Coppertone Kelvinator? Anyone know?

funktionalart · Jul 5, 2016

It's not for sale (you'd have to buy the whole house to get it)….I just was curious if anyone could confirm if it's a Kelvinator or not? House is 1976 build, was guessing the fridge to be circa 1967-72 ish..LOVE the flush install!

goatfarmer · Jul 6, 2016

Yeah, that's a Kelvy, the handles, and the big nameplate are give aways.

daveamkrayoguy · Jul 6, 2016

Seen a "fictional one" as on THAT '70'S SHOW... --Copper, as well...

A "non-fictional one" is a Harvest Gold one that I saw & opened up at a used appliance store--and much in it was like the old Bradford...

There was a discarded Avocado Philco/Ford that I even saw on someone's lawn that I wonder if it would have been similar to this fridge...

-- Dave

turquoisedude · Jul 6, 2016

Love the flush install, too!

I'll second that motion! Someone took a great deal of care and trouble to make this look built-in. Could this one have a condenser and fan below the refrigerator? I had a slightly older Kelvy in turquoise that had the coils on the back.

daveamkrayoguy · Jul 6, 2016

I bet the condenser is one you have to get at by pulling the unit away from the wall... (Or out of its niche or from the nook, in this case...)

-- Dave

funktionalart · Jul 6, 2016

Thanks, all! Thought so on the mfg~

Just wanted to see what other eyes would see. Far as the condenser goes, this *looks* like it might have condenser/fan underneath…bad photo, but looks as though that is a chrome ventilation grille at the bottom. No idea for sure, tho'. Still getting over that flush installation work they did with it. So nicely done!

DADoES · Jul 6, 2016

A flush/recessed installation wouldn't work with a bedspring condensor on back. No way for the heat to dissipate, right? Unless the rear wall is open ...

funktionalart · Jul 6, 2016

You'd be surprised how many people ignore ventilation...

and clearances. Most like though, (if this DOES have a coil condenser on back), the kitchen builder put a vent panel on opposite side of the wall…my dad used to do that in his construction--just a slatted metal panel or decorative one….whatever owner wanted.

countryford · Jul 6, 2016

Link to the site for the house. PLEASE!!!!

funktionalart · Jul 6, 2016

Ha, justin!

I'm looking at it to buy. *Maybe*. It's up in Washington State…..

combo52 · Jul 6, 2016

Like The Vintage Built-In Look

But unfortunately this is not a real Michigan built Kelvinator but rather a Gailsburg Illinois built Gibson-WCI piece of junk.

This ref does have a back mounted static condenser, but for all we know the ref may just be pushed through the wall into the pantry and would work very well this way.

daveamkrayoguy · Jul 6, 2016

Grand Rapids, MI was where Kelvinator wa originally based...

Greenville, MI was where Gibson originally hailed from...

You'd be surprised how many built-in look appliances, such as this one, can be found in my old kitchen remodeling books, and probably have some clever gaffes and ways to overcome certain techniques, to make them still run as well and long as they're intended, if not squeezing out more, and looking pretty, too...

-- Dave

countryford · Jul 7, 2016

That's all right, I still want to see the remainder of the pictures.

lordkenmore · Jul 7, 2016

I admire the way the refrigerator was fitted to the kitchen...but I also cringe a bit, as I wonder "what happens if/when the refrigerator breaks." (Since it's WCI, it might definitely be a "when" issue!) It seems like servicing could be hard (although perhaps the back is easily accessed from the other side of that wall). And then there can be the issue of it breaking, not being repairable, and possibly having a nightmare finding something that will properly fit.

rickr · Jul 7, 2016

Those are not so bad...

This fridge is a WCI Kelvinator made in 1977. It is in use in a rental house we own. Never had a problem with it, and the ice maker still works...

funktionalart · Jul 7, 2016

Justin~pics of the house for you

These are what I saved in a folder…the original listing seems to have disappeared! Maybe someone bought the place….? Kitchen even has my same Jenn-Air range--that woulda been one less thing for me to pack and move!