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Thread Number: 31728
1929 Frigidaire |
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Post# 478525 , Reply# 1 11/30/2010 at 14:09 (4,889 days old) by rp2813  (Sannazay) |
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| Post# 478534 , Reply# 2 11/30/2010 at 14:55 (4,889 days old) by scooter76 () | ||
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Sure...I'll see what I can do about some photos. | ||
| Post# 478544 , Reply# 3 11/30/2010 at 16:00 (4,889 days old) by Travis () | ||
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Model # of the fridge I think you'll have to have a seal made. I would fall over if a parts house had these. I saw one in a box once. The problem is finding them before someone tosses them. | ||
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Post# 478545 , Reply# 4 11/30/2010 at 16:12 (4,889 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions) |
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| Post# 478579 , Reply# 6 11/30/2010 at 20:08 (4,888 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c ) | ||
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SO2 Sulfur dioxide is pretty toxic, but it is a wonderful refrigerant! | ||
| Post# 478661 , Reply# 7 12/1/2010 at 08:45 (4,888 days old) by scooter76 () | ||
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OK, folk....here she is! 
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| Post# 478663 , Reply# 9 12/1/2010 at 08:54 (4,888 days old) by scooter76 () | ||
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And the compressor / condensing unit... 
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| Post# 478706 , Reply# 10 12/1/2010 at 13:16 (4,888 days old) by 58limited (Port Arthur, Texas) | ||
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Post# 478712 , Reply# 11 12/1/2010 at 14:02 (4,888 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay) |
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Ah, yes. I remember almost buying one of these many years ago, but repair was so much more complex than just switching tops like with a GE of similar vintage. Aren't these Frigidaires belt-driven?
They are much more handsome than Monitor Tops IMO. What a beauty, and a rare find for sure. Good luck with it! | ||
| Post# 478725 , Reply# 12 12/1/2010 at 14:56 (4,888 days old) by Maytagbear (N.E. Ohio) | ||
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This is something I would NEVER say ANYWHERE else..... It's SO cute! Lawrence/Maytagbear | ||
| Post# 478727 , Reply# 13 12/1/2010 at 15:11 (4,888 days old) by qsd-dan (West) | ||
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Post# 478738 , Reply# 14 12/1/2010 at 16:29 (4,888 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions) |
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Post# 478740 , Reply# 15 12/1/2010 at 16:47 (4,888 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay) |
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| Post# 478756 , Reply# 16 12/1/2010 at 17:30 (4,888 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room) | ||
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| Post# 478859 , Reply# 17 12/2/2010 at 00:11 (4,887 days old) by Spiceman1957 () | ||
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Nice! This would be an expensive but a very nice appliance to have at that time. John | ||
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Post# 478978 , Reply# 19 12/2/2010 at 14:06 (4,887 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI ) |
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Post# 478984 , Reply# 20 12/2/2010 at 14:54 (4,887 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay) |
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Post# 479119 , Reply# 23 12/3/2010 at 01:30 (4,886 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay) |
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I think it's very interesting that recipes were already taking advantage of frozen dessert options back when freezer volume was no larger than what two ice trays could hold. Talk about impressing your dinner guests!
So Scooter, was the fridge kept running after it landed at the dealer in 1994 or did it sit until you bought it? I'm wondering if this is the classic use-it-or-lose-it scenario, or a case of entitlement after running continuously for 81 years. | ||
| Post# 479133 , Reply# 24 12/3/2010 at 05:17 (4,886 days old) by dj-gabriele () | ||
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What a wonderful machine! And in such a perfect preservation state too! I guess it can't be refilled with a modern refrigerant, isn't it? (unless swapping the cooling circuit of course) Can I ask what are the power/current/voltage ratings on the compressor? | ||
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Post# 480547 , Reply# 26 12/9/2010 at 12:27 (4,880 days old) by Volvoguy87 (Cincinnati, OH) |
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Steam boiler stuff?
Look into a vaporstat. A steam boiler runs on very low pressure (heating steam). A steam boiler is turned on and off based on pressure. Normally, this is controlled by a pressuretrol, but it's accuracy isn't good enough to deal with ounces too well when one ounce matters. A vaporstat, however, can detect that kind of small pressure changes and can open and close a circuit to control a boiler's burner. Perhaps, if needed, a vaporstat can be used in your refrigerator.
