I like my old fridges, but....

[58limited]

My semi-annual task. I live in a humid environment and I really should do this more often, but I'm lucky to do it every 4 months. This is my 1951 GE. Defrosting used to be an all day affair, but then I found out about the electric defrosters that were made to help with this. I bought one on ebay for about $7.00 plus S&H. Funny, my 1949 Coldspot deep freeze doesn't need to be defrosted except every year or two.

 

[58limited]

Here is the electric defroster. Looks like an electric charcoal starter but with a shield.

 

[58limited]

55 minutes later. Now to defrost the Frigidaire...

 

[dalangdon]

Wow, that's a lot of frost!!!

And here I thought that the GE Wall fridge's Freezer gets a lot of frost! but that defroster is great - much better than standing there with a blow dryer (which is what I end up doing)

 

[frigilux]

I applaud your dedication to the non frost-free fridge! It is a dedication I, myself, would not be able to muster.

Anyway, that electric defroster is cool....er, hot!

 

[Cybrvanr]

I've used a hair dryer on my old Frigidaire, and in my RV fridge. It will reduce the time necessary to about 15 minutes or so because it's not only hot, but moving air too. I'd either hold the hair dryer, or position it on something like a ladder in front the fridge to hold it at just the right height to blast it with the warm air. I guess that defrosting paddle would work just as good, but it looks a little dangerous with that exposed element.

Usually after enough of the ice has melted down, I'm able to remove some of it in large chunks by hand, which further reduces the defrost time.

That's a cool looking GE. Do you have any pictures showing the entire fridge?

 

[58limited]

cybrvanr

The fridge is missing the vegetable drawers, but otherwise is complete. I've had it almost 10 years now. Thanks to Kenny (goatfarmer) for his help and for the freezer thermometer. Here is a picture. I painted this and had the chrome redone.

 

[58limited]

The inside. I'm defrosting the Frigidaire, so this one has more in it than usual.

 

[helicaldrive]

We want another picture of that stove!!!

Is it a Wedgewood or an O'Keefe & Merritt? It's stunning!!!

When I had a refrigerator that had to be manually defrosted, I used to get two stock pots of water boiling. Then I'd set them in the freezer on wire racks, close the door, and wait for awhile. It was quite effective, especially at melting the ice behind the back wall of the freezer that most people don't even know about. The defrost job is not really done until that's gone as well.

What a pain in the butt that used to be. But it would be worth the eye candy of your kitchen.

 

[partscounterman]

If you are defrosting more than you used to do, perhaps you need to replace the door gaskets. They are leaking too much room air into your freezer.

 

[58limited]

helicaldrive

Here is a picture of the 1950 O'Keefe & Merritt. For those interested, many of my appliances are on my web page - link below.

They make retro fridges that look very similar to mine, but cost $2500 or so. I'm into this fridge for a little less than $500 (paint and rechroming costs, fridge cost me $5.00). I once saw a web page for a place that would convert these old fridges to frost free for $1500, but now I lost the link and can't find them on the web anymore - maybe they are out of business. Given all these prices, I would rather put up with defrosting - MUCH cheaper - since this is the look I really want.

http://home.gt.rr.com/limited58/kitchen.htm

 

[drmitch]

Ahhh! Theres my chopped spinach!

 

[appnut]

David, all those beautiful kitchen appliances give me goosebumps!! An incerdible look. And I always thought GE fridges of that era were really something and a work of aesthetic beauty.

 

[drmitch]

Wow, David! Love your home and collections! I love older homes and yours is a real treasure. Nice decorating also!

 

[58limited]

drmitch

What kind of refrigerator is yours?

Thank you for the compliments, and you too appnut. For my kitchen, I have only working 1950s appliances,except for the microwave and coffee maker (grind n' brew). I generally will not buy anything unless it is working or fixable. I see people decorate with nonworking items, but I can usually find working ones for cheap enough and then I don't have to own a space consuming modern working version also. Old appliances are durable (heck, they've lasted this long). I have had several modern appliances break in 5 - 10 years. I don't like replacing things that often.

