.S., then having it delivered to the UK seems like a great idea. I could have it shipped to a friend there, but I'd end up paying VAT. I could also fly over, visit friends and, as you said, just have it shipped here. On a related topic, a friend who is also remodeling her kitchen is about to purchase a 36" Dynasty range. Is anyone familiar or had experience with this brand? I'm leaning toward a DCS if the Lacanche (I learned that I had been spelling it wrong) doesn't work out, although I will probably just purchase a gas unit as opposed to the model with the convection oven. Thanks again for your input, Chuck

· Posted by: reglilly (My Page) on Wed, Sep 18, 02 at 12:19
I was all set to go with a Wolf cooktop because they have a French top, until I saw this thread. I've spent quite some time cruising the web to find out more about Lacache -- if you speak French there are some sites that are helpful on the web. I haven't seen any mention of a cooktop. Does anyone know if they make one (I'm waiting for my Lacanche literature to arrive). I did get an email from Lacanche usa when I requested literature that, in the course of the sales pitch, scoffed at the needlessly oversized American ovens. I believe small can be beautiful, but when it comes to an oven ... I have second thoughts.

· Posted by: hardwarehack (My Page) on Wed, Sep 18, 02 at 13:37
Kathy, Congratulations on your new appliances - they sound very impressive, and I hope all works out well for you! I'm particularly interested in that combo washer/dryer, as well as the refrigerator - what makes and models did you get? Several Forum members have been considering importing Euro-spec combos (e.g. Miele or AEG) from the UK for over a year now, but I guess in the end most of us just wound up buying through Euro-Line - a great outfit, even though the prices aren't as good as they would be straight from Europe. As to the wiring and electrical spec issues though, I'm afraid that's not quite how it works. First of all, Europe does NOT run on 110V power. There are several closely-related standards, but the most common Euro electrical supply is 230V at 50 Hz. Thus, a step-up/down transformer or other voltage converter is *mandatory*, at least if you're planning to operate anything off a common 120V American wall outlet (as opposed to doing custom 240V wiring, such as is used for American clothes dryers and electric ranges, etc). Secondly, the line frequency does NOT change depending on the details of your wiring system. You are correct that there is a voltage drop on long runs (which is one reason why US power outlets are referred to variously as "110V", "115V", "117V", "120V", and "125V"), but even if you had an excessively long branch circuit, that resulted in a voltage drop almost to zero under heavy load (the amount of voltage drop is proportional to the amount of current in amps, as well as the length of the run and the thickness of the wire), 60Hz would always be 60Hz and 50Hz would always be 50Hz. Now, as to the 50/60Hz issue itself. With many types of electrical and electronic devices, the different frequency doesn't matter at all. Pure resistance heating elements (e.g. oven or electric cooktop heaters) don't care about frequency, and lots of modern electronic devices (computers, A/V equipment, etc) use switch-mode power supplies, that can also run just fine on either standard (indeed, if you look at the rating plates of some electronic devices, many can accept a very wide range of power, such as 100-240V, 50-60Hz). However, some appliances do NOT like to run on the wrong frequency. This mainly refers to units that use electric motors or transformers, or that include timers that use the line frequency as a reference. I would be especially careful with things like blenders and mixers, and perhaps also refrigerator compressors and washing machine pumps, as well as high-voltage units like microwave ovens. Despite this caution, in many cases you can "get away with it" - as you mentioned, often the only difference is that timers will be off 17-20%, etc. Nonetheless, in some cases, motors may run hot, or too fast, leading to premature failure. We have a big advantage here in North America, in that it's usually easier to run a 50Hz device on 60Hz power, rather than the reverse. But still, I think one should be at least a bit cautious about all this, given that people are considering spending many $thousands or more, even at the "very attractive" Euro prices. And of course, there's still that UL/CSA certification issue, as it relates to homeowner's insurance. It's possible to work around this - some folks here have even gotten permission to install *commercial* cooking appliances in their homes! - but again, I'd hate to see anyone "save a bit of money" by doing this, and then have a fire that was traced to a "non-approved" appliance, and lose their whole claim because of it!! Here are a few links that may help explain the 50/60 Hz issue, and the various voltage standards: World Electric Power Guide Electricity Around the World Frequency: 50 Hz vs. 60 Hz Foreign Electricity Modification Voltage Converter FAQ Voltage Converters and Transformers International Power Adapters As you may notice, these types of conversion adapters are widely available and quite reasonably priced (although you must be careful to select one of the appropriate type and capacity for the application in question). But NONE of them will change the line frequency - 50 Hz will remain 50 Hz and 60 Hz will remain 60 Hz. In commercial and industrial situations, true frequency converters are often employed, that can actually transform the electrical supply between 50, 60, and 400 Hz (the military/aviation standard). These tend to be large, heavy, and expensive though, and it's unlikely any residential user would want to employ them. Frequency Converters More Frequency Converters Of course, if you're living in an off-grid home in the country, with e.g. your own solar/battery system, you can purchase 50 Hz inverters to generate the proper power in the first place... Running appliances on foreign power *can* certainly be done, and often it works very well - but people need to be aware that it's not always "smooth sailing". --Tom.

