Discussion on another forum I hang out at. I thought it looked Admiral, but I'm not sure.
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Who made this Allis Chalmers 'fridge?
- Thread starter goatfarmer
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The handle kind of reminds me of Admiral.
philr
Well-known member
There are probably some serious Allis Chalmers tractor fans like there are some AMC and GM fans! (BTW, I like some old GM cars made before 1980 too, but probably not as much as I like Frigidaire appliances made before 1980!)
I just saw a link to a similar fridge with a separate freezer that was made in Italy (see the link). That makes sense since the one on eBay has the "**" code on the freezer door (which I don't recall seeing on American brands).
I just saw a link to a similar fridge with a separate freezer that was made in Italy (see the link). That makes sense since the one on eBay has the "**" code on the freezer door (which I don't recall seeing on American brands).
European
Phil
You are bang on the money regarding this fridge being European if not Italian origin. The star system cam in (at least in the UK) in the early 1960s and became a standard measure of performance. Based on this rating this was not a unit which could freeze food, only store pre-frozen for up to a month. One star (unusual and only found in cheaper models) was up to a week. Three stars was originally for units with freezing capability, this was later changed to 4 stars.
The unit above would not have been self defrosting. Ice would have built up around the compartment behind the door. The white tray under the door could be used to collect de-frost water if the fridge was lefty switched off. Some models had a push button arrangement to switch the fridge back on again when the defrosting was complete but this was of limited value as any water which was left in the compartment would just freeze solid.
I cannot recognise the manufacturer of this unit by the layout but by the look of the interior light switch (on RH side of cabinet) it would be earlier rather than later 1960s
Al
Phil
You are bang on the money regarding this fridge being European if not Italian origin. The star system cam in (at least in the UK) in the early 1960s and became a standard measure of performance. Based on this rating this was not a unit which could freeze food, only store pre-frozen for up to a month. One star (unusual and only found in cheaper models) was up to a week. Three stars was originally for units with freezing capability, this was later changed to 4 stars.
The unit above would not have been self defrosting. Ice would have built up around the compartment behind the door. The white tray under the door could be used to collect de-frost water if the fridge was lefty switched off. Some models had a push button arrangement to switch the fridge back on again when the defrosting was complete but this was of limited value as any water which was left in the compartment would just freeze solid.
I cannot recognise the manufacturer of this unit by the layout but by the look of the interior light switch (on RH side of cabinet) it would be earlier rather than later 1960s
Al
Looks.....
Like Kelvinator to me, my nan had a smaller version under the counter after getting rid of her servel gas fridge and the interior is almost the same and the handle and badge and position are very similar....
Like Kelvinator to me, my nan had a smaller version under the counter after getting rid of her servel gas fridge and the interior is almost the same and the handle and badge and position are very similar....
firedome
Well-known member
Only a A-C tractor collector
would pay that kind of nutty money for that thing, as Phil said. Tractor collectors I've known are even crazier that WE are!!
would pay that kind of nutty money for that thing, as Phil said. Tractor collectors I've known are even crazier that WE are!!
macboy91si
Well-known member
The photo in Phil's link
Is a Philco, made in Italy. I had this same fridge with the Philco name. The compressor read Philco Italia on it. It is a 24" non frostfree unit, mine was made in 1968. I liked it. It had a crappy potmetal center door hinge that broke. Right after I moved, I gave it to my mother as a 2nd fridge and the compressor would never start back.
-Tim
Is a Philco, made in Italy. I had this same fridge with the Philco name. The compressor read Philco Italia on it. It is a 24" non frostfree unit, mine was made in 1968. I liked it. It had a crappy potmetal center door hinge that broke. Right after I moved, I gave it to my mother as a 2nd fridge and the compressor would never start back.
-Tim
philr
Well-known member
I didn't know that Philco made fridges in Italy! I guess if you still had it, you could put a Ford badge on it and advertise it on some tractor forums to get big money out of it!
Actually .....
In the very early 1970s we did have fridges branded Philco Ford, Philco name partnered with the classic Ford logo
Al
In the very early 1970s we did have fridges branded Philco Ford, Philco name partnered with the classic Ford logo
Al
<blockquote>
Only an AC collector would pay that kind of nutty money for that thing, as Phil said. Tractor collectors I've known are even crazier that WE are!!
</blockquote>
I don't know that we're crazier, but we are just as crazy, how about that! I have4 AC garden tractors and about a dozen Simplicity's, so I guess I'm a collector.
<blockquote>
Another giveaway
is the apparent plastic interior with molded slots for the shelves. That's something I've never seen in American refrigerators, but it is quintessentially European.
</blockquote>
I know several US manufacturers who use the molded liner slots for shelves. Admiral, Philco, Hotpoint, are a few that I remember. It could be European Kelvinator, but it doesn't make sense to me to import 'fridges from Europe, when there were probably 9-10 different manufacturers in the US at the time. Although I've never seen a US made 'fridge with that style of light switch, most of the US built were the push in style.
The mystery deepens.....
Only an AC collector would pay that kind of nutty money for that thing, as Phil said. Tractor collectors I've known are even crazier that WE are!!
</blockquote>
I don't know that we're crazier, but we are just as crazy, how about that! I have4 AC garden tractors and about a dozen Simplicity's, so I guess I'm a collector.
