I've got 3 old ACs I'll try to get pictured and posted soon. I have a 1957 Coldspot with lighted controls that works perfectly, a GE and Catalina (Borg Warner) both from the mid 60's that work without flaw. As for real wood (not plastic) ac faces, we had friends in the late 60's who had a Mathes air cond. with a real wood front. This ac was "old" at the time--not sure how old, but worked day and night, very quiet, and absolutely beautiful. If I remember correctly, it had a mahogany finish, high gloss, very furniture like in appearance with MATHES emblazoned in gold across the wood. Very impressive.
vintage AIR CONDITIONERS
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bobofhollywood
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mathes
That could have been it..
I remember somethings about a mathes cooler...does that ring any bells?
I can only remember it was dark colored, likely mahogany and indeed very furniture like.
If we all focus our energy surely one will turn up with time.
That could have been it..
I remember somethings about a mathes cooler...does that ring any bells?
I can only remember it was dark colored, likely mahogany and indeed very furniture like.
If we all focus our energy surely one will turn up with time.
Yes! Mathes . . .
When I was a kid I recall that my dad was a friend of some people who went to a church which had just installed central air, and they showed us the new installation. I was totally disinterested until I saw the old Mathes wood front window units which had been replaced. Oh boy, I was in love with them and just hated knowing that they were to be carted off to the dump. I've never heard of or seen another Mathes window a/c unit but what beauties they were!
When I was a kid I recall that my dad was a friend of some people who went to a church which had just installed central air, and they showed us the new installation. I was totally disinterested until I saw the old Mathes wood front window units which had been replaced. Oh boy, I was in love with them and just hated knowing that they were to be carted off to the dump. I've never heard of or seen another Mathes window a/c unit but what beauties they were!
bobofhollywood
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mathes cooler
I looked around a little and found that a mathes cooler is actually a fan and not an air conditioner...but maybe they also made air conditioners.
I looked around a little and found that a mathes cooler is actually a fan and not an air conditioner...but maybe they also made air conditioners.
Thomas A. Edison
The house in which I grew up (built in 1964) had two 6.5K BTU RCA Whirlpool units (with the inside-out fan motors, remember those?), one in my bedroom, the other in the parents'. And in the living room a larger (don't know the capacity) unit name of Thomas A. Edison. Sorry, no picture. It might could be seen in some old family snapshots, but I don't have any of that material here.
Anybody know anything about Thomas A. Edison window units? Was that a regional brand? Rebadged?
The house in which I grew up (built in 1964) had two 6.5K BTU RCA Whirlpool units (with the inside-out fan motors, remember those?), one in my bedroom, the other in the parents'. And in the living room a larger (don't know the capacity) unit name of Thomas A. Edison. Sorry, no picture. It might could be seen in some old family snapshots, but I don't have any of that material here.
Anybody know anything about Thomas A. Edison window units? Was that a regional brand? Rebadged?
maytagbear
Well-known member
Thomas A. Edison air conditioners were
made by McGraw Edison, and the last I heard about new ones was in the 70s.
Edison was credited with developing an evaporative cooler...an electric fan behind a block of ice, but I don't know if he had any real interest in refrigeration-type air conditioning.
Evaporative coolers are good in low humidity areas, but on the edge of pointless in a high humidity Ohio summer.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
made by McGraw Edison, and the last I heard about new ones was in the 70s.
Edison was credited with developing an evaporative cooler...an electric fan behind a block of ice, but I don't know if he had any real interest in refrigeration-type air conditioning.
Evaporative coolers are good in low humidity areas, but on the edge of pointless in a high humidity Ohio summer.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Wooden Air Conditioner
There definitely was a wood-cabinet air conditioner. It was by Philco. I saw one in Atlanta's Cache Antiques (a great store, sadly defunct now after a fire) several years ago. It was not working, and the dealer knew nothing about it.
It appeared to be very late 1940s or very early 1950s; the Philco decal was the same one used on Philco TV sets in that period. The cabinet was in a mahogany finish. The unit was in very bad shape, as I recall. It was a window unit, but there were no mounting provisions like you see on air conditioners now. I imagine that mounting one in a window called for filler panels to be built by the installer or homeowner.
I remember thinking at the time that it would have been very interesting if someone with restoration talents had gotten hold of the unit and made it work and look good again.
There definitely was a wood-cabinet air conditioner. It was by Philco. I saw one in Atlanta's Cache Antiques (a great store, sadly defunct now after a fire) several years ago. It was not working, and the dealer knew nothing about it.
It appeared to be very late 1940s or very early 1950s; the Philco decal was the same one used on Philco TV sets in that period. The cabinet was in a mahogany finish. The unit was in very bad shape, as I recall. It was a window unit, but there were no mounting provisions like you see on air conditioners now. I imagine that mounting one in a window called for filler panels to be built by the installer or homeowner.
I remember thinking at the time that it would have been very interesting if someone with restoration talents had gotten hold of the unit and made it work and look good again.
sudsmaster
Well-known member
Wood Air Conditioners
This helps explain why the vintage GE AC in my enclosed patio has a painted metal woodgrain finish.
BTW, I turned it on today, and the fans came on and whirred without tripping anything. I didn't try fiddling with the dials to activate the compressor, though. Too much drama there.
This helps explain why the vintage GE AC in my enclosed patio has a painted metal woodgrain finish.
BTW, I turned it on today, and the fans came on and whirred without tripping anything. I didn't try fiddling with the dials to activate the compressor, though. Too much drama there.
toggleswitch
Well-known member
What is an inside-out fan motor?
Rotor on the outside, stator on the inside. The entire exterior body of the motor rotates with the shaft and attached fan or squirrel cage.
toggleswitch
Well-known member
So I guess there are a few "tabs" with which the motor is mounted? (Of course these can't rotate.)
Anyone have a pic or a linkie?
Anyone have a pic or a linkie?
"inside out" motors were common in broadcast cart machines ,turntables,Reel deck capstan motors.Replaced or serviced lots of these-bearing replacement was easy.Also found these motors in Studer-Revox reel drives in their reel-reel tape machines-they used ALL outer rotor motors in their machines.Find these machines in LOTS of radio stations and where I work.At present-digital technology is replacing these machines.
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