RCA whirlpool Thermo electric buffet food serving cart

[combo52]

This is my latest acquisition. It’s going to go in the living room since I’m doing a mid-century modern look anyway.

These were designed by the design group of Herman and George Miller design firm.

Not sure of the exact age of it, but it was early 60s they were sold both under the RCA whirlpool name and the Sears Coldspot name, the smaller one without the side compartment was $400 in the Sears catalogue. I believe this one was at least $600.

It may have been one of the first commercial uses of thermoelectric refrigeration, when these came out, there was hope that this type of refrigeration system would replace compressors and refrigerant gases in regular refrigerators, but it was never efficient enough to do this.

In any event, it’s a beautifully built piece of furniture. It’s beautifully veneered with a teak exterior even the drawers inside and all are solid black walnut.

Has anybody ever seen one of these or have any experience with it?

This came from an estate in Baltimore where the guy passed away a year ago. He was a total Whirlpool and KitchenAid collector. I had met this guy when he was 17 or 18 and he worked his entire life selling whirlpool and other major appliance products or some of the larger independent distributors in our area.

I plugged this in and it does actually work although it does not get as cold as it should. It only got down to 39° in the refrigerator didn’t try the warming function.

John L

 

[circlew]

This is my latest acquisition. It’s going to go in the living room since I’m doing a mid-century modern look anyway.

These were designed by the design group of Herman and George Miller design firm.

Not sure of the exact age of it, but it was early 60s they were sold both under the RCA whirlpool name and the Sears Coldspot name, the smaller one without the side compartment was $400 in the Sears catalogue. I believe this one was at least $600.

It may have been one of the first commercial uses of thermoelectric refrigeration, when these came out, there was hope that this type of refrigeration system would replace compressors and refrigerant gases in regular refrigerators, but it was never efficient enough to do this.

In any event, it’s a beautifully built piece of furniture. It’s beautifully veneered with a teak exterior even the drawers inside and all are solid black walnut.

Has anybody ever seen one of these or have any experience with it?

This came from an estate in Baltimore where the guy passed away a year ago. He was a total Whirlpool and KitchenAid collector. I had met this guy when he was 17 or 18 and he worked his entire life selling whirlpool and other major appliance products or some of the larger independent distributors in our area.

I plugged this in and it does actually work although it does not get as cold as it should. It only got down to 39° in the refrigerator didn’t try the warming function.

John L

Interesting, and looks very nicely made. I just don't understand how the food is kept hot. I don't see any wells for food pans to set into. Most hot food tables can have water in the wells for moist heat, or be used dry. The controls are confusing; it looks like it will only heat or cool, not both at the same time. Is that only for the compartment on the upper right?

 

[combo52]

RCA whirlpool Thermo electric food, warmer, and cooler

It’s an extremely well insulated Appliance. It’s solid foam insulation, which is unusual in the early 60s even the door is very well made.

Yes, you are correct. You can only heat or cool it would in my estimation have no trouble keeping food evenly hot sort of like a warming drawer or something, the more curious thing to me is there’s absolutely no provision for any condensation or frost that would occur from using it as a cooling Appliance. I would imagine you’d have to shut it off and dry it out also the rear heat exchanger or condenser on the rear of the refrigerator might have a tendency to drip from condensation if you were using it as a warming device and there’s no provision for any moisture dripping off that massive aluminum heat sink.

So I am guessing that this was only meant to be left on for a period of hours or days and not to be used as a refrigerator on a continuing basis.

I need to do some digging and find the instruction book for it. We may have it in our micro fish archives. I just haven’t had time to dig for it.

And yes, you’re correct. It is extremely well made the satin chrome frames at the ends of the unit are solid, steel, welded, and beautifully ground and chrome plated.

The drawers in the storage area are literally solid walnut on the sides of the drawers all dovetailed and everything.

John L

 

[jamiel]

This is more a chillbox/warmbox in pretty walnut drag---on the side of a conference room, before a lunch meeting starts, the luncheon sandwiches or warm entree and sodas are placed inside to be dramatically served at the noon hour.

Believe that there was some cross director-ship (if not ownership) between Whirlpool and the other western Michigan furniture/office furnishings companies which would have made an ask like this easy (the only thing identifiably Whirlpool about this was the silk-screened aluminum control bezel) and would have been very easy to prototype and spec with a Herman Miller whipping up a walnut and chrome box for a prototype.

It would very easily be offered to Sears for the cost of another silk-screened aluminum control bezel. Sears and WP would have both sold it for, say $695, would have gotten specced for a bunch of conference rooms at Sears and at WP's advertising agency; would have stayed in the line for several years and then quietly disappeared (particularly as European compressor-type refrigerators started being imported in the late 60s...see that Kelvinator ad with the playing-card small refrigerator.

 

[kevin313]

Hello John! I hope all things are well with you!

That is a real beauty! I love the design and the teak exterior. It's a wonderful example of mid-century style and will look great in your living room.

I wonder if it is from the same era as this small portable refrigerator that I have, which I believe works with some kind of thermo-electric set up. It is also branded RCA Whirlpool and looks to be from the same era. I don't know much about mine but it has some components that I can see through the rear grill that appear to be electronic.

Hope you're keeping warm with the winter blast we're having! Miss you and hope to see you soon!

 

[cadman]

John, nice score! There are very few of these around. Figured you might like this: