In running around this weekend, we found a bottom freezer Sub-Zero that had been a built-in for fifty bucks. It is a model 2811, which is not even listed anywhere on the sub-zero website.
Vintage ? Sub-Zero
- Thread starter dalangdon
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butter tray
This gives you an idea of the insides. The font is not very helpful - it could be anytime between the late 60's and late 80's, although they usually had more boxy fonts in the late 70's (at least in my experience). That metal pattern sort looks 60's to me though.
This gives you an idea of the insides. The font is not very helpful - it could be anytime between the late 60's and late 80's, although they usually had more boxy fonts in the late 70's (at least in my experience). That metal pattern sort looks 60's to me though.
lightedcontrols
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If you can get that for fifty bucks, GRAB IT!!! Mark
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Sounds like a great deal!!!
I'm not sure of the vintage. The Sub Zero that we have has the block letters for the various sections and it is from the mid sixties (yes it's sad butI still live in the same house and remember them installing it NEW!. It has the same handle as your top one but ours has the same handle for the freezer as for the fridge and it opens sideways. Ours is a built-in and is done in Country French White Birch instead of the stainless.
I guess that the fact that ours has been running, non-stop, for nearly 40 years is a great testiment to the quality of Sub-Zero AND why they can charge $7,000+ for a new one!
If the one that you are looking at is running....GRAB IT!!!
Good luck.
Rich
I'm not sure of the vintage. The Sub Zero that we have has the block letters for the various sections and it is from the mid sixties (yes it's sad butI still live in the same house and remember them installing it NEW!. It has the same handle as your top one but ours has the same handle for the freezer as for the fridge and it opens sideways. Ours is a built-in and is done in Country French White Birch instead of the stainless.
I guess that the fact that ours has been running, non-stop, for nearly 40 years is a great testiment to the quality of Sub-Zero AND why they can charge $7,000+ for a new one!
If the one that you are looking at is running....GRAB IT!!!
Good luck.
Rich
fnelson487
Well-known member
Grab It!
I didn't realize until I moved back from California, how much I love Sub-Zero refrigerators. I came back and had to renovate half of the kitchen to fit one in, since once you have one, you will always have one. It's 42 inches. These things are fabulous.
I didn't realize until I moved back from California, how much I love Sub-Zero refrigerators. I came back and had to renovate half of the kitchen to fit one in, since once you have one, you will always have one. It's 42 inches. These things are fabulous.
Buy it!!!
Buy it?? You better believe it!
For $50 bucks, it's definitely worth a try. Supposedly the refrigerator works, but the freezer doesn't. John (who was suprisingly eager about this) thinks it was the condensation tube (or something like that) and so far, it looks like he might have been right - it was caked with crud, but is clear now, and the freezer seems to be working. Time will tell.
While the fridge isn't nearly as glamourous as this one, it's shaped similar. Thank God our kitchen doesn't look like this though. No wonder housewives got hooked on valium. ;-)
For $50 bucks, it's definitely worth a try. Supposedly the refrigerator works, but the freezer doesn't. John (who was suprisingly eager about this) thinks it was the condensation tube (or something like that) and so far, it looks like he might have been right - it was caked with crud, but is clear now, and the freezer seems to be working. Time will tell.
While the fridge isn't nearly as glamourous as this one, it's shaped similar. Thank God our kitchen doesn't look like this though. No wonder housewives got hooked on valium. ;-)
Sub Zero Update
Well, everything is cleaned out and it's been running for a while now. Actually, the freezer works great (except for the light, which doesn't work) but refrigerator section doesn't work. The fan works, but it doesn't get cold. It sounds like the compressor is running, however, so maybe it just needs coolant?
The works of this thing were FILTHY. I think they had ran it while they were ripping up the kitchen at whereever it came from.
Well, everything is cleaned out and it's been running for a while now. Actually, the freezer works great (except for the light, which doesn't work) but refrigerator section doesn't work. The fan works, but it doesn't get cold. It sounds like the compressor is running, however, so maybe it just needs coolant?
The works of this thing were FILTHY. I think they had ran it while they were ripping up the kitchen at whereever it came from.
