1956 Frigidaire Imperial Cold-Pantry

[trice4440]

Hi, I'm looking to find anyone, just as lucky as me, that own a cp or pcp 143-56 or it's sister the cp 120-56. There has to be some of them out there as I have found in searching that they are quite rare. Any help would be wonderful!

 

[philr]

I don't own one but these are great-looking fridges! Post some pictures of it if you can!

 

[goatfarmer]

A guy down the road from me had one sitting on his trailer full of scrap most of the summer. It's gone now.

 

[moparguy]

CP 143-56

I have a CP 143-56, they are a truly magnificent fridge, from the full porcelain exterior with just the right amount of brightwork bling, to the anodized pink interior! Mine is a nice running fridge, which made its way to me via Ted's wonderful collection. I'm glad that we have another here, would love to see pics, and I will post some shortly...

 

[moparguy]

My Imperial Cold Pantry, in her magnificent porcelain finish!

 

[moparguy]

And the beautiful pink interior!

 

[philr]

That's a beauty!

 Seeing your Rival ice crusher beside it reminds me that my friend who borrowed mine months ago didn't bring it back to me! 

 

[tolivac]

That Frigidaire Cold Pantry fridge looks like the one the "Rutherfords" had in "Leave It To Beaver"!Neat looking box!The ones today are just that--plain looking boxes.

 

[twintubdexter]

Looking at these photos reminds me of having to clean those old Frigidaires for resale. A ton on them came in and almost all of them worked just fine. Some of them were absolutely filthy. Those aluminum shelves would get full of gook underneath and were a "B" to clean. The slides on the walls were awful too, and if they had that door hydrator and it was filthy too it was the worst. I remember a couple of them that were so dirty and stinky I helped them make the scrap guy's truck by punching a hole in the freezer evaporator. I was a mean little kid, or in today's lingo, "me bad."

 

[rp2813]

How is the defrosting routine on these bottom freezer models when compared to that of the GE Combinations?

 

[beezus9]

I have a gorgeous CP-120-56. Sadly it just stopped cooling. Could be the starter, but I think it's the compressor, as it was making "struggling" sounds for several months before it conked. So I'm searching online for parts. Any help would be very much appreciated!

Photo is my fridge. YouTube link is my model in a vintage commercial!

 

[toploader55]

Love that commercial

And that fridge...

Love the Produce Center in the door. To have appliances like that again.

That must have been filmed somewhere on the east coast. The Stangl "Thistle" pattern Cassarole was made in Fleminton, N.J.

My Mom had that pattern

 

[statenislandgwm]

Kelly Garrett....

had that same refrigerator in yellow on Charlie's Angel's

 

[philr]

Karen,

Do you know if your fridge was already repaired/restored in the past?

I'm assuming it still has it's original sealed refrigerating system but it's good to know something about it before you have any service done to it.

If your rotary compressor is dead, it could be converted to a different compressor but that requires some time and modifications. I think you'd need to have a tech check it first to know exactly what caused the failure and to see if it stil holds it's charge of refrigerant. In any case, be prepared to face costly repairs. Be sure to find someone who knows what he's dealing with... Repairing old appliances can be a bit like sending your pet to the veterinarian. A $15 cat can cost $1500 in surgery if you're willing to spend that money on it and you know it's not going to survive forever after...

 

[whirlaway]

Does anything Capacitor start?

Does your compressor have capacitor start,they usually start to get weak and then go dead.Very seldom do they just stop working,like you say it sounded like it was strugelling.My washer did that,replaced the starting cap on it and it took right off. Good luck!!!!!

 

[beezus9]

Phil,

That was clever of you, figuring out my name. Good detective work.

The couple that owned it before me had a tech look into restoring it to current technology, but he talked them out of it, saying they didn't need to fix something that was working. I suspect he opened it and looked around, so my best guess is that it's no longer just as it came from the factory, but pretty darn close.

Thank you for all the good info, and for posting the A to Zero PDF in another thread. Very informative!

The hunt is on for the right person to fix my glorious fridge. I know it will take time and $$ But it will be worth it.

Karen

 

[firedome]

there was a 143

for sale here about a year ago, very clean and it had been mechanically restored too, for $125... wish now that I'd snagged it! I don't think it sold but the CL ad disappeared. I love the anodized racks and trim in these.

 

[trice4440]

Finally I have gotten around to some pictures. I bought it restored yet had to replace the "new" compressor after 2 years. I had a commercial refrigeration company do the work and they did an outstanding job. Very happy with my Cold Pantry!
And in response to defrosting, the new thermostat is a constant cut-in approximately 38 degrees, so the frost on the vertical Refrig-O-Plate melts off and runs into an electrically heated drain to the base. There is no set time, it defrosts when it is off.
Hope you like!
Tim

 

[trice4440]

another shot

 

[trice4440]

a rare piece

 

[trice4440]

inside

 

[trice4440]

an inside view

 

[trice4440]

and a few of my other children!

 

[trice4440]

and a few of my other children!

 

[philr]

Your kitchen is awesome!

 

[tlbrown]

Fridgedaire Imperial Cold Pantry

I purchased one ythis weekend would like to restore or sell

 

[goatfarmer]

you should restore it.

 

[ketch]

Hello,
Newbie here. Longtime single visitor to watch and search informations. Just registered since yesterday.
I've a Frigidaire Imperial cold pantry in running condition for a daily servicing since 4 years. Sorry if my language in English is not good. I'm French and learning English language 2 years but + 35 years ago

 

[ketch]

Maybe do talking more about me ?I like the American way of life from the end of the 40's and in the 50's. I'm not a collector but like use this vintage kitchen appliances. For the story about my Frigidaire refrigerator, i find one in our Craigslist here in France. This website is calling "le bon coin". It's my #1 source to find vintage stuff. 5 years ago I found one at 15mn from my home. This Frigidaire Imperial cold Pantry was in a cattle and owned by an aristocratic family. Bad condition but so rare in France. Plastic shield inside broken. Missing accessory inside. Really dirty and some rust inside. Exterior not better, few pocs on the body, enamel paint with deep rips, aluminum trim behind the handle door broken. The seller asking $300 and don't know if it running or not. I offering $50. Go back home whithout the Frigidaire.
In the 50's in France, if you want a refrigerator at home, it's necessary an American made. No factory in France, just G.E made in France under the name of Frigeco. Only basic model, no combination available. Frigidaire build is own Factory in around 1958, made and sell refrigerator on France after this date. But like G.E only basic model with single door. Of course not Imperial model available.
You do have a lot of money in France in the 50's to imported a brand new Imperial ! Heavy duty fees and custom fees.
So, the guy who selling this Imperial call me 3 weeks later and said right for $50. Ok i go and pickup to my garage for made a restoration. Running but no cold. Stand by for a restoration later. The Imperial you see on the pictures in my kitchen, it's not this one. Let me know if you want read again more about my Frigidaire . . .

 

[philr]

Hi Fred, nice to see another French-speaking member here! I am surprised to see that you got a Cold Pantry in France! It must be quite rare there.