Vintage GE Fridge Info Wanted...

[bellalaundry]

Hi all,

I am interested in this fridge that I found on Kijiji. Does anyone have any info on this model? Approximate year, is it frost free, any common weakness?

I'm thinking about making this my main fridge.

Opinions?

Guy

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details.html?adId=1423616323&requestSource=b

 

[combo52]

Early 50s GE Two Door Ref

These were very advanced refs for their day.

It is not self-defrosting in the freezer section, the fresh food section is self-defrosting.

This ref has dual temperature controls and dual refrigeration systems.

These were very good refs but cost too much to build so GE switched to the cheaper to build refs with the serpentine coil at the top of the FF section by the mid 50s, and while these later ones worked ok they were not nearly as good in many ways.

The big question is does this ref still work properly. It should be able to easily maintain 0F in the freezer and 37F in the FF area and not run more than about 50% of the time in a 70F house.

John

 

[turquoisedude]

Very nice indeed!!  I'd have to guess a 52 or 53 for the model year - when you get it, please post the model number and we can tell for sure...hee hee

If this had turned up near me, I'd get it for sure! Good luck Guy!!

 

[bellalaundry]

Well

the seller contacted me. The fridge does work, but he is asking $800.00. He apparently likes working on old fridges, and has the option of turning them into "kegerator" units.

Thanks for the info guys...She is a beaut!

 

[pulltostart]

My guess would be 1952.  It does have the foot pedal function.

 

lawrence

 

[goatfarmer]

That is a nice 'fridge, at about half that price.

 

[rp2813]

I don't see any mechanical door latches.  This must be the first model year, or close to it, that used the alnico magnetic latches.  This is a plus IMO.  I have known early '50s GE Combinations with latch issues on the freezer door that created chronic over-frosting conditions.

 

$800 is way too much for this fridge in spite of its over all excellent condition.

 

[wiskybill]

By coincidence...

saw this today at an estate sale in Toledo, Ohio. They said it was in use
until just recently. It was clean inside and no musty odors. The
basement it was in not so much.

Going today at half price for $30.

 

[rp2813]

A Steal At $30!

Another one with no door latches and even no visible magnets.  What system did GE use on these?  Magnetic gaskets seem ahead of their time on a fridge of this vintage.

 

[combo52]

GE Ref With No Mechanical Latches ?

Hi Ralph, you got me on this one, I don't know how the doors stayed closed.

 

This is one of the advanced refs with dual temperature controls and dual refrigeration systems.

 

John

 

[ken]

I too am surprised to see no latches on these two fridges above. The other current thread by Northwesty showing the new paint job on his 52 GE shows a mechanical latch. The new for 54 design with the rotating shelves had a mechanical latch which continued for 55. Magnetic latches with the visible receiver plate on the cabinet came in 1956.

Just guessing but maybe there was some kind of spring tension system in the hinges? Though I would think they would have to be larger than they appear to allow for such a spring.

 

[rp2813]

This is a head-scratcher for sure!

 

When did GE stop putting the separate cold control for the freezer behind the kickplate?  This would be good to know when searching for early Combinations.   If the kickplate isn't hinged, is it safe to assume there's no freezer control behind it?

 

[ken]

The new 54 design had only one control for both compartments. Ive got two 55s which are identical except for interior color. The panel below the door is only about 2-3 inches tall. Just enough to remove the drip tray.

 

[circlew]

After reviewing a few old magazine ads, I'm nearly certain that this is a 1951 model. My neighbors the Bates family had one like this for many years in their house which was built that year.

 

[northwesty]

the

rust on the $30 might go away kinda with some effort. That $800 I admit is a lot but I might consider it if I wanted one. It seems to be in really good shape.

Just a note My Combination is apparently a 1953. I only see one temperature control.

 

[combo52]

First Style GE Combination Refs

These had a temperature thumb-wheel control on the back wall of the ref and the freezer control behind the hinged kick-plate-grille, with this dual control system these refs would even keep a 0F freezer temperature in a cold garage.

 

As mentioned the GE refs with the serpentine evaporator in the top of the FF section were much simpler and cheaper to build but had a lot of trade offs.

 

GE did not build another great ref like these first Combinations till they came out with the bottom freezer Frost Guard models [ without the serpentine ref coil and real dual temperature controls ] In 1961.

 

John

 

[pulltostart]

Tom,

You are correct - 1951.  After looking through my literature I found the Use and Care book for this refrigerator.  The only mention of the door gaskets is this:

 

"Don't forget to clean the Koroseal sealing strips around the inside of the doors.  For cleaning, use a mild soap-and-water solution… rinse thoroughly... wipe dry."

 

There are no mechanical latches; no mention is made of a magnetic seal.  There is also no  mention of the foot pedal although the cover illustration shows the model using this feature.

 

lawrence

 

[kenwashesmonday]

<span style="font-family: arial black,avant garde;">My 1951 model </span><span style="text-align: left; color: #000000; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: arial black,avant garde; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; word-spacing: 0px; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent;"> NH10-HS2 has latches and horizontal door handles.</span>

 

<span style="text-align: left; color: #000000; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: arial black,avant garde; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; word-spacing: 0px; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent;">Edit:</span>

<span style="text-align: left; color: #000000; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: arial black,avant garde; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; word-spacing: 0px; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent;">This is interesting.  I found Life magazine ads from September and December 1951 showing latches,</span>

<span style="text-align: left; color: #000000; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: arial black,avant garde; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; word-spacing: 0px; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent;">https://books.google.com/books?id=Z...al electric" combination refrigerator&f=false</span>

 

<span style="text-align: left; color: #000000; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: arial black,avant garde; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; word-spacing: 0px; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent;">And an ad from October showing no latches:</span>

<span style="text-align: left; color: #000000; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: arial black,avant garde; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; word-spacing: 0px; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent;">https://books.google.com/books?id=r...al electric" combination refrigerator&f=false</span>

[this post was last edited: 3/31/2019-09:02]

 

[rp2813]

Very interesting about the latch/no latch models during the same year, and so early on in the Combo's timeline.  Many years ago I snagged a 1950 Combo through a friend and gave it to my sister.  It had latches.  The thing I liked about GE's latches is that they closed so easily compared to the door on our household's '49 Westinghouse, which would bounce back if not given a really good push, and took a good yank to open.  No surprise that the handle had to be replaced twice on the Westy's door during the 25 or so years it served as our main fridge.

 

How did the cooling and defrosting work in the FF section of these early Combos without the serpentine coil?   Was the cold plate on the rear wall like with Hotpoints? 

 

I can't complain about the ability of my '57 Combo to maintain true zero in the freezer section, but if my pursuit of a new compressor doesn't pan out, I think I'd rather have one of these two-system early models.