Vintage refrigerator finds at this weekends estates...

[drh4683]

This was a good weekend at the estates. I picked up two refrigerators in Chicago yesterday, an Avocado Frigidaire from about 1970 and a coppertone GE from March of 1973. Both came with their original owners manuals and the Frigidaire came with some additional technical manuals. The GE was still used as the main refrigerator upstairs and was marked half off from $75, so $37.50. The Frigidaire was down in the basement. I was particularly interested in the Frigidaire but as soon as I asked about it, the people running the sale said "sorry, it's not for sale" and I was informed that there is no way it would come out of the basement and that they took measurements etc. etc. At a glance, you wouldn't think this fridge could come out of the basement it was in without causing some serious damage. The basement may have been finished AFTER the fridge was brought down there with a very sharp turn at the base of the stairs and a very low ceiling. Since both refrigerators were somewhat close in age, I believe that the Frigidaire was bought specifically for the basement where it was used behind the bar in the finished basement. After some polite persuading that it could indeed be removed, they finally agreed and said "If you can actually get it out of here without damaging the house, you can have it for free". After a carefully planned means of moving, I got it out with the help of a friend without a dent or a scratch to either the house or the fridge. I think the people running the sale were a little miffed that we got it out of there and regretted their offer stating that it was free if it could be removed. They were positive that there was no possible way to move it out without taking part of the basement apart, which was something they were not going to allow...

So here they are, they just need a good cleaning, but cosmetically in really nice shape. My friend Tom took the coppertone GE for his new house and I kept the Frigidaire.

I can't place an exact date on the Frigidaire though. I'm going with 1970 because there are no print codes or copyrights on the manuals. The one tech manual is dated 1970 though. I'm familiar enough with the 60's time period to know that the way the woman looks on the manual is about 1968-1970. I also looked around for some clues such as date codes on the components, like switches etc. The defrost timer was replaced and had a 1979 date code on it so that was of no help. I did some searching on the model-serial number but that didn't yield any results...

Both should clean up like new. I'll probably end up using this one in my basement for now until I can find a period correct matching avocado Frigidaire electric range and dishwasher. Once I get the "matched set" all together, they will go in my kitchen.

 

[drh4683]

Unloaded

 

[drh4683]

Inside the Frigidaire

 

[drh4683]

Inside the GE

 

[drh4683]

Frigidaire nameplate

 

[drh4683]

GE nameplate

 

[drh4683]

Frigidaire model tag

 

[drh4683]

GE model tag

 

[drh4683]

GE manual. Bought new at Polk Brothers, a very popular department store chain in Chicago back in the 60's thru early 90's.

 

[drh4683]

Frigidaire tech manuals that came with the unit

 

[drh4683]

Frigidaire owners manuals. Always search the house for old manuals! They usually will be found somewhere in a box down in the basement that was forgotten about.

 

[norgeway]

GREAT!

I like the REAL BUICK also!

 

[58limited]

The fridges are nice, but I'm more interested in the Electra

 

[paulg]

You and I went to the same estate sales

We are crossing the same paths!
Congratulations on the nice finds. I remember those two fridges and thought how nice they both were.
I ended up with a Sinatra album and a Sunbeam lawn sprinkler both of which are already in use here!

 

[pulltostart]

Both 'fridges are nice - but how about some pics of that fabulous Electra 225!

 

lawrence

 

[appnut]

Doug, very nice finds!!! Did yhou ever find a vintage dishwasher for your house? I see it in the background of your avatar with the Maytag set, but do you still have your 1960 Impala? Or is the only vintage car you have now is the 225?

Bob

 

[drh4683]

Thanks all.

Bob, I'm still looking to find an avocado dishwasher, preferably a Frigidaire from the same vintage (late 60's/early 70's). I still have my Maytag set, they've been saved in the basement and have not used them. I'm still using my avocado 1-18's in the laundry room which is on the main floor in my house.

I still have the '60 Impala. The Electra in the background is a '70 and is an all original survivor from Cleveland that never saw snow or salt. I picked it up earlier this year.

As for the refrigerator here, I took removed the doors and detail cleaned everything this past Sunday. It like new after a good detailing. I'll probably use it as a back up in my basement until I can find the correct "matching" dishwasher and electric range.

 

[polkanut]

We have a 1972 BOL manual defrost Frigidaire in white.  So I would say your guesstimate as to its age is pretty accurate.  Ours only has a removable small metal shelf that the ice cube trays sit under.  We don't have the fresh meat drawer, and only 1 large crisper bin.  I'm also very familiar with this exact model & color GE fridge.  The parents of my wife's best friend had this GE as their daily driver, and the ice cube compartment makes ice extremely fast.  It was very quiet, and the Frigidaire should be too.  The doors on the neighbor's GE were opposite of what yours are.  

[this post was last edited: 7/9/2013-14:30]

 

[thor]

Frigidaire ice cube trays

The refrigerator I grew up with was a Frigidaire from mid '60's which had the same type of ice cube trays and storage/extractor bucket as your refrigerator. The ice cube trays had to be regularly sprayed with kitchen wax, so that ice cubes would not stick to the trays and therefore come out unbroken without having to excessively force the extractor lever. Our ice bucket was white though.