Found - Refrigerator / Freezer Combination from GE!

[swestoyz]

While getting the fridge is not a long story, looking for one - however, is.

For those who are in the know I've been in the middle of a home renovation for the last two years. Since I bought the house I've been making determinations as to what the perfect fridge would be.

Since I am single and don't plan on building a family anytime soon, I figured that something from the early to mid-50's would work great. Defrosting? Piece of cake. Child-killer handles w/ latches? A prerequisite - bring 'em on!

Originally I had found a 1964 TOL Hotpoint with a freezer on the bottom. It started rusting out for the last year or so and I didn't want to deal with painting it.

Earlier this year I had made my mind up as to which refrigerator I wanted. A 1954 through 1956 Frigidaire Cycla-matic would be my quest.

A few Frigidaires had popped up in both Iowa and Omaha but nothing really was good enough for daily use.

About a month ago, while at Greg's, I skimmed through the 1948 Hotpoint repair notes which covered the first year for the double door GE/Hotpoint units. Fell in love but never imagined that one would fall in my lap. They seemed to be pricey when I was venturing around on the refrigerator sites.

Few weeks ago my aunt gave me a tip that my uncle's father was moving into a retirement community, and was looking for someone to take his GE fridge. She had mentioned that it was a double door GE, and sent a link to GE's historical site that showed a picture. She confirmed that the fridge in the picture was indeed the fridge that Bill Pauley had.

"Of course I would be happy to take it off his hands," was my reply back. Pick-up was scheduled for after Thanksgiving.

 

[swestoyz]

Fast forward to yesterday.

I couldn't believe it when I saw it. Tattoo'd in UAW and AAA stickers and magnets, but it was mine!

The only bitch of the deal was the feat of muscling it out of the basement.

Check out that killer tile job of Bill's! One of the Sisters, Susan, mentioned that he had done it when she was really little. Probably 55 or 56.

Here we see my kid brother Robert removing a sticker.

 

[swestoyz]

Finally, out of the basement. I guess my joints are young enough to take the beating of pulling it out of a basement. An Escalera would have been nice.

 

[swestoyz]

Pre-clean up

Story goes that Bill and his wife Charlene built their home on the west side of Waterloo in 1952. A buddy of Bill worked for the local GE dealer - Crescent Electric - downtown Waterloo. The 1952 models had just come out and they needed to clear out old stock, so this TOL 1951 floor model had to go. His buddy knew Bill was building a house and would need a nice new GE to go along with it, and sold it to Bill at list price. He didn't tell me how much, but I can imagine that it was still expensive!

Turned out to be a good deal for the buddy as it appeared that Bill became a GE man after that. I was hoping for an AW5 in the basement too but was happy to see the 1967 Filter-Flo.

 

[swestoyz]

Badge close-up

 

[swestoyz]

Interior shot. This thing is just MINT! The door seals are in really good shape and only need a bit of repair.

 

[swestoyz]

Found the owner's manual on eBay last night. This is what it would look like stocked:

 

[swestoyz]

Butter tray close-up

 

[swestoyz]

Refrigerator control. Reminds me of the controls for Robert's AW6 washer. Too cool!

 

[swestoyz]

I didn't get a shot of the cool racks that the crisper drawers roll on, but this sticker is just below them.

 

[swestoyz]

model number sticker on the inside wall.

 

[swestoyz]

refrigerant label. Two system set-up.

 

[swestoyz]

model tag found way back by the compressor.

How many can say that every component in their refrigerator was made in the USA?

 

[swestoyz]

Shot of the compressor.

 

[swestoyz]

Gleaming porcelain.

Bill told me that the refrigeration compartment would not need to be defrosted. He said that this model was set up so that daily use of opening and closing of the door would be enough. I think he used a fancy term for it but I cannot remember at the moment what it was.

 

[swestoyz]

Final clean-up shots.

I'm not sure if the scrach across the front was from me, or from 57 years of use. Who knows.

While it is not perfect, it is in pretty good shape. A little yellowing from the various magnets and stickers over the years.

 

[swestoyz]

The later handles with the escutcheons behind them really make this fridge.

 

[swestoyz]

Glam shot.

 

[a440]

Very Cool Ben!

