Back in the day all electric stoves had an electrical outlet.
Just another convenient receptacle.
The last couple we had didn’t have them probably cost cutting.

Probably just a convenience outlet.  As Americans have started using more and more electrical devices the American home has needed more and more outlets.  In the interest of not causing house fires the electrical code keeps getting updated so circuits aren't overloaded, and circuits near water are protected from a sudden short so no one gets electrocuted. 

They don't have them now because current code provides multiple outlets in a kitchen.  I believe its also code now (or its just common practice) that there are two circuits for the outlets.  By code they must also be GFCI protected via either the first outlet in line from the panel or a GFCI breaker in the panel.  In years past it wasn't uncommon for houses to have only a handful of breakers often on a 100 or 150 amp service.  Now houses are built with 30-42 space 200 amp panels which are mostly full.  In the last 10 years they also added arc fault breakers to protect most other circuits.  IMO the pendulum has swung well past the point of safety and common sense to absurdity and exorbitant cost.  15 years ago a 200 amp panel full of breakers was about $200-$300.  Today its $800-$1,000.  I don't think we're any safer, and there can be issues trying to run anything with an electric motor on an arc fault circuit, since electric motors throw an arc.  All those breaker companies are sure making money though. 

Thats a dual butter knife holder LtDan...........try it out...

As others have posted, my guess it is a convenience receptacle from a era when there weren't many receptacles in the kitchen.  The house I grew up in and the two houses I've owned were similarly equipped. 

Grandmas stove had two of them. The stove plugged into the receptacle located way to the back of the wall where you couldn't reach. Which only left just two others in the rest of the kit, to plug into.

Nos681 wrote:

TimC wrote:

josh-kebob wrote:

Thats a dual butter knife holder LtDan...........try it out...

Sound to me like an AF guy giving advice to a Navy guy.... butt I may be reading too much into it....

Back when that stove was new, pluging it in took up one of two outlets in the kitchen, so it was just giving you back what you lost by plugging in the stove.

 
One in each hand? 😂

Thats the theory.....test and post results...