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Thu, Sep 19, 02 at 0:18
Phew! Tom, you are truly amazing. After reading your post, I feel better about overpaying for my Lacanche. I know it sounds terrible, but I couldn't live with the worrying even if it saved me a couple of thousand. Flying to London to buy a Lacanche sounds great in theory, but would negate the savings for me (more shopping!) No self-discipline!!

· Posted by: reglilly (My Page) on Thu, Sep 19, 02 at 9:14
Tom, As an educator, I'm really pleased to have been 'taken to school' on electricity so effectively -- thanks. This may be hard answer, but what would you say about the idea of, for example, getting a Euro Lacanche and replacing its convection fan and perhaps even the clock (if it has one!) with a comparable American one. I watched a friend, the other day, buy a bathroom exhaust fan and replace his broken stove exhaust fan. It's amazing what you can do with imagination, courage, and a bit of knowledge.

· Posted by: hardwarehack (My Page) on Thu, Sep 19, 02 at 21:34
reglilly, Yes, it would certainly be possible to change out any power-frequency-sensitive parts in an appliance, e.g. replacing 50 Hz motors and timers with 60 Hz ones. Indeed, this is basically all the Euro manufacturers do when designing a unit for the North American market - for example, in FL washers the main motor is generally run off a solid-state speed controller (that should be able to operate just fine on either frequency), so perhaps only the drain pump or recirculation pump would need to be changed out in Miele, Bosch, etc machines. And of course, in some types of appliances, this is totally a non-issue - obviously an all-gas range that doesn't use electric power at all would be just fine anywhere, LOL, and things like electric space heaters (at least those without fans) are also perfectly happy as long as the voltage is ok. Also, vacuum cleaners generally use "universal motors", that run ok on any line frequency (indeed, this type of motor can operate on DC as well as 50/60 Hz AC!). The *problems* in doing this type of "hacking" are twofold... First, if a given motor or other part does need to be changed out, it may be difficult to locate a replacement with the appropriate specs. This is especially true if the appliance in question has very "tight" construction, with little free space inside - if a motor must fit into a very specific set of dimensions, with shaft and mounting flanges within a very tight tolerance range, then a "generic" part may not serve. There are a number of industry standards relating to this sort of thing, of course, but when it comes to *international* standards, with metric/english units and multiple "rating agencies", it's not always quite so simple to find just what you need, at least if you're trying to do a neat professional job and not have a strange-looking Rube Goldberg kludge of an appliance! And secondly - again we come back to the *legalisms*, those UL/CSA/AGA/etc certifications. To be honest, it's probably not that difficult to adapt most appliances in this fashion... but the end result would still be a "hack", i.e. not approved by the testing laboratories. This is a big deal in the manufacturing world - a slight change in e.g. wiring harness design, etc, may mean a need to get re-certified. IMHO there isn't much actual *risk* in most of these cases, but again, if you were to have a fire or other "incident" that was traced back to such an appliance, you might find yourself in a rather sticky situation. This goes double for gas-burning appliances - understandably, there are stricter codes and additional regs that apply to gas (as just one example, venting an electric dryer indoors is merely "inadvisable", due to moisture/mildew concerns - but a *gas* dryer so vented is a severe hazard). Anyway, I guess the short answer is that yes, this is all very possible from a technical perspective - but watch out for the lawyers and legislators and insurance inspectors! I guess I shouldn't be *too* hard on them, since as I just pointed out, some of this type of work really could present a hazard to life and property - but IMHO we'd all be better off if more of our elected officials came from a scientific/engineering background, rather than the majority of *attorneys* we have now. ;) --Tom.

