'58 GE Combination Bottom Freezer

[rp2813]

Would this be a frost-free model?  If not, would freezer condensation zones be on top and rear like a top-freezer design?

 

And is it just my imagination, or do 99% of surviving Combinations with bottom freezers have coppertone exteriors?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/app/3343466808.html

 

[roto204]

Wow.

Total, coppertone-colored lust.

I'm somewhat glad I'm not nearby at the moment ;-)

 

[rp2813]

I'll bet you are!

 

It's more imposing than my current Combination so for that reason I'm happy to stick with what I have.  But it's very tempting even at $250.

 

[countryford]

I have a G.E. Americana with the freezer on the bottom, and it is in coppertone.

 

[arbilab]

The top is self defrosting. The bottom, I'm not so sure.

 

[hydralique]

The top is self defrosting. The bottom, I'm not so sure

So perhaps the top can take care of himself, but the bottom might expect someone to take care of him . . .

 

[rp2813]

the bottom expects someone to take care of him . . .

Well stated! 

 

Isn't it always the way?  But let me be quick to advise that I make it my business to exceed such expectations.

 

[whirlaway]

Same Americana

I have the same one in my garage,but in white,it works very well.On the glass mine has a gray and white diamond design. The formica counter is white with gold vein.The inside is white and blue,with blue snow flakes everywhere.It runs very quite and the freezer is really cold.The only drawback with it is not very deep in the top section,sooo I have to put party trays and the like in the the 1930 Frigidaire in the kitchen.Its deeper inside. Bobby

 

[arbilab]

Mrs. Myers cattycorner from my house had that exact model. If only she were alive to ask.

At the same time, Westinghouse freezers were 'self defrosting'. We owned one. Not perfect, but effective.

I just don't know what the GE arrangement of the same era was, except that the top was self-defrosting.

 

[danemodsandy]

We Had One.....

....Of these when I was a kid. The refrigerator portion is self-defrosting, but the freezer is manual-defrost.

It's important with these to keep up with defrosting the freezer, because of the drawer slides. If those get clogged up with ice, damage to the slides can result.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Sandy

You described exactly the result I would expect from a manual defrost bottom-mount freezer.  

 

With a top-mounted fresh food section that presents contents at eye level, I'd be willing to trade the spinning shelves for the frost-free convenience in the freezer section afforded by later models.

 

[appliguy]

Ralph GE Frostguard Fridges did not come out until 1959

that is also the year they discontinued the revolving shelves and replaced them with the swing out kind that lasted until the mid 1960s.....PAT COFFEY

 

[whirlaway]

Americana

The one I have is fully self defrosting,it has the neatest pull out rack at the top of the freezer,I bet you can put 6or7 ice trays across it.Its such a quiet machine,compared to the one in the house,it gurgles,farts and burps for 10 min after a cycle.I guess if i were eighty I would do the same thing.

 

[danemodsandy]

Ralph:

I wouldn't let my caveat about the drawer slides stop you, because these are lovely refrigerators. My mom's refrigerator was plagued by the problem because it belonged to my mom, who is known in the family as The Appliance Killer because she will not expend the slightest effort to care for one.

I personally would love to have one of these. There is a solidity and heft to these babies that cannot be beat, even by models only a few years newer. The turnaround shelves are a dream.

The one in the photo seems to be almost complete - it has the rarely surviving egg trays. The only thing I see missing is the meat pan, which was sort of triangular-shaped to fit the turnaround shelves. It was anodized aluminum to match the shelves.

 

[rp2813]

Well, I wasn't in serious pursuit of this fridge, but was looking for info should I be able to accommodate one in the future.  It's a very nice one and I hope it finds a good home.