Finally Found One - Kelvinator Foodarama

[58limited]

OK, I have traced all of the wires with my ohmmeter and found the wiring problems. I'm taking a lunch break before I hook up everything and test the fridge.  The wire to the light switch is red, the wires of the thermostat circuit and returning from the light bulb are black, the heater wires are green. The only white wires are from the compressor and the wall outlet wire. Here is the Foodarama wiring diagram:

 

[58limited]

Here is how the person who replaced the wall outlet wired it. The original plug was not a three prong plug, the original green (heater) wires were not ground wires as this person assumed:

 

[58limited]

YAY! The fridge is now functioning properly: When both thermostats are turned off, the compressor shuts down. Now I'll let it run a few hours and see what temperature readings I get.

 

The first phase of this restoration is complete: make the fridge function properly. The next phase begins: repainting it and replacing the door gaskets.

 

Edit: It appears to be working correctly. Fridge is holding at about 36 degrees, freezer reads 5 degrees so I turned the t-stat down a little to get it to 0.

[this post was last edited: 1/19/2013-16:59]

 

[goatfarmer]

I love it when a plan works out.....

 

[58limited]

Got the quote from my painter today: $600. This includes taking it down to metal, fixing and/or filling dents, sealing, priming, and painting with automotive paint. Plus, they will pick up and deliver.

 

[goatfarmer]

Sounds reasonable.

 

[58limited]

It is reasonable for all the work they will have to do. I will have to wait a few months - too many obligations right now. I'll probably bump this thread periodically (like the Flair thread that has been going for a couple of years) to keep the restoration all in one thread; that will make it easier for someone else who restores one to find all the info in one place.

 

[alr2903]

58 Limited I posted the vintage Foodarama youtube vid, in honor of your project. Its over in Roberts "test" thread. Many have prolly seen the vintage ad. It is just a fun video. arthur

 

[ovrphil]

I saw it

It's amazing that ad is visible. It's a shame there isn't a better one to view - enjoyed it, anyways!

 

[58limited]

alr2903

Thanks for posting the vid. I downloaded it for my archives.

 

[58limited]

I haven't done anything more to the Foodarama, waiting for funds to get it painted (hopefully a decent tax return will allow me to do this soon). I need to get the Roper T&C out to fix the rear legs and get the side panels repaired and re-enameled. Everything else on the stove seems OK except the chrome, which can easily be dealt with at anytime, even after the stove is in the kitchen.

 

[58limited]

Just won an original Foodarama owner's manual on ebay.

 

[58limited]

Well, until I can get to the point of painting the fridge, I'm going to use it for home brewing. I plan to start lagering a beer this week.

 

I'm going to scan the owner's manual that I got off of ebay and post the scans on my server. I'll post a link here when I'm done.

 

[58limited]

Bump before it falls off the active list! If I get a decent tax return, I'll use that to get the Foodarama painted, so that might happen in the next month or two.

 

[qsd-dan]

Fingers crossed for you on the tax return. Can't wait to see the final product all nice, shiny, and full of food.

 

[alr2903]

Good to hear about the upcoming paint job. Did you decide on a color? alr2903

 

[58limited]

I'm staying with white.

 

[alr2903]

58Limited, white sounds good to me. White never has gone out of style. Bonus you will not have to contend with the textured steel that the manufacturers are so proud of these days. One wipe and DONE. arthur

 

[ken]

David:

Whats the status of the Foodarama?

 

[58limited]

Hi Ken,

 

I haven't done much but I'm closing a deal on one missing shelf, the cheese and butter trays, and a few spare parts right now - just waiting to hear back from the seller. I had to postpone restoration and plug the Foodarama in for use: my deep freeze broke and I had to move everything to the freezer of the Foodarama.

 

The deep freeze is now fixed so hopefully I can get startedk on the restoration.