· Posted by: ceguice (My Page) on Fri, Sep 20, 02 at 12:06
After waiting a week for a response from Appliances.co.uk, I sent an enquiry off to two other UK (sorry, my French is not up to such a request from a French supplier) Lacanche suppliers that actually specialize in exports to the U.S. As before, I requested a range built to U.S. specifications. If this were not possible, for example because of export agreements or some other regulations, I would only consider purchasing it from Art Culinaire. By the way, the impending price increase will be by ten percent after September 30. This is not much in the scheme of things, but may be enough to put off some buyers. Chuck

· Posted by: reglilly (My Page) on Fri, Sep 20, 02 at 12:22
Chuck, Let me find out what you discover. I may be in Paris in the spring and conceivably could make a side-trip to Lacanche, which is near Dijon. If I do, I'll see if it's possible to pick one up at the factory the way I bought a VW in Wolfsburg many years ago (of course I couldn't drive this one away!). Tom's perspicacity about the pro's and cons of self-conversion is appreciated and well noted. I just wonder -- what if you were to buy the 'spare parts' needed for the conversion from the us distributor? Then there would be no unauthorized Lacanche parts on the beast. reg

· Posted by: carolgnj (My Page) on Mon, Sep 23, 02 at 22:04
Has anyone recently purchased one of the La Canche Ranges and care to share the details? Thanks.

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Mon, Sep 23, 02 at 22:59
I'm the one guilty of starting this thread. Discovered Lacanche, fell in love, researched like crazy...and finally bought! I did buy from the Washington dealer and am expecting delivery mid-October. I decided on a matte black Cluny w/one gas, one electric oven and the traditional hob. I will be more than happy to share my impressions when this kitchen remodel is finally over!

· Posted by: Rosyjennifer (My Page) on Wed, Sep 25, 02 at 18:09
Yes Chardon please share after you get it!!! I completely scoffed at the viking, Wolf, etc. ranges (overpriced, status, yuppy blah blah) but when I saw the la canche ranges I lost all reason. I'm ready to put in Formica so I can have one!!!

· Posted by: ceguice (My Page) on Wed, Sep 25, 02 at 23:35
Apologies to all for the late update. After receiving responses from the three UK Lacanche "stockists", none would ship to the US, simply referring me on to, you guessed it, Art Culinaire. In my mind, the only alternative would be to purchase it in France or England, but request on order that it be built to U.S. specifications, since all units are "bespoke". If I knew that I could order one this way while abroad [to U.S. specs], I would happily take a trip over for the difference. Failing that, at least for the faint at heart on electrical conversions, we are left with the U.S. distributor. At least the service appears to be top-notch! Chuck

· Posted by: ysop1016 (My Page) on Tue, Oct 1, 02 at 11:04
Chardon, Did you get your Cluny. Please share your impressions. Do you need special pots & pans for it?

· Posted by: Rosyjennifer (My Page) on Tue, Oct 1, 02 at 12:15
Since no one overseas will ship to the US, and the ranges are made to US specs in France by Lacanche, has anyone contacted Lacanche to see if a US range can be purchased in France and shipped here by the purchaser? (This would seem to bypass the "we can't ship to someone else's territory" issue.)

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Wed, Oct 2, 02 at 10:20
ysop--I have not received my Cluny yet. It is due to arrive mid October. The owner was in France trying to push up my production (they were running a little late). My remodel (rip-out starts mid October). I'm hoping we'll be done before Thanksgiving! Will let you know when I'm up and running. I'm waiting to buy my pots and pans until then (I need all new ones anyway).

· Posted by: rshuey3 (My Page) on Wed, Oct 2, 02 at 16:10
I have a Sully + 1, in my previous house I had an AGA, great in winter but to hot for Texas summers. Wish I had enough room for both in my kitchen. However, if I can only have one, the Sully + 1 is the way to go. If you have any questions e-mail me. The installer for viking installed it for me and was very impressed with the fit and finish of the lacanche.

· Posted by: reglilly (My Page) on Wed, Oct 2, 02 at 16:28
Rosyjennifer -- This was my question above; I'm sort of swamped at the moment, but if no one else explores the possibility of getting a US-spec'ed range directly from La Canche, I'll eventually do so. One might presume that, since the factory ships them directly to the US, they would be crated up (or cratable at the factory). Finding international shippers in France is no problem.