Clear as mud? Dave | ||
| Post# 480741 , Reply# 27 12/10/2010 at 09:32 (4,879 days old) by christfr (st louis mo) | ||
hey guy read your post and there is only one man i know that may be able to help you, thats travis. i know how you love that machine and since i love mine the same way. travis sold me a ge monitor top that is in the house and i love it. i also snaggd a 34 frigidaire from him that is perfect but dosnt cool. he seems to be the only person i have run across that really know anything about these machines, maybe he can help or at least explain the machine bette. mail me and ill forward you travis email mail me at rombachcc@yahoo.com
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Post# 480779 , Reply# 28 12/10/2010 at 14:04 (4,879 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay) |
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Well Chris, that's another beautiful Frigidaire. They really do seem to be the nicest looking early refrigerators, at least in my opinion.
Travis checked in here early on with reply #3 above. I agree that if there's anyone among the membership who can provide assistance and guidance, it's him. I also think Dave's suggestion of a vaporstat is a great alternative. I would really like to see Scooter get this thing up and running. The way it was constructed, it's got many years of cooling still ahead of it. | ||
| Post# 482304 , Reply# 30 12/17/2010 at 10:46 (4,872 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY) | ||
OH MY | ||
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Post# 482498 , Reply# 33 12/18/2010 at 13:09 (4,871 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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1928 FRIGIDARE 
I have the same ref that you do except it is the wider two door model. We bough it at an estate sale around 1980 and after exploring different ways to fix the leaking compressor shaft seal we just converted it an R-12 system around 1981. It has been working perfectly all these years, I will try to find some pictures of it to scan as it is in my mountain house in WV. If you want to E mail me your ph # I will let you know how it was converted John.
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| Post# 486203 , Reply# 35 1/3/2011 at 20:47 (4,854 days old) by austinado16 () | ||
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That is one unbelieveable fridge!! Thanks for posting pics!! | ||
| Post# 486508 , Reply# 38 1/5/2011 at 09:52 (4,853 days old) by Crevicetool (Snellville Ga.) | ||
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Post# 486514 , Reply# 39 1/5/2011 at 10:21 (4,853 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay) |
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That "muffled chunk-chunk" description brings back childhood memories of a belt-driven refrigeration unit at a neighborhood mom & pop grocery store.
I'm no expert, but it could be that your fridge is operating as it should now, with slack allowed for some additional mechanical noise after having been in nearly continuous operation for over 80 years. No doubt the "use it or lose it" postulate has been a significant factor regarding your machine's longevity. If you're like me, you probably won't be satisfied until you've exhausted all options to quiet it down further, and I would not be surprised to subsequently find out that you were successful. Congratulations, and keep us posted! | ||
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Post# 778731 , Reply# 43 8/22/2014 at 15:40 (3,528 days old) by Volvoguy87 (Cincinnati, OH) |
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Don't get ahead of yourself just yet.
The refrigeration system might be just fine. My 1939 GE's system certainly shows no loss of performance or efficiency. With the refrigeration system, I'd leave it alone if possible. Replacing or modifying the refrigeration system would be expensive and likely wouldn't result in any improvements in performance or reliability.
In order to make your refrigerator safe, you may want to replace the cord. I'd also likely connect a ground wire. In order to make it a well performing and efficient machine, you may need to replace the door gasket. Door gasket material can be purchased from www.antiqueappliances.com.... Old refrigerators, such as this, tend to be simple and very reliable. Most mechanical problems have to do with the thermostat and compressor starting mechanism (relay or similar). Surprisingly, really old refrigerators, like this one, are also pretty energy efficient. Best of luck, Dave CLICK HERE TO GO TO Volvoguy87's LINK | ||
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Post# 778737 , Reply# 44 8/22/2014 at 16:03 (3,528 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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I'm no expert , but here is my experience The original compressor is more than likely a belt-drive unit, very similar to my 1936 Frigidaire. The refrigerant type was SO2 in the mid-30's, not sure what stuff would have been factory for '27, but it certainly wouldn't be very safe (either Ammonia or SO2) to expose in a contained area, i.e. inside the house.
These systems aren't sealed in the sense that the GE Monitor tops or later GM Frigidaire Meter-Miser compressors were. There is an actual separate compressor that looks very similar to a pneumatic air compressor pump, with a motor driving the pump via a belt. The shaft seals can leak over time, and/or the head gasket, etc.
