In Search of 1957-1960 Era Thermador "Bilt-In" Refrigerator with Bottom Freezer!

[apppliancenerd]

I am a volunteer with a museum in the Northeast that owns two Frank Lloyd Wright homes. One has all of its original appliances, the other had its original refrigerator replaced by the last home occupant with a unit that is very out of place. Both homes are now on public tour and the museum is seeking to find a Thermador "Bilt-In" model (made between 1957-1960) in stainless steel with fridge on the top and freezer on the bottom with handles on the right side. Looking for any ideas on where to possibly track down such a unit. It does not have to be in working order but the visible exterior doors would need to be in reasonably good shape to place in the space provided for it. I included a link below to an ad for the model in question. If anyone has any ideas where else to search, please post and I will follow up with you. Thanks. Link to photo of ad.

 

[combo52]

Search for an early late 50s Thermidor built-in refrigerator

Hi, this is gonna be a tough one. I hope there’s one out there somewhere but even as long as I’ve worked in high-end homes, I have never seen one of these refrigerators.

You might want to post the dimensions needed. There were some early subzero’s and Revco refrigerators that were probably similar size made in that time range. You might have a slightly better chance of finding those

The Thermidor might’ve even been made by one of those companies I never even knew Thermidor tried to build a built-in refrigerator until the 2000s when they partnered with KitchenAid and use their built-in refrigerators under their name.

You’re looking for a left-hand door model when the handles are on the right.

If I see one, I’ll let you know.

Which Frank Lloyd Wright house is this for?

John L

 

[apppliancenerd]

Search for an early late 50s Thermidor built-in refrigerator

Hi, this is gonna be a tough one. I hope there’s one out there somewhere but even as long as I’ve worked in high-end homes, I have never seen one of these refrigerators.

You might want to post the dimensions needed. There were some early subzero’s and Revco refrigerators that were probably similar size made in that time range. You might have a slightly better chance of finding those

The Thermidor might’ve even been made by one of those companies I never even knew Thermidor tried to build a built-in refrigerator until the 2000s when they partnered with KitchenAid and use their built-in refrigerators under their name.

You’re looking for a left-hand door model when the handles are on the right.

If I see one, I’ll let you know.

Which Frank Lloyd Wright house is this for?

John L

John:

Thanks for your reply and helpful perspective. Indeed, to find the exact type of unit may be close to impossible, but I will do some online work to check out Revco and Sub-Zero units that might be closer in profile. I had a hot lead on one from a company called Hudson Valley House Parts (New York's Hudson River Valley area) which deals with architectural reclamation from tear downs and demolitions (sadly) of formerly gorgeous mansions and larger homes being taken down for subdivisions and condos. They had an entire Thermador kitchen from that era but they were all in bright yellow and they would not sell the units separately.

The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, NH was left the Zimmerman House by the original owners upon their death and the Kalil House was purchased in more recent years by a generous patron who sold it to the museum for $1. Both were designed by Wright and apprentices at Taliesin in WI. Zimmerman house in 1950 and Kalil in 1955. Both are great examples of Wright's Usonian homes, but the Kalil is known as a "Usonian Automatic" because the house plans included the wherewithal for the homeowner to pour/mould the concrete blocks on si

All of the workspace (kitchen) appliances in the Zimmerman House are white. All original models but for the front-loader Westinghouse washer which the owners bought in the early 70's to replace an original of another make. In 1950, stainless steel was not really an option otherwise Zimmerman wanted stainless, but by 1955 when the Kalil House was built, it was at least an option at a rather steep upcharge. Here is a link to the museum's page about the houses.

I will secure the dimensions of the space where the fridge was positioned.

Thanks again for your reply.

Matt G.