Wanted: 1970s side-by-side fridge freezer

[mad]

Now this is funny... I went back to Facebook to try and update my search, and instead it looks like I found the exact toilet we need for renovating the master bathroom. Been looking for that for ages!

Maybe I should search for toilets and then I will find the fridge of my dreams.

 

[rp2813]

Funny how those toilet things seem to happen when you least expect them.  Nice going!

 

That Coldspot is about as bullet-proof as any fridge of its vintage can be.  It appears to be a 19cf model.  My mom had a less fancy version and after almost 35 years when she passed on it was still purring away and maintaining 0 degrees in the freezer and 37 in the fresh food section with cold controls always set as recommended in the owner's manual.  It only needed three cheap and easy DIY repairs over that long period:  the condenser fan motor, the evaporator fan in the freezer section, and the compressor relay.

 

The one pictured appears to be missing its grille at bottom front.  I would ask for interior shots to see if everything is there.  Storage drawers in particular have a tendency to go missing from old refrigerators.

 

[mad]

Well, the Coldspot appears to have vanished.

But this arrived yesterday. We now have a matched pair of white 1970s Kohler Wellworth toilets. The seller was hours away but happened to be passing through and delivered the toilet! What a lucky find.

Back to searching for a fridge...

 

[mad]

Went and had a look at that coppertone Hotpoint refrigerator.

Does anyone know when this refrigerator model dates from? The range with it had a wiring diagram that appeared to have a date of 1968.

The whole thing needs an extremely thorough cleaning (and repair and repainting), as it was pulled out of a collapsed mobile home. Seller says it hasn't been used in 20 years.

Unfortunately there are punctures in the freezer. There is a faint bubbly sound in there. It doesn't seem to be getting anywhere near cold enough.

The back of the fridge had developed some frost but isn't reaching the correct temperature either. It was apparently getting cold previously but recently stopped.

Any hope of saving it?

 

[combo52]

Hotpoin Cycle Defrost Refrigerator

This one has sealed system problems, best to move on unless you want to spend more than $1000 or more trying to get it fixed.

 

John 

 

[mad]

Hi John, thanks so much for your reply, I appreciate your help!

I was afraid it might have been the sealed system. What kind of work would be required to diagnose and repair it?

Do you know what approximate year this model would date from?

Unfortunately it seems this age of refrigerator is very sparse in the greater Seattle area. (The cost of hauling one back from out of state could end up being the same as repairs. Yikes!)

 

[combo52]

Hotpoin Cycle Defrost Refrigerator

The only easy repair would be adding about 6 Oz of R-12 and see if it works, if it does it has a leak, if you are lucky and the leak is very small it could work for a while, cost of fixing it would have to e determined by whoever you can find to do the work.

 

John L.

 

[mad]

Hi John, thanks so much for that.

Do you know if there are any service manuals pertinent to this model? (Curiosity is getting the better of me - already have loads of projects to do...!)

 

[combo52]

A Specific manual for this refrigerator would not probably not help much, probably a general manual on how refrigerators work and how to repair them would be more useful this is a pretty generic and simple refrigerator.

Are you considering repairing this refrigerator yourself or getting someone to fix it?

John

 

[goatfarmer]

A better deal

Nice working Whirlpool

https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...wse_serp:465bbc4f-7e68-4128-bf28-bd890bfaf7aa

 

[rp2813]

Peculiar chip-as-needed ice making system.

 

[repairguy]

That Whirlpool is nice but it might be a little overdue for a defrost. Lol!

 

[combo52]

1960s whirlpool built all refrigerators

Many people didn’t realize you had to defrost the little freezer icemaker section manually, we used to see them get so frosted up like that that it would jam the icemaker lol

These were very good refrigerators in their day Gibson built a similar one and build it through the 80s but it wasn’t near the quality of the Whirlpools

John

 

[goatfarmer]

I've seen those with Gibson, Coldspot, Frigidaire, and Whirlpool names on them.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

The “All Refrigerator” Refrigerator

Westinghouse made those too I think, and a shame all that undefrosted ice took over that freezer compartment…

— Dave

 

[combo52]

Whirlpool all refrigerators

Hi Kenny, I’m quite sure whirlpool never sold the WCI built all refrigerator with the mini freezer in the right lower section.

We were whirlpool dealer all those years would have seen those, whirlpool did bring out all refrigerators and freezers again under the KitchenAid name in 1987 for just a couple years and then later they came out with matching all refrigerator and freezer that were made by woods which is now division of whirlpool.

John

 

[goatfarmer]

I know, John. I'm saying WCI built a similar refrigerator with the small freezer. I've seen them with the Gibson name, they probably had White Westinghouse, Kelvinator, etc as well.

 And I've seen an early 60's Frigidaire with the small corner freezer.

 

[mad]

"New" fridge!

The Hotpoint ended up coming home with us last night...

Need to unload it off the trailer after breakfast and then the fun begins! Fortunately we're pretty handy. Our plan is to do as much of the work ourselves possible. It needs a lot.

(I like that Whirlpool! I want an excuse to collect more.)