Fridge Identification

[rp2813]

I can't make out the badge on this fridge and the whole thing doesn't look familiar to me.  It's virtually free and the ad claims that it runs.  I'd like to see the interior, and will be contacting the seller to see if they can provide more pix.  I assume there's a grille missing at the bottom, but maybe it's kicking around somewhere.  I would be super thrilled if this box has a butter conditioner!

 

If anyone knows the make and has information to share on how this fridge rates among its contemporaries, please feel free to post.

 

 

 

[appnut]

Just taking a guess, but I think it's either an Amana or Coldspot/Kenmore.

 

[rp2813]

Yeah Bob,  the fridge handle smacks of early '60s Coldspot, but the badge looks much later and the color is throwing me.  Maybe it's the camera.

 

[jamiel]

Very late 60s Sears.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Jamie.  That explains the '70s looking badge.

 

I'm going to guess that this thing is frostless and a real energy hog.  I may have to re-think pursuing it, if it's even still available, although I feel a Coldspot from that period would get high marks for reliability.  The seller hasn't yet responded to my request for an interior shot.

 

Would the color be actual coppertone, then?  I think the picture has put a bluish cast on everything.

 

[goatfarmer]

Coldspot. For free, I might make an attempt to save it.

 

[rp2813]

Well, it's listed at $2.  Maybe that's just to keep the scrappers away.  Plus, the listing for this fridge didn't even come up when I used the search term "vintage," so I think the owner is someone with a conscience who isn't out to make a fortune and just doesn't want to send a working refrigerator to the crusher.

 

Considering that there are two ~ 1950 GE Combinations that have been on CL for a while, and they are priced at $400 and $800,  it would take many years of operation with the Coldspot to reach that level of expense in electricity consumption.

 

There's usually a way to rationalize it when you really want something, right?

 

[rp2813]

Gone

I never got a reply.  I went back on CL and noticed one less "favorite" listing than was there this morning.  I checked my sent emails, found the link to the ad for the fridge, clicked on it and landed on "This post has been deleted by its author."

 

How much trouble is it to simply reply and say the fridge was claimed?  Less than accessing CL to delete the post, I'd say.

 

[combo52]

Coppertone Bottom Freezer Ref

Is around a 1970 VERY RARE Gibson built Coldspot , It just as well that you did not get it as it is not much of a refrigerator.

 

John L.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks John.  It sure didn't look like a familiar Whirlpool-sourced Coldspot from that period to me, which is why I launched this thread.

 

I wasn't aware that Gibson made any refrigerators for Sears.  Maybe WP didn't offer a bottom mount at that time, so Sears found a manufacturer that did?  You learn something here every day, that's for sure!

 

 

 

[combo52]

Gibson Built Sears Coldspot refrigerators

Gibson built probably up to 1/4 of the Coldspot refs from the mid 60s on, at first mostly the smaller models but there were plenty of SXSs and a very few bottom freezer models.

 

The Gibson built models were always crapper models never the TOL for sure, I would rate them about even with Admiral refs overall.

 

This has long been the problem with Kenmore and Coldspot appliances, you have to do your homework to find out what you are buying, currently Kenmore branded appliance are built by at least 5 different manufactures.

 

It is always funny when CRs surveys readers on the reliably of their appliances, if you have a 5 YO KM ref for example your repair frequency experience gets averaged from  WP, SS, LG, GE, & FD which is why the kenmore brand always comes out in the middle of the repair frequency line up and often looks like a good fairly reliable brand to buy, LOL 

 

CRs should not try to survey KM brand motor appliances or any other Sears products where they have multiple manufactures unless they are going to require their readers to summit a model # so they can figure out who built your appliance.

 

When ever one of our customers calls with a KM appliance that needs repair we ask for a model # before scheduling and we then weed out all the junk makers like LG & SS along with some FD and GE built refrigerator models that are highly trouble prone, while one could argue that we should try to make money fixing these poorly designed and built appliances in the end it makes us look bad when it keeps breaking down.

 

John L.

 

[goatfarmer]

A few years ago, I picked up a WP branded bottom mount 'fridge, that was sourced from WCI. Strange things out there!

 

[jeb]

Energy Hog

If you like vintage appliances or are making a vintage kitchen I don't thing that energy cost should be figured in. To me this is your hobby and the extra energy cost is like the supplies for your hobby. If you collected guns you would buy bullets, if you made quilts you would buy fabric ect… We know that most vintage appliances are going to cost more to run and maintain so if energy consumption is a concern its probably best to buy new higher energy efficient appliances.

 

[circlew]

As I mentioned in thread # 84391, Sears sourced some items through Whirlpool that were actually made by Kelvinator (WCI, Gibson). Whirlpool contracted production of some lower volume items to other companies due to manufacturing capacity. It evidently was more profitable for them to do so than to expand their own facilities. Bottom-freezer models didn't seem to be as popular in the very late 60's through the 70's, as side-by-side units seemed to be all the rage.