I don't see these very often. Are they common?
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/app/2734770144.html
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/app/2734770144.html
Mpls CL - Servel gas refrigerator
- Thread starter kenmore71
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A summer fish camp I went to as a kid in New Hampshire had one of those 'fridges like that one-My little job on arrival to camp was to light the fridge and get it started-ran from propane.Same with the homes stove.One time a relative who also used the camp shut off the fridge but forgot to take the food out-a STINKY cleanup job for me!YECCH!!!And the place didn't have electricy until we wired it and was hooked up.
arbilab
Well-known member
They are dangerous. They have an unvented gas burner that runs roughly half the time and have been responsible for carbon monoxide deaths. The company has been out of business since 1957.
IINM, Servel introduced the crescent icemaker, still in use today.
Gas (absorption cycle) refrigeration definitely works and is definitely efficient. But you definitely need to leave a window open or otherwise exhaust it outdoors.
IINM, Servel introduced the crescent icemaker, still in use today.
Gas (absorption cycle) refrigeration definitely works and is definitely efficient. But you definitely need to leave a window open or otherwise exhaust it outdoors.
58limited
Well-known member
If properly vented and maintained they are fine. There are vents at the top in back that you can attach a vent flue to. I have one out in the garage that needs restoration but is used occasionally.
Servel was bought out by Whirlpool so that they could get the icemaker patent. Whirlpool phased them out by 1960. Gas fridges were, and are, made by other companies too.
Here is a website about them:
http://vintageservelrefrigerators.8k.com/index.html
Servel was bought out by Whirlpool so that they could get the icemaker patent. Whirlpool phased them out by 1960. Gas fridges were, and are, made by other companies too.
Here is a website about them:
http://vintageservelrefrigerators.8k.com/index.html
58limited
Well-known member
Here is a copy of part of a discussion on the Chambers Rangers forum dealing with Servel fridges. This was posted by the moderator of the forum who also rums the Servel website that linked to above:
"What about the recall of older Servel refrigerators?
Answer: This came about as the result of an investigation of the vintage refrigerators by the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Because a few owners didn't properly maintain and operate their older Servel's, the CPSC decided that they were dangerous, and set up something called the Servel Action Committee. Though it has no authority to force people to do turn in their old Servel's, it does have the authority to force the company that ended up with Servel's liabilities as the result of a purchase in 1969 to pay for the recall (unbelievable, huh?). This company, Gould, Inc., of Eastlake, Ohio, is a maker of medical and electrical components. Though they have never made refrigerators, they are being forced by the CPSC to pay $100 plus disposal costs to anyone who has a Servel and applies for the money. To date, this government intrusion has cost Gould, Inc., over $20,000!
There is a brand new retrofit burner for the Servels that is available from Maine Gas Refrigerator that eliminates the problems the CPSC has with the original burner setup, so destruction is really not necessary, in my opinion."
"What about the recall of older Servel refrigerators?
Answer: This came about as the result of an investigation of the vintage refrigerators by the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Because a few owners didn't properly maintain and operate their older Servel's, the CPSC decided that they were dangerous, and set up something called the Servel Action Committee. Though it has no authority to force people to do turn in their old Servel's, it does have the authority to force the company that ended up with Servel's liabilities as the result of a purchase in 1969 to pay for the recall (unbelievable, huh?). This company, Gould, Inc., of Eastlake, Ohio, is a maker of medical and electrical components. Though they have never made refrigerators, they are being forced by the CPSC to pay $100 plus disposal costs to anyone who has a Servel and applies for the money. To date, this government intrusion has cost Gould, Inc., over $20,000!
There is a brand new retrofit burner for the Servels that is available from Maine Gas Refrigerator that eliminates the problems the CPSC has with the original burner setup, so destruction is really not necessary, in my opinion."
Seems like a bit of money for the one in Minnesota, seeing how much of the inside is missing.
norgeway
Well-known member
They Are ..
