1960's FRIGIDAIRE REFRIGERATOR

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

It's beautiful but . . .

Odds are it's not in proper working order if they just want it gone, and whether it can be fixed is debatable.  We've seen as many successes as we have failures with repair attempts here, and none have been very easy on these BF models.
 
In all seriousness~

I would like to have as many shippable spares as I can get for keeping mine going for an eternity if possible. I just am not gonna be the one to drive from AZ to Louisville to make a deal--so if any of you DO decide to grab keep me in mind.
 
Differences between 1961 FPI and 1963 FPI

HI group,
I am highly considering getting this fridge and have already talked to the owner. Does anyone know the size of this unit compared to the 1961 FPI-15B61? For some reason I was thinking this 1963 was the Imperial 19 but everything inside looks just like my 1961 FPI- 15.

Thanks in advance, as always!
 
Chris~ re; sizes on FPI

PhilR will probably tell you all you need to know as he has multiples of these Frigidaires. I can give you specs on my own '63 later tonite--for now I can tell you that it is either FPI-14 which means 14 cu. ft. or FPI-16 ) 16 cu.ft. I cannot recall exactly which at the moment The refrigerator section is not large at all when compared to a modern unit…but still plenty commodious for the era. . Dimensionally about 70-71" tall, 30 or 32 wide and around 26-27 deep…but I will give exact dimensions after I measure it tonight for you.
 
Thanks Allen

Hey there,
Sorry, I wasn't looking for the actual outer dimensions - I already own a 1961 FPI-16B which was the biggest and top of the line for 1961 Frigidaire refrigerators. I was more curious to know if the inside had the same dimensions as my 1961 (it appears everything is exactly the same in the pictures he sent me) but he knows nothing about it and some of the shelves, the hydrator, and the freezer baskets are stored outside of the fridge and I told him not to worry about putting them back in because I know how to do it (and I didn't want him to force anything into place that didn't belong).
 
The 1961 FPI-15B and 1963 FPI-16B have the same exterior dimensions. The 1963 models got rid of the cold plate in the refrigerator section. The interior volume of the refrigerator section is marginally bigger because of that but it's simplified design means one less fan motor, one less thermostat (the one for the fan in the refrigerator section of the 1962 and earlier models is hidden and it's adjustment is a service operation) and no cold plate in the refrigerator section. For all the parts removed, there's one extra part and it rarely fails in the 1963, that part is a thermostatic valve that regulates the airflow in the refrigerator section, it works in a similar way as a coolant thermostat in a car. 

 

The 1963 models are still more complicated than manual defrost refrigerators but the simplified refrigerating system works better at maintaining constant temperatures in the refrigerator section when it works fine.

 

One thing to look for on all these early Frost-Proof Frigidaire refrigerators is to see if there's a current leak on the cabinet. If the refrigerator has been stopped for a while, it might not be detectable but if it's running, you can disconnect it and test put one of the probes on both prongs of the power cord and the other on a metallic part of the fridge like the stainless trim around the cabinet. With the multimeter set on "ohm" or "beep" (if it has the beep feature), it should not beep or detect continuity on that setting. Another way to test that is to ground one of the prongs of the multimeter and touch the cabinet of the fridge while it's connected with the mulltimeter set on 200V AC, see if it shows current leak, repeat the operation with the fridge's plug reversed in the wall outlet (these aren't polarized). If there's no current or minimal current leak, it will show 0 or a very low reading, if it shows something like 118 volts, it will likely need a new defrost heater. The defrost heaters aren't that easy to replace on these refrigerators. 

 

Also, before you fill it with food, make sure that the temperatures in the refrigerator and in the freezer are OK and that the defrost timer and heater work correctly, every 12 hours on a 1963. The timer's manual advance shaft has been moved from just behind the kick plate on the left side to facing the water tray also on the left side. That is of course if the timer hasn't been replaced with a generic one. 

 

To test the temperatures in the freezer and in the fridge, I suggest placing a good quantity of water in a  large plastic pan in the freezer and a good quantity of water in a pitcher in the fridge. Set the cold control to "1" and wait for a day to see what happens. Then put a thermometer directly on the ice in the freezer and in the water in the fridge. You want the compressor cycle on and off occasionally (not just twice a day when the defrost takes place but a few times between each defrost periods and check the temperatures of the water and the ice in the freezer. The ice should be at or below 0°F and the refrigerator section should be between 32°F and 40°F. 

 

The only disadvantages I see versus the earlier cold plate system is that the air that circulates in the food section also circulates in the freezer section. So if you keep things for a long time in the freezer, things may catch odors from the items stored in the refrigerator. But most of today's fridges are also made like that and they circulate the air between the freezer and the refrigerator sections. 

 

I have one 1963 FPI-16B and it works nicely.

 

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Good news!!!

Well gang, I have good news. I just got home with this fridge and it's in perfect working order. She needs a good scrubbing to make the white gleam again but I have plenty of experience in that already. The only parts missing are two of the wire racks for the fridge that sit on the sliders to allow you to slide it in and out, the upper door shelf has the trim piece for the front but the two clips that allow it to fit into the door are gone, and then one of the thin metal bars that keep the frozen boxes in the freezer door is missing.

Was able to get this one for a song and it goes perfectly with my spare Fridgidaire Flair to make another matching set. I am so excited to be able to save another perfectly working Frigidaire Frost Proof Imperial - these machines are not only strong but they are so elegant in the kitchen.

Oh, and sorry Allen but I won't be parting this one out since she works perfectly. Maybe you and I both can find someone else who is parting one of these so we can get our few missing pieces :-)
 
Chris--HAPPY FOR YA!

It's more important that one got saved and is working than for me to have the odd part. These, I think, are the most aesthetically pleasing of all the 60s fridges. Just beautiful. And so, so, SO incredibly scarce anymore. So glad you got a functional one! Load us up with PLENTY OF PICS!!!
 
This Frigidaire Imperial was working 4 years ago when we decided to get a new one. Reason was, I bent the freezer drawer due to ice buildup and I'm not smart enough to repair it.

My folks bought it new back in '63-'64 timeframe; we have had it in our house for a good 20 years after my Pop decided he wanted to get a newer fridge with an automatic ice maker in the door!

I've had it in my basement up until this past week - it's a long story - but I needed room to put a 500-gallon water tank in the basement due to low-volume water in our well.

Anyway, it's time to get rid of this fridge due to space requirements. I hate to throw it away - if anybody here can use it, let me know soon....

2d1dad-2017012708033408073_1.jpg
 
FYI everyone..

I can't pick this up til the week of February 12th...possibly, the 11th.

The offer is open to anyone willing to remove it from his backyard, so

if someone else decides they want it, I am out of the picture, unfortunately.

Phil
 

Latest posts

Back
Top