<P> In cooking, a gas stove is a cooker / stove which uses natural gas, propane, butane, liquefied petroleum gas or other flammable gas as a fuel source . Prior to the advent of gas, cooking stoves relied on solid fuel such as coal or wood . The first gas stoves were developed in the 1820s, and a gas stove factory was established in England in 1836 . This new cooking technology had the advantage that it was easily adjustable and could be turned off when not in use . However the gas stove did not become a commercial success until the 1880s, by which time a supply of piped gas was available in large towns in Britain . The stoves became widespread on the European Continent and in the United States in the early 20th century . </P> <P> Gas stoves became less unwieldy when the oven was integrated into the base and the size was reduced to fit in better with the rest of the kitchen furniture . By the 1910s, producers started to enamel their gas stoves for easier cleaning . Ignition of the gas was originally by match and this was followed by the more convenient pilot light . This had the disadvantage of a continual consumption of gas . The oven still needed to be lit by match, and accidentally turning on the gas without igniting it could lead to an explosion . To prevent these types of accidents, oven manufacturers developed and installed a safety valve called a flame failure device for gas hobs (cooktops) and ovens . Most modern gas stoves have electronic ignition, automatic timers for the oven and extractor hoods to remove fumes . </P>

Does my ge gas range have a pilot light