Thanks Ken. I'm not familiar with how the hot gas system works or how reliable it was, but it sounds interesting. And the automatic ice tray filling would be way cool!
My uncle worked for GE in the nuclear division and got an employee discount on appliances. He had a coppertone bottom freezer model that was installed brand new in his 1962 home, but by that time I think the spinning shelves were history. He kept a meticulously clean house, and though I haven't been there in many years, I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear that my aunt still has that same GE fridge in place. He was as thrifty as he was a cleanfreak, and so is she. When I was last in their kitchen probably around 1990, everything still looked brand new.