1950 Coronado fridge door gasket

[cfz2882]

just got a Coronado fridge that had been dropped on it's back-smashing the cold control mounted on the back,bending up one back corner a little,and the interior has moved back about 1/4"so door latch won't catch.With an iron bolted hermetic compressor,it does still cool I suspect Kelvinator may have built this fridge.Was going to junk the fridge for parts and materials,but it is a cute fridge with touches of Art deco style lingering into 1950,so I need to try and fix it One major problem is door gasket is hard and crumbling-can door gaskets for this era fridge be replaced ?

 

[goatfarmer]

Yes, universal type gaskets are available.

 

[turbokinetic]

Wow I would love to see pictures of this!  Especially the iron bolted together compressor. That's interesting to me!

 

I've had good success with antique appliances co. out of Georgia.  They have a good selection of gaskets for many makes.  http://www.antiqueappliances.com/

 

Hope this helps!

 

[cfz2882]

compressor

HP rating was on fridge nameplate:1/8 HP,2 amp draw.Sits vertical shaft at back of fridge behind a large unrefrigerated drawer that opens below main door.Cylinder head and base are bolted on,while motor end is closed with a big threaded cap with about a 1-3/4 hex hole to turn it in I am pretty sure the compressor design identifies Kelvinator origin Will try to get some photos.

 

[turbokinetic]

Wow, thanks. That does sound like a semi-hermetic design sort of like what we still have today. Glad you're repairing the fridge after the accident.

 

[supersuds]

I didn’t know Kelvinator was making a semi-hermetic as late as 1950. By 1941 they were advertising their “Polarsphere” hermetic compressor in their own fridges. I’m no expert, though.

 

[turbokinetic]

SuparSuds, I am thinking his fridge may be older than the seller told him it is. Just curious to see how it's built.

 

[cfz2882]

got some pics not tottay sure fridge is 1950,but cold control that appears to be original was dated may,1950 wiring and plastics used are consistant withthat era.

 

[turbokinetic]

Hey cool; thanks for the pictures!  The fridge does look 40's to 50's vintage. The compressor is not like anything I've seen before; that's for sure. You've got a very uncommon thing there!

Does the compressor fit on the studs in the frame? Or could it be some other compressor that was put in by a previous repair?

Do you have any close-ups of the door gasket area?

EDIT: I really like the double door freezer compartment. That's unusual and a neat touch.

 

[cfz2882]

compressor sits on springs placed over those studs-everything came dislodged during the dropping incident,springs were recovered and once reinstalled,will install some washers on the studs so compressor can't lift off and get loose again...

 

[supersuds]

So what made you think it as built by Kelvinator? Were the double doors a Kelvy feature?

 

[cfz2882]

indeed

some similar era kelvinators did have double freezer doorsBut mostly I had thought the iron compressor was a kelvy design,but looks like that notion is wrong if they had "polarsphere"hermetic by 1941 I think I have seen that design compressor beforeill-shaped unit that has 4-pole motor,vertical shaft compressor within.Btw,forgot to mention the subject fridge has a steel evaporator thickly galvanized-no poking a hole in that with a knife while defrosting!

 

[ken]

I have a 1941 Philco that has a full width freezer with double glass doors. Left is labeled Ice Cubes and the right Frozen Foods. I believe the upper models had this design and the lower models made do with the small freezer box. Don't know how many years Philco used the design before going to a single freezer door.

Unfortunately it was missing the inner "Conservador" when I got it. That feature was Philco's way of offering door shelves but not infringing on Crosley who had a patent for shelves in the door. [this post was last edited: 8/29/2018-17:30]

 

[cfz2882]

new prime suspect!

..on who built my Coronado:doors on mine are also labeled "ice cubes"and "frozen foods"-only with "ice cubes"on the right on the Coronado.other features of the '41 philco are also quite similar

 

[ken]

I can say though that the compressor in my Philco doesn't look like the one in the Coronado.