· Posted by: Rosyjennifer (My Page) on Wed, Oct 2, 02 at 17:44
reglilly -- I plan on asking my sis's mother-in-law (who is fluent in french) to write the email to lacanche this weekend. Perhaps if they think the American resident is French they'll let her buy one in France. : ) She won't be in France until next August, but has offered to make arrangements then if necessary. I have a few other contacts in france who could arrange purchase/shipping but I don't know them personally and don't like to impose...

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Wed, Oct 2, 02 at 21:47
rshuey-- I'm so envious about your Sully +1 (that is one big range). I'm guessing that you are quite the cook! How do you like the warming drawer section? Have you used it often? I almost considered getting a Cluny +1, but opted for a separate warming drawer out of space considerations. How long have you had your Sully, and any tips for maintenance/cleaning? And just for fun...the all important question...what color did you choose?

· Posted by: ysop1016 (My Page) on Thu, Oct 3, 02 at 8:05
My Cluny will arrive mid. Nov. Now, we need to choose the ventilation system. I'm researching on the net but there are so many options, it's hard to decide. The noise level is our biggest concern. Your input would be appreciated.

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Thu, Oct 3, 02 at 8:57
Ysop- My kitchen designer is recommending Vent-a-hood. She said it is one of the best out there. We are simply using a liner and then building a decorative casing around (a stucco look with some faux painting). I'm suppose to see her today--I'll ask her about noise level. Did you go with dual fuel? What configuration?

· Posted by: rshuey3 (My Page) on Thu, Oct 3, 02 at 13:50
Thanks, mine is black, my AGA was Green. It is very easy to clean, the oven rack are on glides that lift out making it easy to cleam the flat surfaces. The warming cabinet is great, warm plates and hold food at temp all the time, it ranges from 80 degrees to 230 degrees. Sometimes I forget to turn it off. I aslo love the griddle, the kids use it all the time to make grilled cheese or pancakes. Which hobs did you order? The simmering plate is an absolute must. If you want to reduce the noise, look for a unit with an external motor, the fan is a the end of the run but works the same in the kitchen without the noise.

· Posted by: agrizzlyman (My Page) on Thu, Oct 3, 02 at 15:14
As has been noted on this forum many times before, the amount of noise the vent hood produces has much more to do with the ductwork than with the placement of the fans. Whether internal or external, the fans are relatively quiet and most often can not even be heard above the sound of the air moving through the ductwork. For the least amount of noise use the largest ducts you can and have the least number of turns in them. Use 45 deg. instead of 90 deg. turns whenever possible. The vent-a-hood is considered quiter because it has a very non-restrictive filtering system. The shortest, straightest duct routing is the key to quiet operation.

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Thu, Oct 3, 02 at 17:16
rshuey-- I got the traditional hob with the removable simmer plate and griddle. I am so excited about the simmer plate...I love making sauces and stews! And my DH and little one really love pancakes. I was thinking I should have went red, but am really pleased with my matte black choice (your choice as well I see!). I picked out a granite called pietra imperial today that will really make the stove pop!

· Posted by: ysop1016 (My Page) on Fri, Oct 4, 02 at 7:21
Chardon, My Cluny has 1 electric oven and 1 gas oven, 5 gas burners with the large one in the center. I checked out Vent-A-Hood and it looks good. Are you doing the faux painting yourself? Agrizzlyman , thanks for the information on noise.

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Fri, Oct 4, 02 at 8:12
I'm a terrible artist. I found someone in my area who is very talented, and extremely reasonable. I'm going to keep it pretty simple--I have ordered some nice relief molding (a harvest motif) to frame the bottom. Oh...my kitchen designer said she was still waiting for my hood and was getting nervous. Apparently they take forever to get in (at least here around the holidays). If you plan on getting one you might want to check their shipping and delivery dates.

