My New Vintage Firestone Freezer

[58limited]

I found this ad on ebay, the freezer looks just like mine. It is 18 1/2 Cu. Ft. and holds 647 lbs of frozen food. Of further note, the gas stove at the lower right appears to be identical to my Western Auto (Wizard) stove. The pic is hard to see but it appears that the knobs and the backsplash trim/timer are the same.

 

[combo52]

Mystery Switch

Hi David, is there a wiring diagram anywhere on this freezer?, if there is it would show the function of the switch.

 

It could be an energy saver switch that turns anti-sweat heaters on or off, is there any wiring running into the door through the hinges?

 

It could also be part of a temperature alarm, some early freezers had such systems to warn you of unsafe temperatures inside the freezer.

 

[retro-man]

That switch maybe a setting for the compressor to run constantly. On my chest freezer it is marked fast freeze. It is used when loading the freezer with food that is not frozen yet. It keeps running bypassing the thermostat to get all the food frozen quicker than when in normal mode (cycling on and off). It does make a difference on how fast things freeze. If I load it up with items and turn this on for 10 hours or so everything is rock solid versus left in the normal position which will take about 24 hours or so to have everything rock solid.

Jon

 

[58limited]

There is no wiring diagram unfortunately.

 

Jon may be correct, I saw a reference to a quick freeze cycle when looking for literature on ebay. I bought a late 1940s Firestone Freezer booklet, maybe it will confirm this. The first time I flipped the switch (after the freezer had been running for several hours) the compressor did shut off. It came back on and would not shut off when I later flipped the switch several times - might not have been cool enough to cycle off.

 

[bvf]

firestone vaccume

wow I have the vaccume from firestone and did not know they made fridges and stoves…I was under the thought the vaccume was a give away or publicity stunt…for buying tires this sheds new light on history..hey want a set of tires to go next to your fridge…haha have fun with the ice maker..

 

[norgeway]

RE Firestone vacuum

The tank and a few of their canisters were Kingstons.

 

[58limited]

The freezer booklet arrived today but it doesn't tell how to operate the freezer, just how to properly prepare and freeze foodstuffs.

Jon is correct, the switch appears to be for a fast freeze cycle. Flipped one way the compressor always runs, flipped the other way it cycles on and off. The only problem with the freezer is that the compressor makes a rather loud noise when it cycles off. The first time I heard it I (and my dogs) jumped and I went to look to see what had fallen. Hope this doesn't indicate too much wear.

 

[retro-man]

Glad you figured out what the switch was for. As far as the noise it makes when shutting off, I would check the compressor mounting brackets and rubber supports. It may be the rubber has worn down or cracked allowing the compressor to move when it is shutting off. Great looking freezer by the way.

Jon