50's GE Combo Fridges Question

[melissa]

Is there any way to swap the doors from one model GE combo to a different model GE Combo? Are they all the same interior function with just different decorative outsides?

My issue, I recently purchased a beautiful GE combo fridge, but getting it working was cost prohibitive. So it's now sitting in my garage not doing anything.

I just saw another GE combo fridge for sale that works, but is a slightly later model, and just not quite as pretty as the first.

I'd like to take the doors off the fridge sitting in my basement and put them on this new fridge that works. Is that possible?

In this link is a pix of the fridge I could buy. The one that functions.

 

[melissa]

the unfunctional fridge

Here's a pix of the broken fridge that I'd like to use the doors off of. Isn't it beau-tee-ful? You think the doors may be interchangeable on these two models?

 

[appliguy]

Melissa I do not think that would work

because I am pretty sure that the fridge and freezer doors on the one in your garage are shorter than the fridge and freezer doors on the 1953 model you want to buy. If you look at yours you will see the strip of metal below the fridge door is wider than the strip of metal on the 1953 model also the freezer door looks taller on the 1953 model as well. I think the reason for that is because GE did a redesign on the inside of the fridge to increase the capacity (correct if I am wrong guys) and they also moved the main cold control from the mechanical compartment, where yours is located, into the fresh food compartment so one control now controlled both the fridge and the freezer. If I were you I would ask the owners of the one you want ot buy to measure both doorsfrom top to bottom and you do the same on the one in your garage. If both sets of doors are the same heighth (which I very seriously doubt) I also would have them take pictures of the latches on the frame of the fridge body that the freezer and refrigerator doors hook to when shut because the door latches on these two fridges operate differently (yours pull to the side to open the 1953 model fridge door handle pulls down the freezer one pulls up).  Serioulsy though I think you should keep the newer one the way it is if you buy it mainly because you have a freezer door shelf for juices and Ice Cream that you do not have in the one you already have and besides the one you already have is fairly common where as the one you are thinking of buying you do not see quite as much...just my 2 pennies worth....PAT COFFEY

 

[rp2813]

I'll second what Pat said. 

 

The early Combinations are indeed beautiful with their clean lines, but I highly doubt that the doors could be switched between the two machines, and even if they could, I think a lot of chipped paint could result.  In particular, the hinged kick plate at the very bottom could be a challenge.

 

Your friends and visitors will be equally impressed with the later model.  If it works well and is priced right, buy it and enjoy it.  Its styling and features are likely to grow on you.

 

[rickr]

X3 here....

Will not switch out. I have a 1948 GE and a 1954 Hotpoint. The doors are not the same height, or width for that matter.

 

[melissa]

another combo question

I've been assuming that the two exterior door fridge/freezers need less defrosting that the fridge/freezers with an interior freezer door?

Is that a correct assumption?

Appliguy - that's interesting what you said about the commonness of the two fridges. I would have thought the newer one is more common. Have you seen 58limited's beautiful combo - it has beautiful deco looking chrome handles ... - any idea if that is a fairly common one too? I'd love to find one of those. His fridge is the first one at the link.

Vintage Fridge Thread

I've enjoyed the vintage stove thread so lets have a vintage fridge thread to go with it. I've posted these before, but I'll start with my 1952 GE Combination:

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[moparguy]

Isn't that virtually the same as yours, but with the magnetic close and associated handle rather than the latch handle? They are both nice looking, my experience on those is that I have found more with the latch handle than the magnetic.

 

[rp2813]

GE had a pretty good system with their single door Combination models that was about as effective against frost build-up as a separate door type.  Personally, I think the double door models look more impressive and I believe they offer more storage space.

 

[goatfarmer]

It would be much easier to refinish the working unit, than to attempt what you're thinking.

 

[58limited]

My GE Combo is a 1952 model, the first year the Alnico magnetic door gasket was available. You could still get the regular handles too.

 

[appliguy]

Actually 58limited

The first year of the Alnico magnet door gaskets was 1951 as this picture [COLOR=#0000ff; text-decoration: underline]proves. [/COLOR] <span style="color: #333333;">  PAT COFFEY</span>

 

[58limited]

Thanks for the clarification, Pat.

 

For those interested, a GE fridge like the one in Melissa's first picture is in the kitchen of Ted's apartment on the TV show "How I Met Your Mother" The GE emblem is blurred whenever there is a close-up.

 

[oldwasherguy]

GE fridge

Those early 50s GEs are cool, but my favorite has always been the 1939 and 40

 

[oldwasherguy]

1939

Inside pic