· Posted by: Rosyjennifer (My Page) on Sun, Oct 6, 02 at 9:17
I rec'd a reply from UK appliances and they said that while they can't ship to the US, they will ship to a shipping agent (arranged by me)who can send it to the US. (It costs about 2600 pounds which converts to about $4000.00, plus shipping) Then there are the UL listing conversion issues to deal with... (I called an electrician on Friday and am waiting for his reply.) I emailed Lacanche on Friday to see if I could purchase one in France w/ US specs but I haven't heard back, yet. So I don't know the price or possibility of that, either. Hubby said to go ahead and get the one from Washington but at almost $8000 ($6210 plus 10% price increase plus $900 in shipping) I'm having a hard time making the call. I'm getting such conflicting info on all the ranges out there...Hate the Viking, love the Viking; Can't bake a cake in the Dacor, Dacor is the best, ARGH! I made a cheese cake last night. Was to bake it for an hour at 250, turn the oven off and keep it in the oven with the door closed for 2 more hours. After 2 hours I took it out and discovered it was 1/2 baked. My guess is my Kenmore is so poorly insulated that the heat escaped and the oven became too cool to finish the baking process. Sigh. All I want is a good oven for family baking and one high btu burner for stirfries...

· Posted by: carolgnj (My Page) on Sun, Oct 6, 02 at 12:48
Chardon and ysop1016, I am so envious that you have "taken the leap"! and placed your LaCanche order. Do you know who is the best person in Woodlinville, Washington (distributor) to talk to? I emailed the person who sent my packet with a list of several questions regarding specs on the range. This long distance thing is hard on the nerves. I told them that I need to see and touch one somewhere before I send them a deposit on the Cluny +1, and that my contractor needs to look at the specs to make sure he can install it. I don't think that this is unreasonable, given the price of the oven. Rosyjennifer and Janeb_md... have you actually seen a LaCanche in your area? Thanks.

· Posted by: Rosyjennifer (My Page) on Sun, Oct 6, 02 at 14:49
Carolgnj - No, I have not seen it in person (so to speak!) but I left a message asking for a name of someone in my area and have not heard back. (just left message on Thurs.)

· Posted by: ysop1016 (My Page) on Sun, Oct 6, 02 at 17:51
Carolgnj, Stan Barrett answered all of my question by e mail. I have never seen one but after researching ranges for over a year I came to realize what I don't want. The Cluny has all of the features that I need plus the 40" size will fit perfectly. Stan said that we'd need a plumber/electrician to install it.Chardon will get hers before mine comes so we'll have to wait for her comments.

· Posted by: reglilly (My Page) on Mon, Oct 7, 02 at 11:40
Rosyjennifer -- Definintely let us know as soon as you hear from La Canche about buying the US-spec'ed range in France. I've all but decided to take the leap, and if you can get a Cluny for $4k through England, I would think the direct route would be better and cheaper still. Who, exactly, does one write to find someone in one's geographical area that would let one see their La Canche?

· Posted by: janeb_md (My Page) on Mon, Oct 7, 02 at 11:47
I haven't seen the range yet either - the person from La Canche was supposed to get back to me after Oct. 1, when he got back from France, but I haven't heard from him yet. I need to make a decision fairly soon, so I can finalize the specs for my cabinets (a 40"La Canche vs. a 36" Viking makes a difference, particularly in a small kitchen like mine). Also, I'm still wondering if I can bring myself to spend that much money - mentally justifying the Viking has been difficult enough. I really need to see it before I take the plunge. Part of me hopes that the distributer won't get back to me, so the decision will be out of my hands.

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Mon, Oct 7, 02 at 15:09
Everyone-- Just a thought (too late for me), but why don't you approach Art Culinaire on a group deal discount for Garden Web? There are so many of you--it seems it would be worth their while. They know folks on this web are trying to work around them--they mentioned it to me (they read this forum). Seems like it would be a win-win for everyone. And then you wouldn't have to worry about service/parts and warranty. I don't know if they would bite, but might be worth a shot.

· Posted by: carolgnj (My Page) on Mon, Oct 7, 02 at 16:39
Out of curiousity, how many potential purchasers live in the greater D.C./Baltimore/Northern Virginia Area? Maybe we could negotiate with them if they could ship to a central location.

· Posted by: reglilly (My Page) on Mon, Oct 7, 02 at 16:48
I'm in Saratoga Springs, NY (near Albany). I will be going to a conference in Norfolk next May, so I suppose I could drive down and throw in in my station wagon (or rent a trailer).

· Posted by: Rosyjennifer (My Page) on Mon, Oct 7, 02 at 19:27
I'm in Baltimore, MD.

