Vintage Fridge Thread

[swestoyz]

Ralph

Yep, the '66 Amana is a frost-free beast - "Free-O-Frost". When you open the refrigerator door the draft fan stops running in the freezer.

Earlier this summer I was noticing the bottom freezer plate was growing an excessive frost layer. Eventually the draft wasn't keeping the refrigeration compartment cold as the draft vents were blocked on the plate!

Sure enough, the defrost timer motor had gone kaput. I suspect it had been limping along for several months, and finally gave way at the height of the midwest humidity.

The replacement defrost timer from Grainger works perfectly (6X869). Now everything in the freezer is always frost free.

@ Travis - yes, I have developed a refrigerator problem. Time to start planning for a bigger place!

Ben[this post was last edited: 7/26/2011-20:59]

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/PARAGON-Residential-Time-Defrost-Timer-6X869

 

[westingman123]

"I've developed a refrigerator problem." Ben, lemme tell ya, I've SEEN Travis' stash--you're in good shape! LOL That Combo is to DIE for.

 

[philr]

"Frigidare on the other hand built some great refrigerators until the Frost Proof models started in the late 1950s-the late 1960s. Theses refs were often beautiful and worked well for 10-20 years but did not age well in many cases and are among the most difficult to get running correctly today. Frigidares IMs were also a disaster but very interesting designs."

 

John,

What didn't age well and made them difficult to get running correctly? A Frigidaire serviceman told me that the pre-1963 models with cold plates in their refrigerator section had more failures (of the cold plate itself).

 

My 1963 Frigidaire Imperial is still running strong and it still seems to have it's original components (including the defrost timer). My 1964 was serviced as the defrosting system had gone wrong and melted some air ducts in the freezer. The defrost timer and the defrost element had to be replaced and the compressor leaked some oil at the electrical connections (which were tightened) but it's still running and getting it's freezer to 0°F but it's running longer than the 1963 after the defrost (which can get it's freezer much below 0°F in a short time).

I wish I could find a replacement compressor for my 1964 but these seem to be hard to find. I use both of these fridges as my main refrigerators presently. 

Does anybody know where I could get a 7/32 hp Meter-Miser compressor?

 

[goatfarmer]

Ben, that's not too bad a problem to have, it could be worse!

 

[norgeway]

My two cents worth!

You can believe this or not!but, the Westinghouses of the early 50s that say Colder Cold, will keep ice cream as hard as a newer fridge with a seperate freezer compartment, I had a 50 Frigidaire and my cousin had a 56 Hotpoint, both single door boxes and they would NOT! keep ice cream unless you put it in a glass or metal container, my Grandmothers 50 Westinghouse kept it hard as a brick, go figure! As to the 60s Frigidaires, ANYTHING frost free will naturally give more trouble, personally, I had a 63 Imperial 16 foot bottom freezer in turquoise and it was ok, but once in a while the fridge temp fluxuated because of that thermostatic duct thing sticking, I got tired of hearing the defrost timer squeal, so a friend in Rockingham has it now, but the meter misers do get more noisy with age where as a Westinghouse or GE stays nearly silent, John L. What do you say, you are the expert.

 

[stan]

Old GE

Don't know if I can answer PhilR's question about the R12, but her is a pic of my GE monitor top,
(sorry it's side ways) it had factory R12 in it until a couple of years ago, then finally lost it's charge, but a appliance guy came out and re charged with 409A, so far so good!

Stan

 

[rp2813]

Ben, your Amana looks brand new!  Thanks for answering my questions and posting the additional pictures.

 

[philr]

 

Hans,

 

My '63 doesn't make noise, it's quieter than the '64. I'm quite impressed that it still works since for the first 46 years of use, it was enclosed in the cabinets shown in the picture and when I removed it from there, the temp at the rear of the fridge (where the condenser is located on these) must have been above 100°. If your friend ever gets rid of the 1963, I'd be interested in buying some parts from it!