NOT dangerous if you maintain them properly, I would LOVE to have one in my kitchen!
NOT dangerous if you maintain them properly, I would LOVE to have one in my kitchen!
verizonbear
Well-known member
Modern Gas Refrigerators
Wow I thought these were more for RV related applications, they still make household sizes I see. 2K is a little pricey I wonder how long the payback would be over electirc?
http://www.warehouseappliance.com/propane_gas_refrigerators.htm
Wow I thought these were more for RV related applications, they still make household sizes I see. 2K is a little pricey I wonder how long the payback would be over electirc?
http://www.warehouseappliance.com/propane_gas_refrigerators.htm
GAS POWERED REFERGERATORS
WP continued making these into the mid 1960s, there was a pair of them on the Beverly Hillbillies TV show. But they had many draw backs.
The cooling system was very weak and they had a hard time maintaining proper safe temperatures when the souranding air temperature was over 90 degrees.
The cooling systems took up too much space, this coupled with the poor cooling performance made it nearly impossible to have a decent sized freezer let alone build a separate freezer.
Absorption refrigerators use MORE than twice the amount of energy that electric models do and they put off MORE than three times the heat into the surrounding room air. And even at the most favorable power and gas rates you could find it will easily cost more than twice as much to run a gas refrigerator.
This is why gas refrigerators have been used only in areas that lack electrical power.
WP continued making these into the mid 1960s, there was a pair of them on the Beverly Hillbillies TV show. But they had many draw backs.
The cooling system was very weak and they had a hard time maintaining proper safe temperatures when the souranding air temperature was over 90 degrees.
The cooling systems took up too much space, this coupled with the poor cooling performance made it nearly impossible to have a decent sized freezer let alone build a separate freezer.
Absorption refrigerators use MORE than twice the amount of energy that electric models do and they put off MORE than three times the heat into the surrounding room air. And even at the most favorable power and gas rates you could find it will easily cost more than twice as much to run a gas refrigerator.
This is why gas refrigerators have been used only in areas that lack electrical power.
58limited
Well-known member
I don't know about the gas fridges of the 1960s, but my 1948 Servel has no problems keeping things cold out in the garage in the summer.
I know Servel made chest freezers but I don't know much about them. They also made window unit gas air conditioners.
I know Servel made chest freezers but I don't know much about them. They also made window unit gas air conditioners.
whirlcool
Well-known member
The Amish use gas refrigerators. They usually don't have electricity.
Back in the 60's gas air conditioning was possible. I saw many a outside condenser unit with the blue gas flame logo on them. You could buy it from the gas company and they would let you pay for it over time with your gas bill.
But I haven't seen one since at least 1968. And that was in a new build home in the Chicago suburbs.
Back in the 60's gas air conditioning was possible. I saw many a outside condenser unit with the blue gas flame logo on them. You could buy it from the gas company and they would let you pay for it over time with your gas bill.
But I haven't seen one since at least 1968. And that was in a new build home in the Chicago suburbs.
norgeway
Well-known member
Arkla Servel
Made most of the gas AC units, there were a few in my hometown, mostly in commercial buildings.
Made most of the gas AC units, there were a few in my hometown, mostly in commercial buildings.
GAS POWERED REFRIGERATORS
David I am glad your Servel is doing well, but you should look up old consumer reports about there performance problems. Servel did make freezers but they were all electric models and they also made very good electric refrigerators.
Gas central AC is still being made but very few people would even consider buying one unless you have FREE natural gas. To start with they use over 1/2 the electricity of an all electric system and they need constant repairs and maintenance and have a much shorter life span
Burning gas is generally a less expensive way to run appliances when the job that you are trying accomplish involves heating something. But gas never made much sense for lighting or refrigeration, which is why is lost out at both of these applications. And it had nothing to do with government regulations LOL.