 

[appnut]

Do you use your Nesco at all? It's really nice, I think that's what my grandmother had.

 

[58limited]

appnut

Honestly, I have not used the Nesco since I bought it. I have loaned the other one (not the one on the stand) to friends to use at parties to keep stuff warm, but that is it. I keep telling myself I need to use the big one, but I'm single and rarely cook enough volume to use a large roaster. I have a turkey that I might cook in it at Christmas.

 

[drmitch]

Hi David, Its a Philco from around 56-58. Love that 58 Riviera. I always wanted a 57 Roadmaster but classy cars like that are hard to find around here.

 

[58limited]

drmitch

I love the Philco - great look. Is that a foil, wax paper, and paper towel dispenser to the right? I have a Lincoln Beautyware version.

 

[appnut]

Wow, my mom used to have one of those dispensers. Long gone.

 

[58limited]

drmitch

I just read your profile. How many cameras do you have? I have seveal, dating from the 1920s to the 1960s. They have been boxed up since I moved here from college. I hope to unpack some and display them when I buy the barrister bookcases for the living room.

 

[exploder321]

That kitchen rocks...
Every fridge either my parents have had or I have had, has not lasted more than 8 or 9 years max.. GRRR

 

[drmitch]

Sorry guys, the wirless network im on doesnt work as well as my old frige. David that despenser is a Krestline a friend gave me. It also has a matching canister bin. I collected mostly Brownie cameras and dont have them properly displayed either. Heres a pic from my other house.

 

[58limited]

There are some familiar cameras in that photo. I need to unpack mine and clean them off.

 

[helicaldrive]

Your stove is absolutely awesome.

They don't get any better than that. Great restoration/decorating job in your home.

The burners on vintage gas stoves worked better -- the flame was shorter, so it stayed under the pot instead of blowing around and climbing up the sides.

And the vintage ovens don't have electronic ignition so they work when the power is out.

 

[rp2813]

Re: Nesco

Does anybody have any good uses for these types of cookers? I have access to both a small 40's Nesco and a larger 50's Westinghouse roaster. I thought I might use the Westinghouse for extra warming space on Thanksgiving but didn't need it. It's a big bulky thing to have around, and now I'm seeing these roasters making a comeback on department store shelves. Can anyone provide a good reason to keep these things around other than the fact that they're old and still work? I've already got a real oven and a crock pot, so where would a need for these two items come into play?

 

[gadgetgary]

Nesco Roasters

Are a wonderful cooking tool

http://www.nesco.com/products/?category=700

 

[rp2813]

Nesco Site

Thanks Gary, I had just visited that site before Thanksgiving as I wanted some guidance on how to use the large Westinghouse roaster. I was able to download and print the instructions for the modern day Nesco that operates essentially the same way. This is actually my mom's appliance and has been shoved away in her basement for years. I pulled it out and cleaned it up but didn't need to use it after all. My partner calls it dangerous due to its age when in actuality it's fairly low mileage. Having a large range with oven in my kitchen already, I can't see much reason to use the roaster and am afraid it's going back to the basement as it's too large for me to store at my house, and the last time I had occasion to use it was probably 25 years ago. Unless somebody here can provide a use that only a roaster like this is uniquely qualified to do. . .

Sorry, I know this started out as a refrigerator thread and now it's been hijacked by big unruly things that take up way too much space both on the road and at home!

 

[exploder321]

The only things i have ever seen them used for is to keep things warm and roasting corn.. Oh and a beer cooler once...

 

[neptunebob]

Try asking at your church whether you could donate your roaster to them. Every time they have the 18 quart Nesco on QVC (and they usually do this time of the year with "An Hour of Nesco") the host will ask "What do you plan to use the roaster for" and the callers always say "Well I plan to use it for events with my church".

Also my father in law, the father of my BIL who talks about the Duets, was a member of a volunteer fire company that had a collection of several roasters they use for potluck dinners, might check with them.