Light Bulb Replacement on 1967 GE Refrigerator

I have a recently acquired '67 GE model TCF-19DCB refrigerator that I installed in my kitchen. I know this is a basic question, but is there a trick to removing the white plastic lens/shield to gain access to the light bulb? Usually you can feel carefully to determine how things like this clip into place, but I can't quite tell on this one. I don't have a borescope, or I'd try to take a look behind the panel and see how it's fastened. There must be some kind of spring clips since there is no exposed hardware. Not sure if the whole plastic piece pops off, or is it supposed to pivot down on a hinge or what. It appears that the plastic shield is separate from the metal trim below it, so I assume the white translucent shield comes off separately? (See photo).

The last thing I want to do is apply force in the wrong location and wrong directions in efforts to figure it out and break something irreplaceable. This refrigerator is so nice and well preserved and I'm being extra cautious, as I'm dealing with 54 year old plastic parts.

Unfortunately there are no owners manuals for this model in the literature section. I even bought the service manual for '62-'74 GE Refrigerators, but lens removal is model specific and those details aren't covered there (from what I could find). Any help is appreciated.

Photos... < > Photo 1 of 2 View Full Size


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Post# 1117691 5/19/2021 at 15:22 (1,072 days old) by drh4683 (Chicago western suburbs)
Checkrate/Likes 1 I have a recently acquired '67 GE model TCF-19DCB refrigerator that I installed in my kitchen. I know this is a basic question, but is there a trick to removing the white plastic lens/shield to gain access to the light bulb? Usually you can feel carefully to determine how things like this clip into place, but I can't quite tell on this one. I don't have a borescope, or I'd try to take a look behind the panel and see how it's fastened. There must be some kind of spring clips since there is no exposed hardware. Not sure if the whole plastic piece pops off, or is it supposed to pivot down on a hinge or what. It appears that the plastic shield is separate from the metal trim below it, so I assume the white translucent shield comes off separately? (See photo). The last thing I want to do is apply force in the wrong location and wrong directions in efforts to figure it out and break something irreplaceable. This refrigerator is so nice and well preserved and I'm being extra cautious, as I'm dealing with 54 year old plastic parts. Unfortunately there are no owners manuals for this model in the literature section. I even bought the service manual for '62-'74 GE Refrigerators, but lens removal is model specific and those details aren't covered there (from what I could find). Any help is appreciated. Photos... < > Photo 1 of 2 View Full Size

Post# 1117703 , Reply# 1 5/19/2021 at 18:37 (1,072 days old) by oldtech (US)
Checkrate/Likes 2 *Hi drh4683* There's a guy on YouTube who restores MCM friges. I'm linking a video of a G. E. Americana which has a very similar light bar in the frig section. I've also got his business email address. If anyone would know how to help you out, it would be him. justin@vintage55restorations.com

Post# 1117742 , Reply# 2 5/20/2021 at 05:32 (1,072 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Replacing The Bulb In A Late 60s GE Refrigerator* Hi Doug, I think you push up the plastic cover and it will snap off, I know I have changed bulbs in these refs several times with no problems. That video of Justin and the GE Americana ref is painful to watch, he certainly does not know much about the GE Americana, he did do a great paint job on it, those GE Americanas were built through 1967. John L.

Post# 1117909 , Reply# 3 5/21/2021 at 16:02 (1,070 days old) by drh4683 (Chicago western suburbs)
Checkrate/Likes Thanks John. I'll also send a message to Justin to see if he knows too before I mess something up. It seems like it's really clipped on pretty well, so still a bit apprehensive to be pushing/prying too hard until I know for sure how it works.