· Posted by: rshuey3 (My Page) on Mon, Oct 7, 02 at 22:42
For all of you that are thinking about a La Canche without the UL listing, a the main issue was about home insurance and a kitchen fire. On Art Culinaire is the choice, they have an exclusive for the UL listing. The La Canche is half the price of the La Cornue. There is not a domestic "piano gastrome" that can campare to these machines. It is a Ford escort versus the Ferrari. The La canche is the Porsche versus the La Cornue as the Ferrari. Cooked a Pizza on a stone in the Gas Oven at 550+ degrees, try that with a Kenmore. Janeb, How long are you going to be in the house, this is the center piece of the kithcen, even more important than the cabinets. Which other machine has the choice of burner sizes and oven options of the La Canche?

· Posted by: janeb_md (My Page) on Wed, Oct 9, 02 at 16:58
we'll be in the house a long time, I hope, and I love to cook. Even after the renovation, it will still be a small kitchen, so I don't have room for a range that's more than 40" - and that's stretching it. The range is my really big splurge (already have a good year-old dishwasher and I'll get an Amana bottom-freezer instead of the Sub-zero my designer keeps pushing). I was excited about getting a 36" Viking w/4 burners, a grill and an electric convection oven, until I came across the La Canche. I still have a little more time to make up my mind, but not much. For the person the thread who's looking for consolidated purchases for the DC/MD/VA area, I'm in Annapolis.

· Posted by: janeb_md (My Page) on Wed, Oct 9, 02 at 17:11
we'll be in the house a long time, I hope, and I love to cook. Even after the renovation, it will still be a small kitchen, so I don't have room for a range that's more than 40" - and that's stretching it. The range is my really big splurge (already have a good year-old dishwasher and I'll get an Amana bottom-freezer instead of the Sub-zero my designer keeps pushing). I was excited about getting a 36" Viking w/4 burners, a grill and an electric convection oven, until I came across the La Canche. I still have a little more time to make up my mind, but not much. For the person the thread who's looking for consolidated purchases for the DC/MD/VA area, I'm in Annapolis.

· Posted by: rshuey3 (My Page) on Thu, Oct 10, 02 at 14:35
Janeb The Cluney is 39 3/8th". This would be my choice for a 40" space. The other choice is the Volnay with has only one large oven. I have the Sully+1 that has two of the large ovens and a warming oven and eight burners. You ought to look at "http://www.lacanche.com/html/gb/gout_couleurs/ligne_lacanche/ligne_speciales.htm". It made me drool. The lead time is about 12 weeks but worth the wait. So others can find the websites, the name is "Lacanche" not "La Canche".

· Posted by: ysop1016 (My Page) on Thu, Oct 10, 02 at 15:23
Chardon, Your hood will be lovely. Thanks for the tip on Vent-aHood. Dh & I will drive to see one soon;closest is 50 miles. I'm thinking of plain stainless steel or maybe black with brass trim to match the range. What did you finally decide on your dishwasher? I read above that you liked the Fisher Paykel.

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Thu, Oct 10, 02 at 20:11
Ysop-yes, I did decide on the F&P dishdrawers. They are quite impressive and have such a solid feel; I'm just hoping they dry as well as everyone says. I'm getting them with a cabinet panel to blend in; I really want my Cluny to be the focal point. They were suppose to start the rip out this Monday, but they are running late a week. Cluny should be in by that time I think! Either hood would be quite stylish--I like your idea of black with brass trim. That would be really sharp!!

· Posted by: ceguice (My Page) on Fri, Oct 11, 02 at 1:34
Jennifer, et. al. It would seem that shipping is, in reality, only a fraction of the cost of these ranges, so if someone from Art Culinaire is interested in negotiating a group purchase, freight should not be a consideration. I was originally interested in the 30" range, but have not decided that I'd rather go with a Cluny. (The wine refrigerator is definitely out of the plan now in favor of the Lacanche.) I've been dealing with windows this past week (we're replacing them all), so the kitchen, which is "Phase III" of our remodel, is on the back burner, so to speak. That said, I would be interested in joining a group purchase if numbers matter . . . Chuck

· Posted by: EdFrola (My Page) on Fri, Oct 11, 02 at 12:33
I live in the DC metro area (sadly) and can not decide between the La Canche Cluny or a Dacor 48” dual fuel. Might be interested in a group buy, but what leverage can be used with Art Culinaire (french oven mafia?) . BTW, has anyone ever looked at Diva De Provence. -E
Here is a link that might be useful: Diva De Provence Products

· Posted by: chardon (My Page) on Fri, Oct 11, 02 at 13:00
The "FOM"--how hilarious! I think you folks do have leverage. Who's a good negotiator? Someone step up and call Stan at Art Culinaire and let them know how many prospective buyers you have that are considering other products (Dacor, Viking, etc.) who would love to have a Lacanche if only they could do a little better on the pricing for you. They have already booked some nice biz off this forum--you would think they would be thrilled to get so many orders.

