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Just Like Alice Cramden's Fridge
- Thread starter launderess
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Another interesting "Fridge"The seller doesn't say if it works.And "came from a ghost town"Its not a good idea to take things from such places unless you know its alright with the property owner.You have to wonder what refrigerant that used?And is its system still intact?
SactoTeddyBear
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2004
- Messages
- 1,302
Re: Unless I'm wrong:
I believe that this is an "Ice-Box" meaning that the Ice Man delivered Ice to you, which was placed in the Lowest part of the Unit, to keep everything Cool.
I noticed that it was a Frigidaire Brand, I wonder if even at that time, they were "GM" made?
I do agree about it coming from a Ghost Town, although it might have some real interesting things happen with it for the person that gets it.
Fun Times, with Nostalgic Vintage Appliances, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...
I believe that this is an "Ice-Box" meaning that the Ice Man delivered Ice to you, which was placed in the Lowest part of the Unit, to keep everything Cool.
I noticed that it was a Frigidaire Brand, I wonder if even at that time, they were "GM" made?
I do agree about it coming from a Ghost Town, although it might have some real interesting things happen with it for the person that gets it.
Fun Times, with Nostalgic Vintage Appliances, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...
Ice boxes were pretty common in many areas, including urban cities like Manhattan until late as the 1950's. Popular way to show/tell early morning was saying or showing the "ice man" with his cart making his morning rounds. Next to the milkman, he was one of the few other "service" men up and at work by the crack of dawn.
One put huge slabs of ice from the ice man on the bottom of the unit, and as it melted, there was a drain pan to catch the water somewhere underneath to catch the water.
Many old apartment buildings in NYC, including some very ritzy ones had "ice boxes" built into the kitchen wall that faced outside. That is there was a small "box" like square with a door that one opened and put things like milk or butter in, then closed the door. Of course this only worked during deep winter months, from say November to March, but long as out door temps stayed below 35F, things would keep.
As for "ghost town" objects, surprised this person was allowed to wonder around such areas and take things as he saw fit. The bit abouts rat's and mouse nests would put me off the thing anyway. Last thing one would want is to get up in the middle of the night for a snack, go into the kitchen and see a "housewife" in turn of the century clothing standing near the fridge, asking what one did with her joint for Sunday's dinner! *LOL*
*Feets Don't Fail Me Now*!
Launderess
One put huge slabs of ice from the ice man on the bottom of the unit, and as it melted, there was a drain pan to catch the water somewhere underneath to catch the water.
Many old apartment buildings in NYC, including some very ritzy ones had "ice boxes" built into the kitchen wall that faced outside. That is there was a small "box" like square with a door that one opened and put things like milk or butter in, then closed the door. Of course this only worked during deep winter months, from say November to March, but long as out door temps stayed below 35F, things would keep.
As for "ghost town" objects, surprised this person was allowed to wonder around such areas and take things as he saw fit. The bit abouts rat's and mouse nests would put me off the thing anyway. Last thing one would want is to get up in the middle of the night for a snack, go into the kitchen and see a "housewife" in turn of the century clothing standing near the fridge, asking what one did with her joint for Sunday's dinner! *LOL*
*Feets Don't Fail Me Now*!
Launderess
Looked again at the pictures of the unit-the 3rd picture shows the nameplate of the unit-indeed it is some sort of refrigerator.The plate doesn't tell what type of refrigerant was used in it like what is done and required today.Too bad they don't show a picture of the compresser,condenser,evaporators,etc.If it is a "fridge" must of been the first one Frigedaire made.-even has on the label-"division of General Motors"
"Ice Box" come to think of it-there used to be one at the summer cottage we used to have at Lake Winnepesaki in New Hampshire.It was replaced with a Serval propane powered fridge and the old box sat on the porch for a number of years-then one summer we came to visit and it was gone!!Could some "filcher" have taken it during the winter-the camp was on an island-but that lake freezes over solid during the winter-they could have packed it out on a sled towed by a snowmobile.I can rmember it had like copper lining and the drip pan on the bottom and a compartment where you put the ice block.
Many of the early refrigerators had the "box" like what's pictured,upstairs in the kitchen,and the refrigerating unit was in the basement.Still a neat piece.
kennyGF
kennyGF
In the early days companies converted old Ice boxes into fri
Frigidaire was one of those companies........ so was Kelvinator, in fact that is how Kelvinator came to be associated with Leonard. Leonard was a manufacturer of ice boxes in the early 20th century and Kelvinator used to buy the wood cabinets from them to put their electric components in.
FYI: The company known as Frigidaire was already making fridge's under another name, not to sucessfully I might add, before Billy Durant scooped it up for his budding GM congolorate and renamed the company in 1919. Also according to my high school french teacher the word Frigidaire is french for refrigarator.
Frigidaire was one of those companies........ so was Kelvinator, in fact that is how Kelvinator came to be associated with Leonard. Leonard was a manufacturer of ice boxes in the early 20th century and Kelvinator used to buy the wood cabinets from them to put their electric components in.
FYI: The company known as Frigidaire was already making fridge's under another name, not to sucessfully I might add, before Billy Durant scooped it up for his budding GM congolorate and renamed the company in 1919. Also according to my high school french teacher the word Frigidaire is french for refrigarator.
That is in poor shape
Especially for a 300$ starting bid.
I have a tin "ice box" and it came with the glass drip tube. Mine looked worse than this one, restored beautifully, and I only paid $60. (But that was a long time ago, but still)
The inside of this refrig looks down right scary!
He/She needs to post some better pics...IF I was interested, I would want more details.
Oooooh, I think I saw an apparation lurking in there! LOL
Especially for a 300$ starting bid.
I have a tin "ice box" and it came with the glass drip tube. Mine looked worse than this one, restored beautifully, and I only paid $60. (But that was a long time ago, but still)
The inside of this refrig looks down right scary!
He/She needs to post some better pics...IF I was interested, I would want more details.
Oooooh, I think I saw an apparation lurking in there! LOL
gmpayne
Well-known member
I worked as a maintiance man many years in old appartment build downtown Indy. The building open in 1928. The kitchen had these refigerators as part of the built in kitchens. The refigeating equitment was in the basement and cooled all 80 refigerators.
kevinpreston8
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2006
- Messages
- 371
gmpayne....
I mentioned an interesting story about this a few months back here, and I will state it again.
When my sister moved out and continued to live in Denver after we moved back to CA, she had a number of different apartments. She finally settled in one she really liked, in a building built in the 20s.
Her kitchen had a really odd cabinet in it. It was not as big as a broom closet, and it had odd walls, and something in the far back of it that she couldn't make out.
She finally asked the landlord about it, and just like your experience, it was part of a (disconnected) refrigeration system that had all the key components in the basement. It was referred to as a "refrigerated cabinet".
Can you share more about this system, what was in the basement? Were they still working? Was the apartment unit like the one in the auction, or different?
I mentioned an interesting story about this a few months back here, and I will state it again.
When my sister moved out and continued to live in Denver after we moved back to CA, she had a number of different apartments. She finally settled in one she really liked, in a building built in the 20s.
Her kitchen had a really odd cabinet in it. It was not as big as a broom closet, and it had odd walls, and something in the far back of it that she couldn't make out.
She finally asked the landlord about it, and just like your experience, it was part of a (disconnected) refrigeration system that had all the key components in the basement. It was referred to as a "refrigerated cabinet".
Can you share more about this system, what was in the basement? Were they still working? Was the apartment unit like the one in the auction, or different?
gmpayne
Well-known member
Kevin, The equipment was long gone as well as many of the refrigators sad to say.
