Very Old GE Frig What year ya think?

[g3bill]

I got this GE Frig over 20 years ago from a auto brake shop that closed down, not sure why I took it but its been in my yard all this time. I thought the steel would hold up to weather but not, theres a rust hole or two on the outside. No door on the freezer. The compressor as I remember had its condenser coils wrapped around the comprssor. Could it be from the 40's?

 

[g3bill]

I dont get why pics go sidways sometimes?

 

[rp2813]

Cute fridge.  I'd say it's early '40s, or a holdover that was put back into production after the war until GE re-tooled for the postwar models.

 

[travis]

1939-40

so2 as refrigerant. hard to kill, but that's a rough example.

 

[goatfarmer]

1940's.  If you scrap it, be very careful if you cut a refrigerant line.  Sulphur Doixide is some <span style="text-decoration: underline;">nasty</span> stuff, you don't want a sniff of it.

 

[g3bill]

Interesting, One day when I need to move it I'll try and find a Mfg.Tag. I'd like to see if it still cools and what's its running amps. Don't really think of scraping it. If it doesn't consume too much amperage I'll fix it up. I didn't really look well but don't remember seeing any attachments to place a door on the evap box, would it have been made to be left open? I'd think there would have been metal ice trys at least when purchased? Just lov the old stuff B.

 

[danemodsandy]

I Think....

....This is the same fridge Bette Davis had in 1939's Dark Victory.

Here's a shot of Bette's box -

 

[rp2813]

I doubt that "freezer" compartment ever had a door on it.   It resembles those that were on the later monitor tops, and there's no evidence of hinge assemblies.

 

One less part you need to look for!

 

[sudsmaster]

The outside cabinet door and box resemble that of my '48 GE. Mine has a door on the freezer as well as "GENERAL ELECTRIC" in Gothic block letters under the GE emblem. It runs perfectly, just needs a door gasket and exterior repainted. When I get around to it ;-). I estimate it uses between 300 and 400 KWh/yr, which might be Energy Star territory ;-). It also has a meat bin under the freezer, and two veggie bins down below. Built like a tank!

 

 

 

 

[g3bill]

ANY PICS TO SHOW ?????

Door on freezer might have been a later model. I searched and saw the older ones without the freezer door but had veggie drawers plus a try under the freezer on the top rack all in porcelain. Are new door seals available?

 

[goatfarmer]

Universal type door seals are available.

 

[sudsmaster]

check out antiqueappliances.com for old fridge door gaskets.

 

 

[sudsmaster]

I went out to garage to check out door gasket on the '48, and it's substantially different from your pre-war fridge.  Freezer is much bigger, as is the food compartment (compressor area is smaller).

 

Will post some pics as soon as I can transfer from phone...

 

 

[sudsmaster]

Fridge obviously not in use and in storage...

 

New door gasket on order...

 

 

 

 

 

[goatfarmer]

I was able to buy a universal gasket at my local appliance parts store.

 

[g3bill]

Nice frig Rich, I like the interior layout that seems to be very usable even for today unless you need to store lots of frozen foods? Looks like your lucky to have all the drawers plus plenty of shelves. The wider GE lettering is kinda nice...

 

[sudsmaster]

Thanks, Bill. Yes, the interior (other than the gasket) is in great shape, and the various shelves and bins look sturdy and practical. The fridge reminds me a lot of the one we had when I was a  young kid. Eventually it was replaced with a bottom freezer unit, which completely mystified me. Then there was another modern fridge with rotating shelving. The old GE wound up in the basement where it still worked just fine, all through the more modern ones falling apart or breaking down. LOL.

 

 

[g3bill]

Too much plastic will drive ya nuts, won't it:

I see staples in my pic holding the seal on my GE Frig, would that be correct. Just wonder if the workers at the brake shop did there own sloppy fix? When I get a chance will take some pics of the seal closer and try and get a shot of the compressor.

Suppose i can't shot pics at 90 degree or it posts wrong even though I corrected rotation in doc???

I remember the frig we had as a kid, frigidaire with about the same size freezer as this one I have now except had a metal freezer door. It must have had the hydrator drawers. Think there were one or two metal ice trays and just enough room for a steak or two and don't think it was as large as yours Rich?

 

[sudsmaster]

Staples sound more like a crude fix to me.

 

The gasket on my GE is held in place by the inner door panel, with a few screws around the latch and perhaps elsewhere (haven't pulled it all off as yet). The inner door panel appears to be held in place by stainless clips. Of course your model is a lot older so it could have a different system for keeping the gasket in place.