The chances of the original system being intact with refrigerant are probably pretty slim, but I would be quite cautious plugging this old girl in just in case it still is charged up. If you are not comfortable working with these unknowns, I would suggest continuing the search of finding someone who is and has an extensive background with refrigeration equipment. Unfortunately, most folks in the industry these days haven't seen a belt driven pump before.
Ben | ||
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Post# 778813 , Reply# 47 8/22/2014 at 22:08 (3,527 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN) |
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First off, Hello Lauri! And a big welcome to AW!! That is a neat old beast you have there and it looks to be in nice shape.
Personally I would not run that unit if it had Sulfer Dioxide refrigerant inside my home. At the vintage of that machine, especially if it sat long, the compressor shaft seal would be quite suspect. Up thread (Reply #33) is a post from my brother John. Back about 1980 he and I and another brother Jeff found one of these at a DC estate sale. After purchasing the unit we moved it out back and while checking it out Jeff turned over the compressor pulley to see if it were free. The unit immediately started to leak the pungent SO2 refrigerant. We knew it was unsafe to load it into the van and drive home with it. We cracked a fitting and left it there for the night and went back the next day. Even with the little exposure we got to the refrigerant that day we all developed a cough and minor respiratory issues for a day or so. SO2 is NASTY stuff. The Ivy on the garage wall at the home of the estate was burned by the vented refrigerant also! After we got it home I remember pulling out the condensing unit and cleaning and painting it. I think we were sure that the original compressor would never be used again, especially for SO2. I remember in the pre-Internet days trying to find a little info about a shaft seal and Freon swap. Perhaps today in the information age it might be easier to find a part to sub but this could require a full compressor rebuild, a machinist and lots of crossed fingers. Eventually Jeff soldered copper tubing to hidden surfaces of the original evaporator and used a modern (in 1980) R12 compressor/condensing unit to provide cooling. The condensing unit was installed remotely in the room behind where the refrigerator was placed in John's West Virginia cabin. It was an awesome resto-mod since the unit appeared to be fully stock. The original compressor could be switched on so as to hear it run also. The unit ran for many years in place, but I believe that John has since sold it. Perhaps you could end up doing something similar with your unit if you were so motivated. John and Jeff both do active appliance service in the DC area, you may want to try making contact. Look up Alco Appliance in Beltsville and Jeff's Appliance in Adelphi. I'm sure that just about any other service company would all but hang up on a unit this far out of warranty ;) There is something satisfying about seeing one live on! | ||
| Post# 778815 , Reply# 48 8/22/2014 at 22:10 (3,527 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c ) | ||
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RE SO2 I forgot about plants...it will KILL ANY vegetation it hits better than roundup!! | ||
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Post# 778827 , Reply# 50 8/22/2014 at 23:23 (3,527 days old) by Volvoguy87 (Cincinnati, OH) |
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SO2
In a sealed system, Sulfur Dioxide is okay. My '39 GE is SO2 and is running just fine.
It may be possible to convert from SO2 to something a little more common, like R134a, but I've never done it. Bear in mind that appliances of this era were designed to be repaired, rebuilt, and serviced. The compressor can be rebuilt, seals can be replaced, even he electrical contacts can be serviced in many instances. SO2 is indeed nasty. If contained, it's fine, but if it leaks, you'll know it! Many refrigeration leaks are caused by user error (defrosting the freezer with an ice pick, for example). Even with a compressor oil change, some contemporary refrigerant, and some new seals, the original equipment may still provide fine service. Dave | ||
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Post# 778876 , Reply# 52 8/23/2014 at 09:08 (3,527 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions) |
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Post# 1001913 , Reply# 54 7/30/2018 at 16:23 (2,090 days old) by cuffs054 (MONTICELLO, GA) |
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Wow, nicely done! | ||
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Post# 1001916 , Reply# 55 7/30/2018 at 16:53 (2,090 days old) by turbokinetic (Northport, Alabama USA) |
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Hey cuffs054 thanks for the compliment. I want to post a thread about the whole Frigidaire restoration but this forum isn't letting me post a new thread. I'm sure it's my laptop; or I'm doing something wrong. | ||
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Post# 1001927 , Reply# 56 7/30/2018 at 18:22 (2,090 days old) by cuffs054 (MONTICELLO, GA) |
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Turbo, keep trying. Would love to see updates. | ||
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