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David I am glad your Servel is doing well, but you should look up old consumer reports about there performance problems. Servel did make freezers but they were all electric models and they also made very good electric refrigerators.
Gas central AC is still being made but very few people would even consider buying one unless you have FREE natural gas. To start with they use over 1/2 the electricity of an all electric system and they need constant repairs and maintenance and have a much shorter life span
Burning gas is generally a less expensive way to run appliances when the job that you are trying accomplish involves heating something. But gas never made much sense for lighting or refrigeration, which is why is lost out at both of these applications. And it had nothing to do with government regulations LOL.
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arbilab
Well-known member
Friend had a tri-power (120VAC/12VDC/propane) absorption fridge in his motor home. In Oklahoma summer it would freeze a quart of water overnight, had to be careful where you put things if you didn't want them frozen. I'd say no performance deficit. The hot side was entirely outside so it dumped zero heat into the interior. Pritdang practical in that configuration but as a home fridge I don't think so.
My apartment Hotpoint has the Servel icemaker and every home fridge icemaker I've ever seen has been identical. It's really pretty clever and makes 8 crescents roughly every hour. I mostly leave it shut off. Oddly, ice doesn't keep. It evaporates in an aggressive (0*F) freezer and even gets freezer burn so I've found it best not to let it fill but only run it when the supply gets low. Although not everybody is as OCD about appliances as I am.
My apartment Hotpoint has the Servel icemaker and every home fridge icemaker I've ever seen has been identical. It's really pretty clever and makes 8 crescents roughly every hour. I mostly leave it shut off. Oddly, ice doesn't keep. It evaporates in an aggressive (0*F) freezer and even gets freezer burn so I've found it best not to let it fill but only run it when the supply gets low. Although not everybody is as OCD about appliances as I am.
Gas refrigeration
Much of my neighborhood had gas refrigeration installed in the 30's or wartime, when Ice boxes went out of fashion. What I've heard is that it was nice as long as the machine stayed EXACTLY where it was installed. Moving it to paint, clean behind, or literally moving away to a new house, would end up breaking internal components that were already weakened by the harsh ammonia/caustic refrigerant inside all the tubes. All was well for 10 or more years until you decided to repaint the kitchen, then downhill after that.
I would like to see one of these old gas fridges in someone else's kitchen, not mine.
Much of my neighborhood had gas refrigeration installed in the 30's or wartime, when Ice boxes went out of fashion. What I've heard is that it was nice as long as the machine stayed EXACTLY where it was installed. Moving it to paint, clean behind, or literally moving away to a new house, would end up breaking internal components that were already weakened by the harsh ammonia/caustic refrigerant inside all the tubes. All was well for 10 or more years until you decided to repaint the kitchen, then downhill after that.
I would like to see one of these old gas fridges in someone else's kitchen, not mine.
re: Modern Gas Refrigreator Video:
Those look like they might by made by Whirlpool (much like how Whirlpool makes IKEA fridges, for example)...
Wonder if there is still that Whirlpool/Serval-connection?
-- Dave
Those look like they might by made by Whirlpool (much like how Whirlpool makes IKEA fridges, for example)...
Wonder if there is still that Whirlpool/Serval-connection?
-- Dave
jerrod6
Well-known member
Growing up we had two Arkla Servel Gas central air conditioners. There was never any fire hazzard that I am aware of although there was a gas flame burning in the outside units and I do remember the smell of spent gas that was being exhausted by the condenser fan but I think these were using more gas than an indoor refrigerator would. It was kind of funny because you would go outside in temps at 90+ degress and this thing was cooling the buy burning a gas flame and the house was freezing. We were always cool if not too cold about 67F inside then. I couldn't stand that now but that's what it was then. The cost to operate was much cheaper than electric.
arbilab
Well-known member
Arkla underwrote Servel for a time. Arkla was the Arkansas and Louisiana gas utility. Sure, they wanted to sell you appliances that burned gas.
