recommending a vintage frost-free fridge...

[firedome]

Having a number of other vintage appliances, one we haven't pursued actively is a fridge due to efficiency, convenience, and durability issues. We once lost hundreds of $$$ of food due to a fridge failure while away for the weekend and are a bit leery of the reliability factor. If we were to get a vintage unit for camp it'd be used 4 months of the year, visiting only sporadically, and disconnected the rest of the time. It'd have to be frost-free. We love the aesthetic, the quality materials, US engineering and construction of appliances of the late 50s to mid-late 60s. In ya'lls experiences, what would be a good choice for a quality built and reliable & durable fridge from that era (with potential for repair and parts availability should it need it) and a decent- sized freezer, from that era? Non-frost free is a non-starter with swmbo though I do understand their merits. Suggestions of specific makes and models would be appreciated. Your $02?

 

[bradfordwhite]

You're asking for the nearly impossible.

In the 50-60s frost free was still being perfected. And practicality and efficiency wasn't even a real concern then.

If it's just "a look", it would be more effective to paint a new refrig the color and maybe adorn it with ....whatever retro decor appeals to you.

Perhaps make a sheet metal rounded corner hat for the frig and attaching permanently before having it painted all the same color to give it that "old" vibe.

Or buy a "pre-aged" fake old NEW frig

 

[qsd-dan]

If you'll be using the fridge sporadically and disconnecting it between visits, you're essentially performing a defrost every time the power is cut. I highly doubt you'll use the fridge long enough to create a buildup of ice under those circumstances unless the seals are badly shot and you refuse to replace them.

Frost free refers from the 50's-70's were ginormous power hogs that often defrosted too long with too many cycles using too many heaters. Reliability in the defrost system will be a headache along with trying to locate parts. You'll be on your own with repairs. If you insist though, there's pretty much 2 options for reliability. Anything with a Seeger rotary compressor and whatever was designed for International Harvester (not sure if they made a frost free fridge though).

The options widen if you want to use a manual defrost fridge.

 

[norgeway]

A Westinghouse

Frost free from the early 50s, while totally unlike a new unit, was reliable and not a energy hog, When they went to fans and heaters etc in the late 50s then you had a boat anchor personally i wouldnt trade a manual defrost for a truckload of brand new frost free fridges

 

[goatfarmer]

Define "vintage" The GM Frigidaires, and Whirlpool/Kenmore 'fridges from the mid-late 70's were pretty reliable. Even the GE's.

 

[bradfordwhite]

#2

"If you'll be using the fridge sporadically and disconnecting it between visits, you're essentially performing a defrost every time the power is cut. I highly doubt you'll use the fridge long enough to create a buildup of ice under those circumstances unless the seals are badly shot and you refuse to replace them."

Very good point.

One would have broader selection of models to choose from if they went with standard defrost.