Looka what's here in Texas

[retromom]

Paul, the fellow I purchased the CI stove from, sent me this listing today. He is a major vintage refrigerator (has 21) and stove guy (replacing the CI with a 1956 GE). I also told him that he needs to get on this forum.

He said the refrigerator could be painted black in a body shop.

What about finding replacement parts, i.e., for that cracked plastic shelf, etc.?

Venus

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[bethann]

Venus

It doesn't look like a 57 to me, but I could be wrong! Ask him what the model # is.

 

[appliguy]

It is a circa 1963 model

Venus, Bethann was right, this model is from the early 1960's circa 1963. PAT COFFEY

 

[retromom]

60's fridge

Bethann and Pat:

Thanks for the info. I did ask the seller about a model number, etc.

Can I vent? Austin and I have already mentioned that for some reason, people in Texas are CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP (read THRIFTY). Maybe it's just me, but I can't stand it when someone puts a reserve on their auction item. If you want a certain price for it, just list it at that price. Don't make us guess what you really want for it!!>:/

If you note, the guy in California with the lovely aqua fridge put no reserve, and the bidding (when I last checked) was still at $1.00.

Another point: of course, the handle is on the left side. With my current kitchen configuration, this would be extremely awkward. Maybe I'll pass. I'm sure there will be one at an estate sale in the near future. I know you don't want to hear this, but I still have my eyes on a new GE black side by side.

I'll keep watching, but doubt I'll (or anyone else) will bid.

Venus

 

[rickr]

Door configuration

Hi Venus!
Most of the older fridge's were designed that the door hinges could be switched to the other side. Left open,or right open was thus possible. Now you will have to just go ahead and get that bad baby!!

Rick

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Paint it black

If you paint it black the cabinet has to be perfectly straight. Black shows every defect. One of the reasons appliances were cheaper in white was because white hides imperfections.

Ken D.

 

[goatfarmer]

I'm thinking that one is about 1964.Also the doors are NOT reversable.
As for the crisper top,I believe they used the same one into the late 60's.Shouldn't be too hard to find one.

kennyGF

 

[gansky1]

The doors are not reversible and if the cabinet is indeed porcelain, it cannot be painted without etching and de-glossing the finish, a messy and probably expensive process if you're having it done. Don't spend the time and money on this fridge if the doors do not open the correct way for your kitchen, you'll always be annoyed with it. There are plenty of these refrigerators still out there but the odds are against finding one in charcoal gray to match the stove - but, you never know, lightening does strike now and then! All good things come to those who wait patiently...

When I found my 58 Charcoal range, the shop told me they had the matching 1958, charcoal gray, Cold Pantry fridge with picture window hydrator for a long time and finally split up the pair when there was interest in the refrigerator. They told me who bought it and I know where it is, but haven't gone to try and wriggle it away from them yet, it's in a fire station not far from the shop.

 

[retromom]

Charcoal range, etc.

Greg:

Since you already have the stove, is it really more of a charcoal gray or black. It's hard to tell from the photos.

Have you seen the matching fridge in person at the fire station? I know firemen are proud of their cooking and appliances. This may be a tough one to wrestle away. Perhaps you could offer the white fridge in Texas as a trade ;-)

Venus

 

[bethann]

Venus

There are a few things about that fridge that are not right. The major one is he said the pipes are taped with duct tape! Plus it doesn't have all the bells and whistles!
If I'm not mistaken the stove that your getting isn't black black. Greg can tell you that for sure. I wouldn't think that they would call it charcoal.
There is a Philco fridge that is cool that has a V handle, it opens from either way. Pull on one side of the handle it will open on that side.
As far as getting a vintage fridge ( I can't believe that I'm saying this, but it makes since) I'm not so certain that I would do that. I mean this is your primary kitchen with a family of four. A lot of door opening and a lot of use. You might be better off going with Elmira. You could get the handle on the side that you want, have frost free, ice maker and if you really wanted to when you get your stove take a drawer out and have the paint place match the color and send them the paint to paint it. You would also keep the look that your going for without the problems!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Venus, Greg is correct, while the idea of having a all porcelain fridge is wonderful, porcelain is very difficult to paint properly. This models is from the 63 or 64 line, its is almost identical to our '64 Frigidaire Fridge. It might be worth waiting and finding something that might be further away, but more to your liking and something that might be easier to paint charcoal gray.

 

[westie2]

The one for sale is just like what my parents got in 1964 when they redid the kitchen. Bought that, a Flair range, and dishwasher all Frigidaire. That refrigdator lasted un 2000 when compressor went out. It was frost free but did not have the fan underneath like today the coils were still on the back of it. The old 1948 Frigidaire fridge went to the garage for cokes, garden vegatables ect. Went out in about 1990. Mother always had Frigidaire in the kitchen but always had Maytag for the laundry. Great grandmother had a 1929 Maytag wringer and grand mothers had them also. My mother and an aunt were the last wringer holdouts both finally in mid 60's went automatic with Maytags years after everyone else in family had automatics. One grandmother had a 1951 westy slant front the other had a Bendix economat simi auto had to fill it from the sink with a hose for wash and rinse. This is the one with the rubber tub when the tub got a hole in it couldn't get a replacement (70's) so she got a Whirlpool washer and dryer.

 

[gansky1]

Charcoal Gray was the Frigidaire color name for it, designated in the model # coding as CL. It is a bit off from true black, I had a black dishwasher in the kitchen which is very near the range and there was a distinct difference in color. The range color has more of a blue/black/gray combination. When I bought it and the guys delivered it, they kept calling it "blue" because in the floro lights of the shop, the blue cast was more apparent. Charcoal Gray was available beginning in the 1957 model year through 1960 and in '61 was available only as a special order in "quantity." All porcelain models were only available in white and only in one or two models of the line. Frigidaire appliances were introduced like the GM car lines - new models came out in the fall of the preceding year, 1957 would have been intro'd in the fall of 1956, etc.

I haven't been to the fire station to see my fridge, but I figured it would be hard to get it from them as they specifically bought an older fridge because they had some notion about a newer model being more of a fire hazard. Bill, the owner of the shop has been working on refrigeration and appliances since 1946 and thought they were nuts, but I guess their check cleared so he didn't care what the motivation was!