Many of us, especially in the south, choose not to have our cooktop and ThermoWell pilots going in the summer. It really cuts down on heat in the kitchen. Extinguishing the pilots at summer solstice, and relighting at the fall equinox, can put Chambers owners in touch with the seasons.
My wife and I don't actually live in the south but we are of southern Italian heritage, so we don't like air conditioning and generally just like to do things in more difficult ways than is normally done. So on the first hot days of late spring we turn off the gas to the ThermoWell and cooktop pilots. Thereafter we must use a grill igniter (we call it Sparky) to light the cooktop burners when we need them. It usually takes a little getting used to: we flip a burner lever and stare at the cold dark iron for a few seconds until we remember to grab Sparky and make fire happen. In those first few weeks I'm sure we waste more gas than the pilots would ever consume over the summer, but it does actually keep the kitchen cooler. Here's the "How To":
Models A/B/BZ
Remove the grate and drip pan from the front left burner. My finger is pointing to the flash tube. Lift its tip off of the burner body in order to get better access to the control valves for the cooktop and ThermoWell. The valves, shown at left, are small brass bodies attached to the stove's manifold (gas supply pipe). You may have to go through the right REAR burner opening to access the cooktop pilot valve.
With a medium to large screwdriver, turn the cooktop valve clockwise to reduce and turn off the pilot. The valves may be "frozen" if they haven't been serviced. If so, gently but with some force turn the screwdriver in one direction, then the other, many times until the valve starts to turn. Now turn the valve gently clockwise until it stops. The pilot flame should be out and you should not smell any gas. Repeat the process for the ThermoWell.
Models C and D
Open up the service compartment door, and to the upper left you will see the pilot valve heads (yellow arrow).
Sometimes it's a filter with two screws, other times it's a filter to which the pilot valve assembly is attached.
The upper screw head is for the cooktop pilot, the lower is for the ThermoWell. Adjust as described above.
Of course when fall comes around we reverse the process, and experience a giddy sense of awe at simply turning a lever and having fire magically appear! How incredibly awesome and convenient! Some would argue that a Chambers range with two pilot lights going is not efficient or environmentally friendly. I respectfully disagree. During the winter, whatever heat those pilots are putting off are taking load off the furnace for warming the house.
As a Chambers owner, you already know how fabulously interesting life can be. Make it even more so by getting in touch with the rotation of the planet by the seasonal extinguishing and lighting of your ThermoWell and cooktop pilots!
TECH TIP: The proper height of you cooktop pilot flame is about 3/4". Shorter is fine, as long as it still easily lights your burners, and stays lit with whatever drafts exist in your kitchen. Same for your ThermoWell pilot. Whatever it's height, you don't want to have any orange in the tip of the flame. That indicates incomplete combustion, creating excessive carbon monoxide that may cause an unpleasant smell, and gives some people headaches.