A vintage freezer for the new house?

[turquoisedude]

Thanks, David!  I took the box off this weekend to inspect it and wowee - I'm surprised it didn't short out when I first tested it.  The wiring was really bad.   

 

I'll borrow your technique for removing the rivet and see how that goes.  I had already designed a replacement junction box using a split-wired outlet and a surface-style outlet box but I'd love to keep the original one if I can. 

 

Here's what the box looked like on removal and how scary the wiring really was.  

 

[turquoisedude]

My goal for the weekend had been to replace the compressor wiring, too.   I had the good sense to call John (combo52) to ask if the disc on top of the compressor was some kind of connector.  Glad I did, 'cause dropping the compressor down to a workable height would have been a major pain...   The last refrigerator I tinkered with was the '56 GE wall fridge and the wires for the compressor were welded on to the contact posts....

 

While the wiring was in bad shape, it was dead easy to replace.  I simply un-bent the loop at the top of the connector pins and attached new wires.  

 

[turquoisedude]

We have a date...

I was happy to find this pearl of information on the relay.  It's official, I just bought a 60-year-old freezer...  

 

[turquoisedude]

So the new wiring was installed, connector reattached, and the relay re-installed.  

 

I figured there could be one of three outcomes when I tested my handiwork:  1 - the compressor wouldn't start,  2 - the wiring was mixed up and would vanish with a large blue 'PHUT', or 3 - the compressor would start and run normally... 

 

[turquoisedude]

I guess I should really start to trust my own work more!  

 

The compressor started and ran just fine.  I ran it for about 2 hours to make sure it was cooling and all looked fine.   My next trick will be to get that junction box rewired and I'd really like to adapt the new cold control to the original mounting and dial.  I have a couple of ideas for that, but won't get to play with this again until next week.   Stay tuned!!

 



 

 

 

[58limited]

Glad its working! My junction box is very similar to yours, you should be able to disassemble it with no problems.

 

[kb0nes]

Nothing to it but to do it Paul, have faith

You got a GE combo to run, after that rewiring a freezer (or Large Hadron Collider) is mere child's play

 

[cuffs054]

kb, that's a good one!

 

[turquoisedude]

Rewiring done!

Sigh... I tried my best to preserve the original bakelite connector block from the '55 Coldspot.  I managed to take it apart, but found it a bit too cramped when I replaced the wiring.  I had been unable to find a small, but tight crimp connector to pair up three wires and still allow the cover to be replaced. 

 

So I compromised!   Not pretty, but it works and didn't smoke, spark, or sputter!

 

[turquoisedude]

The last thing to do will be to drill out the centre shaft opening on the original cold control mounting plate.  Then I'll put the control back up front and we'll be done!

 

After much debate and measuring, the Coldspot will be moving to the basement in Ogden; the 2008 Danby freezer will be moved to St-Liboire (and will be WAY easier to move). 

 

Full marks to Hubby for finding an alternate location in the Ogden basement for it when I first realized the Coldspot wouldn't fit where the current freezer is.  

 

[appnut]

Congrats Paul.  And I'm extremely proud of Chris coming up with an alternative that allowed you to keep the treasure and use it to its full potential. 

 

[turquoisedude]

Almost done... Although it was a short and busy 'weekend' down in Ogden, I managed to get the old cold control mounting plate drilled so I could use the replacement control in it. 

 

Modifying the dial looked like it would a challenge, but I remember dirty trick number 387 that I used when I was rebuilding the '53 Laundromat - a wooden stir stick inserted into the right position of a round control dial will mimic the flat edge of a control shaft.  Not sophisticated, but it works!

 

[turquoisedude]

This may be over the top, but...

I believe vintage dials were meant to be lit... I installed a small neon bulb just above the temperature dial.   I just have to decide whether this should be on continuously or if I should wire it in to 'cycle' with the compressor. 

 

That, alas, will now have to wait until mid-October.  Damn Hubby for dragging me away on a European vacation... LOL 

 

[philr]

Inspired by your new Coldspot find, I picked up what was advertised as being a vintage freezer but it turned out to be a vintage chest refrigerator. At least, all it required was a repaint of the cabinet! (I need to get a door gasket too!). And it's tiny!! 2.1 cubic feet! That had to be the most inexpensive fridge in the 1935-36 lineup!

 

See the link below the pictures...

 

 



 

 



 

Just repainted... 

http://archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/sliker/msuspcsbs_frig_frigidaire13/msuspcsbs_frig_frigidaire13.pdf

 

[turquoisedude]

Wow Phil!  That looks amazing!  You did a great job on the paint.  

 

I'd seen an ad for an old GE top-load refrigerator in one of my father's 1920s National Geographic magazines once but never a Frigidaire.  I need to come and see this one up close, I think!!

 

[philr]

I could have made it better but since I painted it outside and I started the preparation late in the afternoon, I think I did OK! I had removed the lid (which I didn't repaint as it's porcelain-coated) and the metal trim around the refrigerator opening as well as the emblem, quickly sanded the paint on the cabinet, primed it with a spray can stuff and applied automotive urethane paint which I already had. 

 

I had to fabricate a handle but I'll try to make a better-looking one or at least, one that looks a bit closer to the one in the PDF link I posted above...

 

[combo52]

Chest Type Refrigerator

Wow Phil this is certainly a rare find, A chest type ref like a chest freezer is a more practical way to build an appliance that has to remain cold where you have to open it to the warmer moist room air often.

 

But I can see why they did not catch on for general kitchen use, hopefully I will get a chance to see it someday.

 

[turquoisedude]

And the Coldspot is now in use at last!

Last weekend, despite being jet-lagged and discombobulated from the time difference following our return from a vacation in Turkey, I managed to con (oops, I meant convince) Hubby to help me get the Coldspot freezer into the basement in Ogden.   The basement is divided, due to the addition of a wing on the southwest side of the house - the freezer has moved to the unfinished section of the basement (where our modern freezer lived).   

 

Hubby is the one who actually suggested the current spot for it, as this 1955 model is wider and deeper than the Special-Happy-This-Will-Last-No-More-Than-5-Years-And-We-Make-No-Spare-Parts Chinese POS that we had been using.   Needless to say, the Coldspot was WAY heavier than the modern one but we managed to get it from the garage down to the basement fairly easily.  The 'middle row' of the washers in the finished part of the basement had to be shifted around a bit (prompting You-Know-Who to offer his opinions of what to do with the '60 GE and '58 Dominion which are both out of service at the moment).   Our big challenge had been getting the freezer through the doors - thank goodness the top lid was removable 'cause we'd have been in trouble otherwise.  Oddly enough that was not an issue when we picked it up from its former home in Magog.

 

Anyway, the freezer is now powered up and kinda filled (it's got a LOT more space than the old one) and I'm hoping that when I'm back down in Ogden tomorrow that all will be well... 

 

 

 

[ovrphil]

I love it! Sorry to catch this thread, as I seem to do so often, later. That's a beauty, Paul. I like the dial-light added. You sure have some lucky finds.

Phil