When 2 doors aren't enough... 1960 Hobart 3 door commercial Refrig

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scoots

scoots

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From Facebook:

1960 Vintage Hobart 3- Door Avocado Green Commercial Refrigerator
$300 Listed a day ago (4/30/23) in Pilot Grove, MO

A true 1960's Vintage Avocado Green Hobart 3- Door Commercial Refrigerator. We used it for years as a refrigerator, but... the compressor works, but needs new Freon, but it's the old Freon so can't be refilled. We have since put a small individual refrigerator in the center shelf and use the two sides doors as a truly one-of-a-kind unique show cabinet. It's heavy, but we do have double doors that you will be able to roll the refrigerator out of with no issues. You load on a trailer.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...place_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks
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While perhaps not in avocado Hobart Q3 three door fridge (and or freezers) are out there common enough. One thing keeps popping up with older units however "needs" or "low on" Freon.

https://ccrind.com/product/16006/

https://www.marshallbid.com/auction...ed-When-Removed-From-Service,-Does-Need-Freon

https://www.icollector.com/Hobart-3-door-SS-Refrigerator-Model-Q3_i6034462

Parts are available: https://www.partstown.com/hobart/qe/parts

Am not sure but may be same or similar as Traulsen "G" series.

https://www.hobart.ca/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/refrigeration/TR35787.pdf
 
 

 

Google may be your friend:

 

<section class="page-title">

<figure id="yui_3_17_2_1_1683573981804_95" class="
sqs-block-image-figure
intrinsic
" style="max-width: 935px;">

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</figure>

<h2 style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Choice 420A</h2>
<ul data-rte-list="default">
<li>
EPA accepted replacement for R12 and R500

</li>
<li>
Can be used to replace R134a

</li>
<li>
Nearly identical pressure-temperature relationships as R12

</li>
<li>
Does not require an oil changed. It can be used with any refrigerant oil

</li>
<li>
Can contribute to energy savings

</li>
<li>
Easily recovered with standard recovery equipment

</li>
<li>
Currently used in a wide variety of applications including

<ul data-rte-list="default">
<li>
Chillers

</li>
<li>
Reach-in coolers

</li>
<li>
Bus air conditioning

</li>
<li>
Walk-in coolers

</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

 

</section>

https://www.choicerefrigerants.com/choice-r420a
 
That fridge isnt from the 60s

It's from the very late 70s to mid 80s. Hobart bought Koch in the 60s and by the early 1980s (1981 I believe, when Hobart was purchased by Dart & Kraft, but could be wrong), completely ended the Koch line and design. Before then, Hobart transitioned to their own design (the Q Series, what you see here), implementing some of Koch's engineering in a different package.

A true 1960s Hobart fridge simply would have been a rebadged Koch M-Series, an example of such shown below.

One way I like to quickly tell the age of commercial equipment is by its NSF decal. Anything from the mid-70s and older will have the NSF label stylized as "nSf". from 1975 and beyond, it will look like the current NSF label.

Unfortunately there's no shot of its data plate or NSF decal but the Hobart Q Series didn't begin until something like 1978.
 
That fridge isnt from the 60s

It's from the very late 70s to mid 80s. Hobart bought Koch in the 60s and by the early 1980s (1981 I believe, when Hobart was purchased by Dart & Kraft, but could be wrong), completely ended the Koch line and design. Before then, Hobart transitioned to their own design (the Q Series, what you see here), implementing some of Koch's engineering in a different package.

A true 1960s Hobart fridge simply would have been a rebadged Koch M-Series, an example of such shown below.

One way I like to quickly tell the age of commercial equipment is by its NSF decal. Anything from the mid-70s and older will have the NSF label stylized as "nSf". from 1975 and beyond, it will look like the current NSF label.

Unfortunately there's no shot of its data plate or NSF decal but the Hobart Q Series didn't begin until something like 1978.
 
What’s interesting to me is the color. Would something like this have been used in a true commercial setting, or more something like a large bed and breakfast/camp or light duty institutional like a church?

The color just seems a bit too “custom” to picture this in a restaurant.
 
R12 alternatives

Jilian, I missed your reply, apologies. There are several different refrigerants marketed as drop-in R12 replacements.  There is, however, no universal drop-in replacement for R12 in every system engineered for R12. However, there is at least one R12 replacement which will work in any given R12 system.

As Rich mentioned, R420A is one newer product.  Most of them are blends of multiple gases which emulate the temperature/pressure characteristics of R12. One of the problems you may run into when asking modern-day repair people to use them is the available container size versus the demand for the product. There are few R12 systems remaining today. If a shop buys a 30 pound drum of this product they will tie up money in it they may not get back for a very long time. 

 

There are automotive R12 replacements available in small cans but they are combined of propane and butane, which are not suitable for these systems for a variety of reasons. The extreme flammability is one reason; as is the hydrocarbon content damaging the rubber seals in the older compressors. 

 

There is refrigerant R152A which is more common overseas, but it is available in the States in small cans, sold as computer keyboard duster. I have used this one extensively with excellent results. It is, unfortunately, something you may or may not have success getting a modern-day service technician to use, because they can't get it via their normal channels and it is marketed as a cleaning product versus refrigerant. A significant factor in its lack of adoption in the States is because it is already available cheaply and has escaped the money game being played with other refrigerants. 

Hope this is interesting!

Sincerely,

David 
 
@ Superocd, do you have an email address I can message to? Didn’t see one in your profile. Wanted to ask about kitchen equipment.
 

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