· Posted by: rshuey3 (My Page) on Fri, Oct 11, 02 at 22:47
Call Stan and see what the special is, sometimes there is a referal discount of 5%, othertimes the freight is free. But the price of an UL Approved Lacanche is the Art Culinaire price list. There are other choices, La Cornue, Diva de Provence, Vulcan, Wolfe, and Viking. But, for my money, it was the Lacanche. Anybody that comes into the kitchen falls in love with it.
Here is a link that might be useful: lacanche

· Posted by: ceguice (My Page) on Sat, Oct 12, 02 at 19:35
Well, I've negotiated multi-million dollar software contracts in the past, so I'm up for "a swing at the plate". From a quick perusal, it appears that there are five of us interested in a group purchase. Any others lurking about, and are we all interested in a Cluny?

· Posted by: Bosche (My Page) on Sat, Oct 12, 02 at 22:15
A lurker in Calif would be interested in a group purchase. Thanks

· Posted by: reglilly (My Page) on Mon, Oct 14, 02 at 10:46
I've been out of town for five days, and have just been able to catch up on this thread. I'd be happy to see what sort of deal you could swing, ceguice. I'm interested in the Chambertin or possibly the Fontenay. I've spoken with people in Toronto about Diva de Provence and I've 'test driven' a La Cornu (beautiful stove, but needlessly pricey). For me, it's between a Wolf and a Lacanche -- both have french tops -- and while the French pricing is competetive with Wolf, I don't find the prices Art Culinaire offering to be so. When I think of a stove, I think of it as a wonderful instrument, like a Ramirez guitar or Bosendorfer piano whose value is 'use value.' Of course it's nice to have an attractive instrument, but if I want to pay for beauty, I'll invest in art rather than stoves. With La Cornu, you're paying for 'art,' and Art Culinaire's prices seem to tend in that direction. rshuey3 -- do you have some connection to Art Culinaire?

· Posted by: rshuey3 (My Page) on Mon, Oct 14, 02 at 11:21
Reglilly, I am a Lacanche owner in Dallas. I bought my range from Stan. The differnce in price of the French and American Lacanche Ranges is for the UL listing. Without an UL listing you can not install you stove in many cities in the U.S. It would also void your homeowner insurance if there were a kitchen fire. Wolf and Viking are more expensive in Europe than in the U.S. Lacanche is more expensive in the U.S. than in Europe. Go figure. Art Culinaire is the U.S. distributor and has an exclusive on ranges with the UL listing for North American. As I stated earlier, Art Culinaire does run specials from time to time, but as these ranges are handmade to order and not mass produced, I doubt that you can get a quanity discount as the factory is limited in its ability to produce ranges. Stan at Art Culinaire knows that he will be able to sell all of the U.S. allotments to people that want to own a Lacanche because it is the best range and not the cheapest range available. Beside, they do not want to upset the current world of happy lacanche owners. I have had a viking, an Aga and now a Lacanche. I looked at the Diva de Provence and the La Cornue, the are a lot more than a Lacanche and a Lacanche is a lot more than a Wolf, Viking or Dacor. For me, the Lacanche was the right balance of cost versus performance. It is the best cooking range that I have ever owned, But in my opinion, a Sully+1 with a second 18,000 BTU hob with a simmer plate and a griddle is the ultimate cooking machine. But then I aslo think that a TEC Sterling III is the best outdoor grill you can buy. These are just my opinions. I have learned have to use these appliances and enjoy then both for function and as art. If you are redoing a kitchen, and you have a budget, the range of prices on kitchen cabinets from Woodharbor versus Seimatic more than makes up the differnce in price to have a Lacanche. Each to his own.

