My new addition! :-)

[ajc31980]

Just wanted to share this for the fun of it .
I picked up a vintage GE refrigerator today for 100 bucks.
It’s model ND-8-DC. I’m thinking 1940’s ? It’s in great shape for its age. I’m hoping to use this as my main refrigerator. It even came with the original instruction manual !

 

[ea56]

Wow!

That GE fridge is in excellent conditon, almost like new! What an incredible score, congratulations. I’d sure like to make that my main refrigerator too. Hope you get lots of service out of it.
Eddie

 

[tolivac]

I always see boxes like that at old radio station transmitter sites-back when they were manned.And-the plant is now unattended-but the old fridge STILL WORKS!!!Even though it haden't held the engineers lunch in several years!

 

[ajc31980]

Hi all. And thanks for the friendly comments. I’ve run into my first problem with my new addition ( foolish me for thinking I wouldn’t have to put any work into this one haha ). The evaporator coil‘s in the freezer only partially get cold . The top shelf for the ice trays gets icy cold and covered in frost and about a 1/4 of the right side of the freezer gets Frosty cold. The rest is just cold to the touch. When I hauled the refrigerator, it had to be laid down on its side. I did let it sit up right for 2 hours before turning it on . The compressor seems to be running ok. It’s nice and quit. Actually I think it’s the quietest refrigerator I’ve ever heard my life . Does it just need to sit longer for the system to balance out ? Or did it get damaged from being on its side ? I’m really hoping I didn’t buy my self a big old paper weight :-( I’ve never owned a refrigerator this old . I’m not sure where to begin. Any help or advice would be very much appreciated . The attached pictures are of the freezer after I shut it off. I didn’t want to turn it back on for fear of causing damage . Also is a pic of the model number plate and specs .

 

[retro-man]

I have found that 24 hours is needed for fridges and a/c's that have been moved or place in an abnormal position for periods of time. Might want to shut if off and wait and see tomorrow.

Jon

 

[appliguy]

I did let it sit up right for 2 hours before turning it on

Retro-man is right you have to wait at least 24 hours for the oil to settle backdown into the compressor because when you lay a fridge on its side or back the oil in the compressor can work its way into the coolant lines. If you do not let the fridge sit upright for 24 hours so that the oil can resettle you will force the oil through the lines and it can clog the one way valves in the coolant system. If all the valves get choked then it burns out the compressor but since you only transported it on it side maybe only some of the valves got clogged and that might be the reason that part of it gets real cold and part of it does not. PAT COFFEY
P.S. According to my research your fridge is from 1947.

 

[ajc31980]

Thanks for the info. And oh crap ! I didn’t know that it was 24 hrs. I had been told in the past that 2 hours was good enough. Ugh ! So if it’s clogged is there any way to get the valves unglogged ? I was reading a little while ago about how it could be a partially clogged capillary tube . I’ve also read about how it could just be low on Freon. I may call around on Monday and see If any one in my area would be willing to take a look at it . Though I don’t think anyone will. I know R12 Freon isn’t used anymore and is banned for environmental reasons .
Than again maybe I’ll luck out later tonight when it hits the 24 hr Mark and it’ll be ok. Fingers crossed

 

[ajc31980]

Additional thought ... I forgot to mention that the previous owner said the fridge had not been turned on in over a year. Idk if that makes any difference or not. Just a little extra information

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

OMG, that is the same, exact refrigerator my dad had in the office of his appliance store when I was a kid. What memories! Congratulations! What a great score!

 

[ajc31980]

Ultramatic.
I love to hear story’s like that. I really wish I knew the whole history on this one. The couple I bought it from picked it up at an auction 4 years ago and used it occasionally for extra storage. I’m sure it has a better back story than that .
hopefully I can get it to run properly or find some one locally that will be willing to work on it.
I’ve always been more of a washer, dryer, and stove kinda guy. I’ve never really worked on a fridge before. So this is all kinda new to me.
I’m hoping when I fire it up later on tonight that all is well. And if it’s not, that I can find someone to work on it.
If by chance anyone on here would know of a place close the Johnstown PA area please let me know.

 

[cuffs054]

Very nice looking box.

 

[ajc31980]

Hi all
Ok so the fridge sat for 24 hours. I turned it on and still basically have the same issue. After about 2 hours the temp did drop to around 38 degrees. but the evaporator coil‘s are only partially freezing adding the ice trays actually makes it start to defrost . The coils on the back of the fridge are just warm and the compressor feels pretty hot to me. It’s sounds nice and quiet though .

I was chatting a bit with Dennis from the antique refrigerator website and he was thinking more along the lines of it being low on Freon (R12). But did say it’s possible that it could have a partial clog from moving it. But thinks that it’s unlikely (Appliguy/ Patt had mentioned the the same thing about clogging ).
This is definitely becoming a learning experience !
I think I’m going to just shut it down until I can hopefully find someone to look at it. I don’t want to burn up the compressor. Here are a few pics of the freezer . You can see how’s It’s barely maintaining temp after putting the ice trays in it. They were filled with cold water. This is also with the compressor running none stop for about 3 hours at this point. The first 2 pics are before I turned it back on. And the rest are after it was running for 2 hours and the last is after 3 hours and adding the ice trays . I’m adding 2 video clips so you hear how it’s running . I’ve never had fridge this old and for all know maybe it doesn’t even sound right ... this one is the freezer . And this one is of the Compressor post was last edited: 6/17/2018-03:51]

 

[ajc31980]

Hi all !
Just wanted to post an update.
It turned out to be what I think was a combination of a slight clog in the evaporator and also being a little low on refrigerant as well . I had to learn all about different refrigerant types as well as how to properly use equipment for servicing refrigerators . It was definitely a challenging but fun adventure !
I basically got a crash corse in refrigeration from every one on the monitor top formum. An with all there help was able to bring this wonderful 1947 GE back to life !
Here is picture of it in its new home. It’s been running strong for 2 weeks now
Just wanted to share the good news with every one !
I’m also going to be getting my first GE Monitor Top Refrigerator in the near future. Can’t wait sit !