1963 Coldspot Spacemaster 14 bottom Freezer

[funktionalart]

Happy New Year all! Quick post after a long, long absence--just a little something I picked up for myself over the holiday week. Vintage appliance gifts are just the best Someone up here will know for sure, but I believe this to be a 1963 model, early-ish Whirlpool mfg. for Sears. Some pics here for you. It's in INCREDIBLE/low use condition and runs flawlessly. And QUIET! Problems? The interior lights don't activate…which is gonna mean opening up the liner to check wiring and door switch. I think I'll leave it dark rather than mess with it. Oh…I could use an upper freezer shelf at some point…if anyone has a spare handy feel free to let me know!

 

[midcentnurse]

Nice! And those handles are fabulous. I like how they put a tag for cleaning the filters, the idea of not keeping and maintaining an investment like that for years and years and not just throwing it out wasn't even an option. Scott made some shelves for our freezer just last week, he used the white wire closet shelving from lowes and cut it to fit. Works perfectly.

 

[pulltostart]

Oh my goodness - that is beautiful.  And you just can't beat that badge with it's script/font for pure class!

 

Congratulations on a great gift.

 

lawrence

 

[rp2813]

Good to see a post from you Allen!

 

And what a post it is!  That is a beautiful fridge.  I've had a couple of these cross my path over the years but I've never seen handles like those. 

 

I'm amazed that it appears the freezer floor heater still works for routing thawed condensate down the drain during the defrost cycle.  That was the weak link on the Coldspots I had, and a factory retrofit system had to be installed on both.

 

[turquoisedude]

Wow, what a great way to kick off New Years!  Congratulations on your find - it looks like it just popped out a page in the Sears catalog.  All the shelves and bins are in excellent condition - hope it keeps it's cool for many years to come!!

 

[goatfarmer]

Light problem might be as simple as switch, or socket.

 

[mattl]

My folks bought that exact model back in the early 60's, it ran and ran for decades.  Over the years I replaced the defrost heater, the timer twice and the thermostat once.  It died about 10 years ago, wasn't worth the effort to fix at that point.  Replaced it with a Whirlpool top mount freezer model.  It was heavy and solidly built, but not exactly energy efficient.  Noticed a drop in the bill when it was replaced.

 

for me it was a secondary fridge in the basement bar area and we used it for overflow food when we had parties.  I do miss it, I am not a fan of top mount freezers as I am 6'4" and hate bending down to get into the fridge.   Anyway, enjoy!  Nice unit.

 

[funktionalart]

Thanks for the replies, guys! I have to admit, I took a month to decide whether or not to buy this one only because "Sears" on a badge has never been my thing. Silly reason--as it's a good looking, well built fridge and you rarely see a bottom Freezer Coldspot of this era. It had to be saved--this stuff doesn't grow on trees anymore so like a good preservationist would do, I brought it home with me.

Being tall, I won't have anything but a top fridge or side-by-side. This unit isn't going to be a primary fridge, but nice to know if it has to be for any reason, I can actually live with it's configuration--if only I could find one with a left hinge!

What I REALLY like about this one is that it is as shallow as a Sub-Zero….this Coldspot is basically "built-in" size, except for the height (low at 65"). Cabinet is only 22-1/2" deep and exactly 25" deep factoring in the doors/door gaskets. 32" width is handy for smaller kitchens, too. So, this may become the daily kitchen fridge just for that reason--I could just about get this thing to be placed flush with countertop edge. I'm Not crazy about the smallish cu. ft (although it's technically a 14, I'd be surprised if the fridge storage is much more than 10-11 cu ft.).

My grandparents' 1950-odd Coldspot ran non-stop for at least 50 years so I expect this one to possibly go beyond that due to it clearly not having been used much. It really is quite minty.

Ralph--yeah….the floor heater seems to be working flawlessly. The defrost timer is original, and although I didn't think to photograph it, the underside is super well-kept. So clean. I'd guess that this thing has a total of 5 years' total use. I've never had one this tidy before--so surprising! There was barely any dust to clear away at all.

Any of you experts on Coldspot serial numbers? I'm really curious if I am right on the date….I think so because from what I can tell, these handles were one model year only, and I think the '64 version not only changed the handle again, but deleted "COLDSPOT" from the liner face behind the door. Also, the kick panel seemed to have changed in '64 as well.

From what I've seen of 1960-62 versions, these top mounted fridges usually had cold control for both the fridge and the freezer. Mine only has one control--inside the fridge. Nothing in the freezer at all--my 1963 Frigidaire Custom Imperial is also configured that way...

And Lawrence…I'm in full agreement on that font. LOVE. The door badge also seems to be one model year only as well.

 

[philr]

Nice fridge Allen!

A friend of mine used to have a very similar RCA Whirlpool.

I'm not sure about how your refrigerator's cold control works but on the 1963 Frigidaire, there's a thermostatic damper behind the drawers that controls the temperature in the refrigerator section. It's adjustment is set at the factory.

 

[funktionalart]

Hi Phil--Thanks! Yes…this Coldspot is a Whirlpool rebadge for Sears build, so similarities to RCA Whirlpool are definitely visible. I believe you're right on the cold control on these (you and I have the same '63 Frigidaire Custom Imperial model)….and operating principle does seem to be the same type.

 

[a440]

What a beauty! 

 

[funktionalart]

While crouching in the freezer bin tonight...

I saw the date stamp of Dec. 11 1962 on the freezer fan assembly--so if this is like the automotive world, that'd be a late '62 build for the '63 model year…yes?

 

[rp2813]

Allen, 1963 sounds about right to me.   Both the interior and exterior on your fridge look more updated and modern compared to the 1960 behemoth my sister had.