I Bought A GE Combination Fridge! Questions...

[bellalaundry]

Hey all,

I bought this the other day...I love the styling, and of course, the convenience features!

The step on door opener, the swivel out shelves, the butter conditioner...Very nicely desinged! Oh, and of course, the bottom mount freezer.

The model I have is: BH 13P H1. Does anyone know the age?

A couple of questions, What type of bulb fits into the freezer section? That's the easy question.

The fridge does not seem to be cycling on and off. Plenty cold, even freezing stuff in the fridge compartment.

I am a complete newbie when it comes to fridges, is anyone familiar with this model? Is it doomed? How do the numbers correspond to the temperature? The higher the number the warmer, or is it the opposite? In the last picture, the end of the thermostat wire is just hanging. Has it been broken off?

Hoping to get some help.

Guy

 

[turquoisedude]

It's a 1957 model, Guy. The letter 'P' in the model number indicates this. This design is very cool (no pun intended... no, really...) as GE was competing with Frigidaire's 'Sheer Look' so they squared off the cabinets on the higher-end refrigerators!

Unfortunately GE fridges of this vintage are renowned for bad cold controls, so a replacement may be needed at some point. Better still, it is possible to find a modern replacement.

That wire in the last picture looks like the sensor tube that attaches to the thermostat. You may get more stable cooling results by attaching that tube to or closer to one of the cooling coils.

Oh, and in a GE, the cold control dial numbers would go from warmer to colder. 1 would be warmest, and 10 would be coldest. Believe it or not, my '56 GE Wall Fridge is set at 1 and cools just right for me!

It's a beauty of a fridge! Hope this helps at least a little!!

 

[Ultramatic]

YEA!!!

 

 

Another General Electric Combination joins us! Congratulations Guy!

 

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[combo52]

GE combination refrigerator

That little thermostat sensor wire that’s loose needs to be clamped tightly under a little bracket attached to the cooling coil otherwise the thing will never shut off and will freeze food.
John L

 

[rp2813]

Here's a shot of my '57 Combo's serpentine coil.  The clips held by screws are used to keep the cold control sensor tubing in place on the coil assembly.  View the picture full size and you can see that the tubing is routed through the clips.

 

I had to replace the cold control on mine.  As Paul said, they seem to be the weakest link on later '50s GE's.  Try correcting the tubing issue and then keep your fingers crossed.

 

[bellalaundry]

Thank You

all!

So, the first thing I will do is clip the thermostat tube to the coils. We will see how it goes!

Paul, thank you for "dating" my fridge.

 

[bellalaundry]

OK, so

it hasn't cycled off. Moderate frost build up. I'm guessing that means new cold control.

Ralph, can you tell which cold control you used, and maybe an outl;ine of how you went about it.

If it is beyond my capabilities, is this something that the average repair guy is going not want to do?

Guy

 

[rp2813]

I'll see if I can dig up the box the control came in.  I do know that it was a universal fit with lots of extra mounting hardware, and we did have to cut the post that the thumb wheel fits onto.  I'm pretty sure it was a Gemline product. 

 

It wasn't a difficult job.  The toughest part was extracting and replacing the control, but on your fridge it's at eye level or higher, so it should be a lot easier to see what you're doing and where things go.