1963 Frigidaire Custom Imperial on SS thread #64730

[funktionalart]

What I really think happens...

...is that this is a combined issue of cleanings and time. I really believe those colour bars were thin adhesive (which is why Chris isn't seeing any paint residue). People used to LOVE to use Clorox and other harsh cleaners on the inside (which wrecks the interior lining over time), and probably did so outside as well. Chemicals and moisture from this probably loosened everything up enough that the things finally came out or softened/dissolved.
Looking at mine more closely, the stuff is like a coloured gel film….one area on mine in particular will take zero effort to remove some. And there's no interest on my part in trying to replicate this stuff should I wreck it! Considering this is a GM labeled refrigerator, I am surprised they didn't have the segments painted in as they did on their car logos/nameplates/badging. GM trim work in that era was fabulous. To attempt this today, and get longevity out of it, would require immense amounts of patience, masking, curing, CURSING, etc….I did my '62 Corvette trim by hand years ago…never again.
But one last though--I personally think the strips on Chris' unit look absolutely fine as they are--it's even more current looking the way it is vs. the coloration.

 

[dynaflow]

Allen

wish u were closer i would give u my turquiose 63 will not fit under cabinets in my kitchen

 

[funktionalart]

Ron, how long before...

You make a decision on what to do with the '63? We are in the process of planning a move to the Atlanta, GA area….

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Chris, first off, your Frigidaire is stunning. Great job cleaning/restoring it. May I enquirer what cleaning products  you used to whiten the exterior? My General Electric has turned a pale almond as well.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

[funktionalart]

Exterior cleaning..

Louie, you'd probably have great luck with a mild automotive polishing compound. Think of the fridge like a car--just a damp t-shirt type cloth with light up/down/linear pressure with your hand at first just to cut through the top layer of grime and see what you get. You wouldn't want to use rubbing compound unless totally necessary as those tend to cut through the finish giving you thin spots in the paint…

 

[rp2813]

Meguiar's Car Cleaner/Wax has done a great job for me.  It really transformed the exterior on my '57 Combination.  In a good way.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Thanks Allen!

 

Thanks Ralph!

 

[frogkid11]

Thanks Louie!

For the exterior, we simply mixed up a paste using the powdered form of Bar Keepers Friend and some warm water. We tested on a small area on the rear corner to make sure it wouldn't scratch and it removed that yellow, dingy aged dirt and grime without much of any pressure. Once we cleaned an area with the paste, we went back over it with a damp clean cloth. The last two steps were to use the infamous Jubilee product (it's the old appliance wax that's back on the market) and then buffing her with a final clean cloth. It sounds tedious but it went quite fast and the results were amazing.

Good luck with yours!

 

[frogkid11]

Ron, what condition is your fridge?

Hey Ron,
Is your Turquoise '63 in perfect running order? What model do you own? I live not far away in Richmond, Va if you make a final decision to get rid of her. I would gladly come pick her up if you are no longer going to keep her.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Hey thanks Chris!

 

[standingpilot]

Hello, I'm thinking about installing a vintage fridge like this one, are there any Frigidaire experts out there that may be able to help with some tips? I have a line on a 63' version but I need to know things like dimensions, parts availability and retrofit options(if it breaks).

The main problem I have is one of dimensions, and next is that left hand hinges or side by side door operation is a necessity.
The dimension problem is a killer because I only have 66" height clearance without destroying vintage cabinets. The problem presents itself because my grandfather had probably one the earliest version of a built in refrigerator installed, it was a gorgeous 1965 brushed chrome Tappan side by side, 36" wide by 65" tall. It was the jewel of the kitchen.
Well he passed away in 1982 and rather then sell, my mother rented to friends, first thing to crap out from the added abuse was the refrigerator, I was too young to be kept in the loop, and she let the new refrigerator installer just walk away with the beautiful Tappan (something she now knows was a terrible mistake). She was living overseas at the time and needed a fast and cheap solution. She ended up selecting a 30" Gibson Golden edition and it was one of the first non-Ohio built appliances installed in the house. My grandpa was a mechanical engineer and through his service contracts dealt with nearly every company that need materials testing in the midwest and Pennsylvania,so he knew what was what. He specifically specced Ohio built appliances for everything down to the clocks and doorbells.
The Gibson was a great fridge as well but It's at the end of life (83' model) 31"w x 63"T x 23"D and it had a 4.6 CUFt top freezer! and cheap (this was before they started charging an arm and a leg for counter-depth free standers). She even had trouble finding something that would fit back in 1983, and this one has an ugly 3 " gap around the entire perimeter, it's like a baby fridge with a giant top freezer. Needless to say, nowadays nothing will fit except even narrower apartment compacts and even those are to deep.
So dimension are issue one, I once saw an avocado Ford Philco SxS built-in with the proper dimensions on CL but it was too far and I was too late....
I can live with a 30 incher and maybe make some vents to lessen the gaps, but I'm pretty sure it will have to be vintage to meet the height requirement. I'd prefer a Morraine built Frigidaire (after Tappan built-in of course) but I need to know who else made short fat refrigerators in the 1960's? I'd settle for just about anything that is 50's-60's-70's (Sheer look) that would fit.

PS: I know the easiest solution would be to just hack out the vintage upper cabinet and install a 36" Sub Zero. But even that approach presents a problem as there is double sub-floor and only 83" to the soffit. Everything is 84".