 

 

 

Stan,

 

Your Monitor top looks much older than my former GE fridge. Do you know when it was manufactured?

 

Or maybe SO2 was used longer here in Canada?

 

[scotto]

Kelvinator Foodarama

I'm down to my last restored Foodarama - a 1956.

 

[swestoyz]

Holly Kelvinator and Frigidaire goodness! Phil - I love your '63. Wish the '61 in the basement ran as well as your '63.

And those mint Kelvinators? Guessing they've been resprayed?

About Stan's GE - now, I'm no expert, but from what I've read Monitor Tops all came standard as S02 systems. Maybe it was converted to R12 at some point? Love the squared off version - was this considered a flat top?

@ Ralph - no problem. Thankfully I have plenty of pre 'defrosting' photos. The post damage to the freezer compartment is sad at best. Still runs like a top though, however, heats up the kitchen at least 3 degrees in the summer.

Ben

 

[stan]

old GE

Hi Hans. I don't know the year, and don't see the square monitor tops too often, so I'd have to guess 1938 ?? was hoping someone here might know more!

 

[akronman]

50's Hotpoint

I found this at a tag sale, under $40, it just needed a good cleaning including some car rubbing compound.

 

[akronman]

again

except for some small shelf in the freezer, and some half shelf that hooked onto the right side of the refridge compartment, it had all components, all the main shelves and bins in place

 

[akronman]

more pics

inner door, including a butter compartment with a small heater, keeps butter warmer than rest of food.

 

[akronman]

more pics

pic on its side, sorry. Behind the bottom cover is an emptying tray for defrosting. Remember those days?

Also, all these shelves slide out. I think, for its day, it was a TOL Hotpoint. Sometime in the 50's, like me.
Also, after 2 days with baking soda, all odors are gone permanently, everything is fresh and ice cubes take about 1.5 hours

 

[goatfarmer]

Blue GE

C/L Kendalville IN. A bit pricy, though!

http://southbend.craigslist.org/app/2520021914.html

 

[swestoyz]

Very early GE

Hey guys -

This one just showed up at a local consignment shop. They want some big money for it, and if it sits through the winter, I'll throw them a low ball price in the spring. Someone has rattle canned everything, along with some brush paint on the top at some point. Would take quite a bit of work to get it looking good again.

This looks early to me - anyone have an idea on the year of this monitor top?

Ben

 

[rp2813]

Travis will know that monitor top's vintage for sure.  I'm guessing it's no newer than 1930.  Early models had a tall thin control box with a thumb wheel which I think was used at least into 1928 but again, Travis will know for sure.  Behind the badge is an oil heating element.  Before you buy the fridge (assuming you strike a deal) and when you plug it in, check to see if that element gets hot.  It's removable and looks like a stick of chalk.  There was a GE part #WW8X64 that worked as a replacement and still available into the 1980's, but I don't know if that number is still good or if the part is still made.

 

Regarding the paint issue, my early double-door model had been sprayed an ugly copper.  Not coppertone, but a can of trying-to-be copper.  One day I decided I had nothing to lose and hit a patch on one of the doors with paint remover.  The copper wiped right off and underneath was the porcelain enamel finish.  It looked yellowed.  I never took it any further.  I presume only the doors had the porcelain finish and that that the rest of the cabinet and top were originally painted surfaces.

 

[goatfarmer]

Oven cleaner also works to take off spray paint.

 

[stan]

Old GE

Have a mystery with my old G.E I guess, Most think is has S02 or use to! This vintage fridge has always been somewhat of a mystery to me as well, It did have factory R12 in it as indicated on the manufacture's plate on the top left corner, and there is no evidence that there has been any alteration. ( I've had it 15 or so years) I see these flat monitor's from time to time, but very rarely. Tried to get info from G.E once, but didn't get far!
Was told once by someone (can't remember who) that this may have been G.E's try at the "new freon") Was hoping to solve the "mystery" here!

Stan