Vintage Philco Phridge

[carmine_f]

Hello,

I've posted here a few times before and have gotten some good advice (you all helped me fix my Calypso washer some time back, been working fine ever since). Anyways, I just picked up this cool-looking Philco fridge, and noticed the one-piece interior tub is bulged/pulled away from the steel outer box at the sides. When I push on it, it's definitely solid... As in there is something behind the bulge. It wouldn't be that big of a deal because I don't think it harms anything from an insulation standpoint, but it interferes with proper door closing.

Anyone ever dealt with this before? Can't see any way to remove this tub considering I'd be trying to flex 40 y/old plastic and I don't imagine that would go very well.

 

[carmine_f]

"Normal" picture of tub at corner...

 

[carmine_f]

bulged area.. how to return to "normal"?

 

[goatfarmer]

I've had "limited" success using a C clamp, and a couple of boards. Limited as in sometimes you can move it enough to help, other times , no.  Sometimes you can also move the door liner or adjust the door enough for a bit of clearance.

I always thought that vintage of Philco 'fridges were some of the best looking ones out there. That one should be a Philco-Ford, right?

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

OK, finally one in AVOCADO exists!

I've seen two harvest gold ones (sadly, the one across the street, as well as the rest of those vintage app's-EVERYTHING in that house including an upright piano & a vintage chandelier, for that matter!--got sold... Couldn't save any of it time, sorry...!) and one in an old appliance repair shop (which someone put springs over the inside of each door to make them automatically shut, while the wood trimming on the refrigerator compartment was getting to be chintzily coming off!) and one in copper, dubbed "Cold Guard" at a Salvation Army store...

Lots of luck restoring this one(& try not to get too many repairs as the neighbors frequently needed, as I saw a Sears truck across the street while Sears was able to keep it running--though it would often be for the treadmill...)

-- Dave

 

[carmine_f]

Are you adding heat to this clamped board set-up? I have the whole interior and doors removed from moving it into my house. Heat wise, I was thinking a 100 watt bulb in a reflector-style fixture?

 

[goatfarmer]

Never tried heat, a bulb might help, or a heat gun.

 

I've had that fridge come through in Avocado, gold, and a few in white. Haven't seen one for a while, though.