· Posted by: carolgnj (My Page) on Mon, Oct 14, 02 at 12:18
I spoke with Stan Barrett last week regarding the purchase of the LaCanche. He is very helpful and friendly , however, emphasizes frequently that the LaCanche is a small-production high quality product. As Reglilly states above, it is clear that LaCanche is not interested in shaving 2-5% off their price to attract volume. He also seems very interested in keeping current owners happy. Now....if he would just come up with the names of a few DC/MD owners to talk to, I'll keep looking at less expensive cabinetry!

· Posted by: mktsurf (My Page) on Mon, Oct 14, 02 at 12:54
Anybody have any site that has specifics concerning these ranges. Culinare site isnt pretty lacking. mktsurf

· Posted by: reglilly (My Page) on Mon, Oct 14, 02 at 14:29
I'm wondering, rshuey3, what is involved in your saying "Art Culinaire is the U.S. distributor and has an exclusive on ranges with the UL listing for North American." Art Culinaire may have an exclusive arrangement with Lacanche that makes Art Culinaire the sole (authorized) dealer of Lacanche ranges in the US (one's obviously that must be to code), but my understanding of the UL listing system is that the manufacurer's product is given the listing and not that it is something to which a dealer can have the rights. Art Culinaire doesn't manufacture anything, and the UL listing can only be given to the products of manufacturers and, by extention, to the manufacturer. This would mean that Lacanche could sell one of it's UL listed ranges in France (such things could have many destinations other than the US -- just think of all the military personnel all over the world!) without violating any agreement between Art Culinaire. In short, I'd be quite surprised if the arrangement between Lacanche and Art Culinaire doesn't have to do with US importation and representation and rather than one which grants Art Culinaire the rights to a UL listing. BTW, it is possible to retrofit a range so that it would meet UL specifications and have your stove receive UL certification (for insurance worries). It's called a UL Field Evaluation Product. The whole idea of UL listing is not to abet monopolies, but to promote safety. Visit the UL site below for more information -- I'm sure Rick, hardwarehack and others know about this stuff better than I.
Here is a link that might be useful: United Laboratories

· Posted by: hardwarehack (My Page) on Mon, Oct 14, 02 at 14:48
Well, I'm not really that familiar with UL certification procedures... but I do know it's just about time for a new thread, LOL! For everyone unfamiliar with this Forum: note that this site has a hard limit of 100 posts per thread, and NO archive section of any sort. Thus, once a thread hits 100 posts, it will begin to quickly scroll down the list... and with no way to "bump it back up", it will then drop off the end of Page 10, and be lost forever! We're now going to lose the excellent Dacor Baking Trouble thread, because a sudden flurry of posts in the first segment left it locked out at 100, doomed to scroll-off oblivion... sigh. Anyway, in order to keep this useful info around for awhile, it's better to start a new segment, before the old one is locked out. So please do NOT post further comments in this segment... instead, follow the link below to Part 2, so we can keep this thread as a handy reference for more than just a couple weeks. Given all the recent interest in this topic, I have a feeling we're going to need the room for all the future posts... :) Thanks, --Tom.
Here is a link that might be useful: Lacanche Range - Part 2

· Posted by: reglilly (My Page) on Thu, Oct 24, 02 at 8:57
Well, I thought I'd bump this up -- it was on page 10.

· Posted by: hardwarehack (My Page) on Tue, Nov 5, 02 at 5:32
And again, time to save this from Page 10 scroll-off oblivion! Per a recent question in another thread - no, I'm probably not in the market for a Lacanche (at least for now) - I'm just helping to "maintain" some of the Forum reference info. Please continue posting additional Lacanche-related questions and comments in the most current Forum segment... Thanks, --Tom.
Here is a link that might be useful: Lacanche Part 2

· Posted by: SanDiego (My Page) on Sat, Nov 16, 02 at 16:14
A am also another lurker in Calif that would be interested in a group purchase.

· Posted by: AKAsTJ_Northern_CA (My Page) on Sat, Nov 16, 02 at 18:06
Please continue posting additional Lacanche-related questions and comments in the most current Forum segment...
Here is a link that might be useful: Lacanche Range - Part 2

· Posted by: hardwarehack (My Page) on Thu, Nov 28, 02 at 7:51
Just saving this info from Page 10 scroll-off oblivion... Again, please follow the link below to continue this discussion in the most current Forum segment. Thanks, --Tom.
Here is a link that might be useful: Lacanche Range Part 2