Decorative Refrigerator side by sides from the 60's

[pcasa]

Bill Reddig Designer American Motors/Kelvinator

... how ironic these searches turn out - seems that the designer for the Kelvinators that I was researching was previously at American Motors - and worked on the Rambler - which was another favorite design of mine posted here ... I found a comment from his daughter Ann Reddig on a vintage advertising forum - if you google him - you'll see an interesting story! ... BTW carmine & xraytech - the only mention I have found of any existing models was the FEDERAL in someone's grandmother's basement - ah - a new quest is born![this post was last edited: 7/6/2014-12:33]

 

[twintubdexter]

I remember the day they unboxed those Kelvinators for the sales floor. I wasn't supposed to be out front much since I looked pretty scruffy from cleaning used appliances all day but I'd sneak out there anyway. Those designer pieces were very pricey, especially the Chinese Dragon model. That little model, the Maverick, had real "faux fir" on it, not just paint. My mom liked the top freezer one (not pictured) that had chicken wire and a huge rooster painted on the front. I've never forgotten them...they were so cool. The Amana side by sides were no longer the most expensive refrigerators on the floor.

 

[pcasa]

WOW!!!!

twintubdexter - finally someone who has actually SEEN one of these rare birds - do you remember the price point? and did they sell very well? how long were they on the market?? questions questions questions!

 

[twintubdexter]

The only thing I can say is that they were expensive. I have no idea how well they sold. They were competing with the "rage of the day," avacado, harvest gold and shaded coppertone. I know that I saw very few come into the shop for service (remember refrigeration was rarely serviced in the home back then) so that may help indicate how well they sold. The store sold more Frigidaire than anything else but there were always several Admiral Duplex's in the service department, especially when it got hot in the summer. The largest model was huge and occasionally I was used like slave labor and went out with a service tech to pick one up. They were like moving a house!

 

[pcasa]

thanks!

... would have loved to seen one! speaking of moving a "big one" - here's my sweet nearly 80 yr old uncle helping uncrate the vintage Traulsen I had shipped from CA - it took four men and removing a sliding glass door to get that baby inside - it's from 87 I think - luckily I happened on to a great repairman who had learned on Traulsens - only had to make two small repairs - crossed fingers!!!

 

[funktionalart]

Special "decorator" fridges....

I *think* it is Frigidaire who are currently marketing modern versions of this 60s design fad. I personally LOVED all this stuff when people had it back in those days. And it is the easiest thing to do yourself if you've an ugly cosmetically challenged fridge in your collection.
I'm working on one quite similar to the Chinese Dragon Kelvinator--I have a guy custom cutting some door trim frames to hold lucite door panels (underneath will be coppery coloured Asian grasscloth wallpaper) and some VERY cool door pulls from a 60s Asian style console table I am dismantling. There just might be a market in reviving these Kelvinator looks for vintage fridge owners who want to spice up what they have stored in garages! But it may only be limited interest to the So. Cal and Phoenix mid century mod crowd....

 

[funktionalart]

Special "decorator" fridges....

I *think* it is Frigidaire who are currently marketing modern versions of this 60s design fad. I personally LOVED all this stuff when people had it back in those days. And it is the easiest thing to do yourself if you've an ugly cosmetically challenged fridge in your collection.
I'm working on one quite similar to the Chinese Dragon Kelvinator--I have a guy custom cutting some door trim frames to hold lucite door panels (underneath will be coppery coloured Asian grasscloth wallpaper) and some VERY cool door pulls from a 60s Asian style console table I am dismantling. There just might be a market in reviving these Kelvinator looks for vintage fridge owners who want to spice up what they have stored in garages! But it may only be limited interest to the So. Cal and Phoenix mid century mod crowd....

 

[davey7]

I remember seeing a kit at a Sears maybe 20 years ago to turn a regular fridge into a "custom" or built-in look fridge. It was metal frames, which I assume, screwed into the doors and one could insert a panel into the frame. I thought it was a great idea, but I don't think it caught on one iota.

One of my cousins always seemed to get stuck with odd duck fridges and would fearlessly paint them.

 

[twintubdexter]

Just Curious...

...has anyone ever seen one of those designer Kelvinators for sale? I haven't. I suppose I would need to ask Phil in Atlanta. If one ever popped up on Craigslist he would know.

Phil's home computer room where he monitors Craigslist ads for the entire Country

 

[pcasa]

not me

.. but I did find two references - the daughter of the designer (Bill Reddig) has the Jack of Hearts from the family home .. and I found another reference on an advertising forum about a Federal one in a grandmother's basement ... leads me to think that they weren't sold in big numbers [this post was last edited: 7/8/2014-16:46]

 

[goatfarmer]

A few years ago, I picked up a Kelvy  SxS  that was a tan color, and had colonial looking wood handles on the door. I remember it had some sort of pinstriping on it, kinda like the French Provincial one pictured. This was factory, nothing that someone did on their own.