I just love your new GE Fridge!
It looks to be in great shape. I just love that you were able to get its history. I am sure that they are so happy that you will be enjoying / using it.
Thanks for all of the pictures!
The Compressor shot is awesome! It looks futuristic! I bet is sounds great when running. I always thought these older refrigerators sounded like a cat purring while running.
Brent

 

[swestoyz]

"okay, enough with the photos!"

I hear ya. Hopefully I'll be able to roll her into the kitchen sometime in January. Till then it will live in the dining room with the kitchen cabinets (which I still haven't shown to you yet Terry!).

Fun things like these are still in those 1950's neighborhoods across the country. I give it about 5 to 10 more years until it is all gone. Giddy up!

Enjoy,

Ben

 

[perc-o-prince]

Looks gorgeous!!!

I just love the badge. Enjoy the fridge in good health!! Thanks for all the great pictures

Rich

 

[gansky1]

That is truly awesome, Ben! These are among my favorite two-door vintage refrigerators. Congrats, it's going to be perfect in your kitchen - there's nothing like cold beer from a vintage refrigerator. When you're here next, start digging the GE literature section, I know there's a few things around this time.

Congrats again!

 

[appnut]

Ben, wow!!! This was a fridge that was very popular around our 1st house neighborhood! Many people had it. This is the fridge my "other mother" moved with her from the old neighbohood to the "new house" in August 1961--ya know, the one with the frog-eyed gas kenmore dryer, the L1000 Laundromat (like Jon Charles has) and her sea foam brand new westinghouse kitchen. The fridge was still going strong when it was replaced with a SxS Whirlpool in the early 1970s. Interesting, you and Elginkid find the 2 major vintage fridges of my childhood in the same week.

 

[rickr]

LOVE IT!! Congratulations Ben!! That is a great old fridge, and will look fabulous in your restored home!

It is really something how thick the walls were in these old refrigerators. Built like tanks!

 

[rp2813]

THAT

Is my ideal fridge. Enjoy it for many years to come, Ben! I can only hope for something similar to happen to me because you're right, these fridges are tough to find and don't come cheap anymore.

Maybe this is something that could be discussed in a new thread, but what you advised about this type of find being gone in another 5 or 10 years is really true. The generation of people who hung onto this stuff are either moving out of their homes into assisted living, etc or are passing on, and once that generation is gone, the well-maintained original owner stashes will be gone along with them.

 

[goatfarmer]

Fantastic, Ben!
I pulled one about half that size out of a basement last summer, I was done for the rest of the weekend. I can't imagine lugging that one up the steps. Hope it was a straight shot!

 

[58limited]

Great fridge, just like mine except that mine has the magnetic door seal instead of the latch handles, and my veggie drawers are missing. Mine is a 1951 - did GE continue the latch handles when the magnetic seal came out, or am I off by a year?

 

[appliguy]

That is not the owners manual for your fridge Swetoyz as you

Your fridge was made between 1947 and 1950. The 1951 models had magnetic door latches. If you see the cover of the fridge manual on ebay you will see that it does not have the same handles yours does nor does it have the latches in the frame of the cabinet for either the fridge or the freezer door latches. 1951 was when GE introduced the Alnico magenetic door seal and they touted it in ads thru the rest of the 1950's....PAT COFFEY

 

[rp2813]

Pat, how did the magnetic door seals work compared to the old latching system? Not that I have the option to be particular, but if either system was troublesome, I'd want to know about it while I search for my own combo fridge.

I snagged a 1950 vintage GE combo for my sister around 25 years ago but it had an issue with the freezer latch and would frost over unless it was constantly re-adjusted. She finally passed it on to a friend who was lusting after it. If this is typical of the latching models, I would hope that the magnetic system resolved that problem.

Ralph

 

[swestoyz]

1950 or 1951 - either way, it is fun!

Good news! Got over to the house to work on ripping up my bad grout job, and was able to drink a nice cold Coke from the GE! I was informed that it was working prior but you never know what a move will do to a fridge. Had them unplug it a few weeks before moving it, and I waited about 24 hours before plugging it in.

Thanks for the nice comments guys, I'm very excited about this one. Now I just need a convection Amana Radarange...... ;-)

Ben