late 50s or 1960 Hotpoint refrigerator $100 So. Cal area

[funktionalart]

Pretty exterior design, but zero word as to operational capability. Cheap-ish, though...
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/app/5568276969.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/app/5568276969.html

 

[ken]

I believe it's a 1958. The one below is from 1957. The main difference are the corners.

 

[circlew]

I've always wondered why, when Hotpoint restyled their appliance line in the late 50's, that they didn't go to the completely squared-off corners like GE did.

 

[rp2813]

Wasn't Hotpoint GE's value-line brand?  That's why I've always thought HP lacked features like rotating shelves and generally lagged behind GE's design trends.

 

[jamiel]

Wasn't the squared off look more a plant-based issue--after all, Hotpoint was more into porcelain enamel than GE was--porcelain didn't work so well on square corners...just wondering.

 

[rp2813]

My '57 GE is porcelain enamel and has crisp corners.  Even the Hotpoint pictured in the OP still has somewhat rounded corners, and it also has exposed hinges, which require extra space on the hinged side for the door to open 90 degrees.  Beginning in 1957 GE Combinations featured shoulder hinges that eliminated the need for that extra space, affording a built-in look if desired.

 

[ken]

And I know that at least for 57 Hotpoint still used a mechanical latch whereas GE went to a magnetic latch in 56. Don't know what year HP finally adopted the magnetic latch.

There is one feature though where I feel HP and others for that matter were ahead of GE in the era when two evaporator systems were used just before introduction of single evaporator with fan systems. And that was in the design/placement of the evaporator in the fresh food compartment. HP mounted it vertically on the back wall as did Philco. Both Kelvinator and Westinghouse, I believe, mounted it completely flat at the top of the compartment covered by a drip tray.

GE mounted it at the top of the compartment angling down at the back. Ive always felt that design cut down on the amount of usable height on the top shelf. And the user manual even cautioned to make sure nothing placed on the top shelf touch the evaporator coil as the melt water would run down it. I believe GE kept that design until eliminating the two evaporator system. I guess they never received many complaints about their design.

 

[rp2813]

Ken, I agree with you.  It's easy to avoid contact with a flat ceiling mounted or rear wall evaporator.  The angled evaporator in my GE requires caution with tall items but the other systems don't.