<blockquote>
Another giveaway
is the apparent plastic interior with molded slots for the shelves. That's something I've never seen in American refrigerators, but it is quintessentially European.
</blockquote>
I know several US manufacturers who use the molded liner slots for shelves. Admiral, Philco, Hotpoint, are a few that I remember. It could be European Kelvinator, but it doesn't make sense to me to import 'fridges from Europe, when there were probably 9-10 different manufacturers in the US at the time. Although I've never seen a US made 'fridge with that style of light switch, most of the US built were the push in style.
The mystery deepens.....
macboy91si
Well-known member
"it doesn't make sense to me to import 'fridges
I think the reasoning was that these were slim 24" models and I can't recall many fridges that slim being made by the US domestics. It's no different I guess than the imported compact washer, dryers and stoves. A lot of niche market seems to have been imported. This think is 24" wide and barely as deep as a kitchen countertop. It fit my 40's kitchen very well and I was sad that it died. I actually seem to remember some of the electrical also were made by Bendix.
-Tim
I think the reasoning was that these were slim 24" models and I can't recall many fridges that slim being made by the US domestics. It's no different I guess than the imported compact washer, dryers and stoves. A lot of niche market seems to have been imported. This think is 24" wide and barely as deep as a kitchen countertop. It fit my 40's kitchen very well and I was sad that it died. I actually seem to remember some of the electrical also were made by Bendix.
-Tim
Hi Guy's
My grandparents bought a Allis Chalmers refrig from the farm Co-op.The tractor place had Kelvinater and Allis Chalmers refrig's.My grandmother and I read the large poster and in fine print it said,Made by Kelvinater(imported).My grandie asked,the salesman about the maker.He said,Made by Kelvinater,but made overseas.It
lasted for 30 years and finally died.They,also had other appliances,by Kelvinater.
Michael
My grandparents bought a Allis Chalmers refrig from the farm Co-op.The tractor place had Kelvinater and Allis Chalmers refrig's.My grandmother and I read the large poster and in fine print it said,Made by Kelvinater(imported).My grandie asked,the salesman about the maker.He said,Made by Kelvinater,but made overseas.It
lasted for 30 years and finally died.They,also had other appliances,by Kelvinater.
Michael
firedome
Well-known member
Italian fridges
seemed to be popular in the small top-freezer market, around 10-12 cu ft, in the US apparently few domestic makers had one that size. There was one in the '80s & '90s in a summer cottage we rented for quite a few years, and it did work well. The brand was one I'd never heard of, but it did say Made in Italy on the ID tag inside.
seemed to be popular in the small top-freezer market, around 10-12 cu ft, in the US apparently few domestic makers had one that size. There was one in the '80s & '90s in a summer cottage we rented for quite a few years, and it did work well. The brand was one I'd never heard of, but it did say Made in Italy on the ID tag inside.
John and Jeff told me about, I think it was Admiral brand freezers, with the foamed in sides with the plastic shelf supports that if you loaded the shelves too heavily, the plastic side supports would let the shelves fall.
cfz2882
Well-known member
italian fridges
my little "topp" minifridge,made in '68,is from italy-don't know who made it over
there,but it has an Aspera compressor.Unlike some of my other minifridges,this one
is decently insulated.Porcelain metal interior too.
my little "topp" minifridge,made in '68,is from italy-don't know who made it over
there,but it has an Aspera compressor.Unlike some of my other minifridges,this one
is decently insulated.Porcelain metal interior too.
jerrod6
Well-known member
Allis Chalmers?
WOW!
Growing up my best friend had an Allis Chalmers lawn tractor. He loved that thing, always bragging about how well it cut his lawn. It did do a good job. Another older guy friend used Allis Chalmers on his farm to... umm... work the wheat and corn or whatever you do to that stuff.. Oh maybe it was running the combine...anyway... I used to ride with him on the tractor...never did any work..just along for the ride. It was fun and I will always remember the times because this was just a great older guy that took me as a friend. My family had a 12 hp Cub Cadet that I used to cut our lawn. My next door neighbor owned the John Deer tractor store so my neighbor boy used John Deer to cut his lawn. I had No idea that Alis Chalmers made refrigerators too. Hmm... they were probably better at tractors.
[this post was last edited: 3/11/2012-21:48]
WOW!
Growing up my best friend had an Allis Chalmers lawn tractor. He loved that thing, always bragging about how well it cut his lawn. It did do a good job. Another older guy friend used Allis Chalmers on his farm to... umm... work the wheat and corn or whatever you do to that stuff.. Oh maybe it was running the combine...anyway... I used to ride with him on the tractor...never did any work..just along for the ride. It was fun and I will always remember the times because this was just a great older guy that took me as a friend. My family had a 12 hp Cub Cadet that I used to cut our lawn. My next door neighbor owned the John Deer tractor store so my neighbor boy used John Deer to cut his lawn. I had No idea that Alis Chalmers made refrigerators too. Hmm... they were probably better at tractors.
[this post was last edited: 3/11/2012-21:48]
Allis Chalmers made a lot of things, including power generation machinery (turbines, generators) that are still in use.
They went bankrupt in the Seventies, I think. There is still a company using the name that makes oilfield equipment.
They went bankrupt in the Seventies, I think. There is still a company using the name that makes oilfield equipment.
