Stainless hotpoint combo?

[sarahperdue]

What can y’all tell me about this Hotpoint fridge? Is the stainless original? Is it a dependable and/or easy to repair model? And what is in the pile of junk? Fridge parts?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/715189868942531/

 

[circlew]

Sarah, the finish is original. Link to ad for '56 Hotpoint Customline appliances.

They even made a 39" range in this finish.

 

[turquoisedude]

Sarah, the "pile of junk" looks like it's the framing for the refrigerator. Hotpoint's Customline fridge offered a 'built-in' look, using a stainless frame around the refrigerator cabinet.

 

[sarahperdue]

Oh, my, oh my

My buddy John (mixrman) is about to “steal” the Americana I’ve been eyeing, but this could be even better! Behold my new Geneva cabinets, cooktop and range hood. Wouldn’t they look great with this fridge plus the Frigidaire Imperial oven that Inhave my eye on?

 

[norgeway]

That Fridge

Will be about as good as you can find John Jowers had one on the floor at his antique appliance store in Georgia Price 10,000 !!

 

[launderess]

Built in fridge

Dead giveaway is they only bothered to use SS on parts that show; front doors.

Would bother myself and am sure others now and even back then to have that SS front with white sides standing out in the kitchen.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Laundress, look at Reply #2. It was meant to be recessed with a trim kit and a vent at the top for heat disposal.

 

[launderess]

Yes, saw that

Was agreeing.....

 

[goatfarmer]

That's not an outrageous price, but try and get it lower!

 

[sarahperdue]

How rare is it?

I felt pretty comfortable waiting for a lower price on my Geneva cabinets, after all, they were not the only steel cabinets in the world...

But this fridge...wow! and I've never seen one like it. So, yes, I'd like to get it for less, but what are the odds of finding another one with the trim kit?

...and the same for the stainless Frigidaire Custom Imperial

 

[turquoisedude]

They aren't all that common, at least not around these parts (and I include upstate NY, VT, NH, and parts of MA and CT - anything in my 'driving range'...LOL). I've only ever seen one like this and it was missing the trim kit!

 

[jkbff]

I am just asking but...

If you are going through the effort to do a built in fridge, why not find a vintage sub-zero that someone is going to throw on the heap for not a lot of dollars?

You would probably be able to find a vintage unit and if needed could replace all of the internals and still have a very well built fridge?

We still service the vintage sub-zeros that made their way up here.

I really am only throwing that out there because if needed you could have a fabricator make panels that go with the design of what you are trying to accomplish. They were made for that.

 

[sarahperdue]

Sub Zero

I could be totally wrong to judge the whole brand based on the ones I know, but I don't know anyone who has had them (no, I don't run in the Sub Zero crowd), but my family and some of my friends have had no end of trouble with theirs.

My mother has spent thousands on hers, and she says that she can't even replace them with new Sub Zeros because they don't make the same size that her entire custom kitchen has been built around.

That surprised me because I thought one of the plus points for Sub Zero is that you could buy a replacement in the same size... So, maybe there wasn't another fridge on the planet that would fit your custom cabinetry but you could count on Sub Zero to make on that fit...

 

[circlew]

My former neighbor Ann got a Sub-Zero when they built the house in '84. It was worked on numerous times over the years, while their old GE downstairs from the mid 60's hummed along without any problems.

 

[jkbff]

I honestly think it depends on who the service provider is.

I say that because if you look at the way the units are built, as far as the built-in units, they are modular. You can generally get Embraco compressors, find similar evaporators, condensers and line sets to retro fit most of the older style units.

It just takes a bit of ingenuity.

On the flip side, I would be willing to assist your mom with her current situation if needed. Has she reached out to Sub-Zero Company directly? They are really good about getting a situation worked out some how.

 

[sarahperdue]

thanks!

jkbff, thank you very much for your offer to help my mother with her SubZero. She says it's up and running for the moment.

I've bought the Hotpoint and will be picking it up shortly after July 4th weekend unless I can work out getting it sooner.

Sarah

 

[turquoisedude]

Congrats, Sarah! I think you'll really like that Hotpoint!!

 

[sarahperdue]

Second thoughts

Y'all,

I'm looking more closely at the pictures (which are posted at the beginning of this thread), and I'm concerned about three things--

The butter conditioning compartment appears to be taped together
The handle of the freezer appears to be broken

...and can it possibly be plugged in and running without a speck of frost?

Sarah

 

[turquoisedude]

Hmmm.... It's possible the butter conditioner was taped shut for moving (that would be what I'd do if I was moving a vintage fridge). Can't comment on the freezer door; if you can see it in person before buying, that would be best.
The picture of the fridge 'running' is deceptive - they may have literally plugged it in and snapped a picture as soon as it started to get cold. Even my 1956 Westinghouse Frost-O-Matic doesn't seem to have any frost in the freezer compartment for almost a few hours after a defrost.

 

[sarahperdue]

Backed out

I backed out of the Hotpoint sale--I had a few concerns too many for a fridge that is too far away to check out in advance.

Meanwhile, this one turned up on Facebook last night--it's in Birmingham, single owner in continuous use. One of the latches is broken. How big a fix would this be?

The seller says she has an antique dealer "on the hook," but I cannot imagine someone who is planning to resell would pay $1,000. I'll be waiting for her to feel ready to lower the price.

Sarah

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1306007979550612/?surface=product_details