Very nice find, Dan. I have a 550 from 1987 in my kitchen that I just love - Fred is right, once you have one, you'll never go back! It sounds like you have a bad compressor or a leak in the evaporator coil. Do you know anyone who does refrigeration or HVAC work?
Just my amatuer $.02 here but be sure the fan you hear running is running full steam. If the freezer section is OK and cold enough, then maybe the fan that moves the air to the refrigerator section is working, but not at high enough RPM. Not the same design but an early 70's W'pool top freezer model I got for my garage had this issue, replaced the evap fan in the back of the freezer and what a difference.
Glad to see the glowing testimonials here for long-lived Sub Zero's. I've heard nothing but negative reports on them up to now and had friends who owned a bottom freezer model and were on a first name basis with the local repair man.
Good luck, and $50 sounds like a bargain regardless.
Ralph
Glad to see the glowing testimonials here for long-lived Sub Zero's. I've heard nothing but negative reports on them up to now and had friends who owned a bottom freezer model and were on a first name basis with the local repair man.
Good luck, and $50 sounds like a bargain regardless.
Ralph
It's fixed!
I had a service guy from Sub-Zero come look at it. It just needed a Freon recharge, a tightening of the eveaperator coil, and a replacement of some sort of pressure valve thing-y that keeps the freon in. Since we had the freon ourselves already (John is a pack rat) it came to $300 bucks, which wasn't too bad. We should be able to sell the frigidaire for that, plus the 50 bucks we spent on it in the first place. Whoo-hoo!
I had a service guy from Sub-Zero come look at it. It just needed a Freon recharge, a tightening of the eveaperator coil, and a replacement of some sort of pressure valve thing-y that keeps the freon in. Since we had the freon ourselves already (John is a pack rat) it came to $300 bucks, which wasn't too bad. We should be able to sell the frigidaire for that, plus the 50 bucks we spent on it in the first place. Whoo-hoo!
Woohoo! Good work, Dan. You'll love this refrigerator. I'll check my library, I may have the service/parts manual for this model. Even if you can't do the sealed-system work, other parts are easy to replace on it. Did you happen to watch as the work was being done? There is a separate compressor for the refrigerator and the freezer that share a condensor coil & fan that runs 24/7. If you look at the top of the refrigerator, there is a fan that circulates the cool air in the compartment continuously when the door is closed. Because it's separate from the freezer and air is constantly moving, you get a much humid, "deep" cold - similar to old refrigerators that everyone loves for chiling beer and soda - than you do in typical newer frost-free boxes.
Have you found a banjo and guitar for the doors yet?
Have you found a banjo and guitar for the doors yet?
Greg, I wasn't there, but John and the repair guy bonded. It's really been his production from the get-go. He's the one who took it apart and cleaned all of the various bits.
I noticed that fan set-up, and how one of the door switches controls it. Sub-Zero claims that their refrigerators became more energy efficient back in the 70's. I wonder if that is because the fan works harder, which makes the cooling unit work less? (I know very little about refrigeration theory, so I'm groping for a reason)
No banjo and guitar for me - I'm holding out for a set of bongo drums and a glockenspeil ;-)
I noticed that fan set-up, and how one of the door switches controls it. Sub-Zero claims that their refrigerators became more energy efficient back in the 70's. I wonder if that is because the fan works harder, which makes the cooling unit work less? (I know very little about refrigeration theory, so I'm groping for a reason)
No banjo and guitar for me - I'm holding out for a set of bongo drums and a glockenspeil ;-)
btw
I heard back from Sub-Zero. This fridge was "born" on January 13, 1986, and installed on October 10, 1986. Kind of outside of my usual era, but you can't have everything
I heard back from Sub-Zero. This fridge was "born" on January 13, 1986, and installed on October 10, 1986. Kind of outside of my usual era, but you can't have everything
Ta-Da!
It made it in the kitchen tonight. It's huge! But that's a good thing - that side by side was a hassle when it came to getting at stuff.
It made it in the kitchen tonight. It's huge! But that's a good thing - that side by side was a hassle when it came to getting at stuff.
frontaloadotmy
Well-known member
A very nice pairing
I don't think it's too new at all; they look great together.
my 2 cents anyhow.
I don't think it's too new at all; they look great together.
my 2 cents anyhow.
