Vintage refrigerator/freezer appraisal

Prices can vary based on what this niche market will bear in a particular part of the country, so I can only tell you the price ranges I've seen in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The refrigerator appears to be in great condition and has all of its parts, however it's not a super deluxe model. I've seen ridiculous asking prices of $500+ for similar refrigerators in sorry shape (eventually the sellers realize they're dreaming), but typically a fridge like yours in decent condition would sell for somewhere in the $100 - $250 range depending on how badly someone wants it. You can ask for more, but plan on being stuck with the fridge for quite a while. Personally, I'm holding out for a GE "Combination" model of this vintage that has a true zero degree freezer, either a single door model with a positive, air-tight seal on the freezer section's door, or a two-door model with separate freezer.

I can't speak to the chest freezer. I'm not a fan of that type and while their design is more efficient than an upright, I prefer not to dig through contents. But that's just me. Others here may be able to advise on what they'd pay for a freezer like yours.


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Post# 1128614 9/14/2021 at 02:10 (948 days old) by Junior8uup (In a house)
Checkrate/Likes Hello members of AW. Wondering if you guys can help with my problem, I'm looking for a dollar worth of these 2 appliances. 1955 General Electric refrigerator and chest freezer, booth work great and are in good shape they just need a good cleaning and a buffer ran around them. Photos... < > Photo 1 of 15 View Full Size

Post# 1128654 , Reply# 1 9/14/2021 at 15:09 (948 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Prices can vary based on what this niche market will bear in a particular part of the country, so I can only tell you the price ranges I've seen in the San Francisco Bay Area. The refrigerator appears to be in great condition and has all of its parts, however it's not a super deluxe model. I've seen ridiculous asking prices of $500+ for similar refrigerators in sorry shape (eventually the sellers realize they're dreaming), but typically a fridge like yours in decent condition would sell for somewhere in the $100 - $250 range depending on how badly someone wants it. You can ask for more, but plan on being stuck with the fridge for quite a while. Personally, I'm holding out for a GE "Combination" model of this vintage that has a true zero degree freezer, either a single door model with a positive, air-tight seal on the freezer section's door, or a two-door model with separate freezer. I can't speak to the chest freezer. I'm not a fan of that type and while their design is more efficient than an upright, I prefer not to dig through contents. But that's just me. Others here may be able to advise on what they'd pay for a freezer like yours.

Post# 1128670 , Reply# 2 9/14/2021 at 18:29 (948 days old) by Junior8uup (In a house)
Checkrate/Likes Thanks, that's what I was wondering if there was some hipster marker out there that over pays and puts a new efficient compressor in it and have it painted purple. No guess on the freezers price though? Thing makes ice cream too hard to eat, have to thaw it out in upstairs fridge for awhile.

Post# 1128686 , Reply# 3 9/14/2021 at 21:22 (948 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area)
Checkrate/Likes 1 I think that refrigerator is a little older than 1955. GE introduced that basic cabinet style for the 1947 models, and used it until the redesigned models for 1953 appeared. The full width freezer was new for 1951, so I'd say yours is from that year or 1952.

Post# 1128704 , Reply# 4 9/15/2021 at 00:15 (947 days old) by Junior8uup (In a house)
Checkrate/Likes I emailed general electric with the model and serial number and that's what they told me but if I remember right maybe records weren't that good and didn't know for sure. Thanks though just another thing I'll have to figure out.

Post# 1128712 , Reply# 5 9/15/2021 at 04:50 (947 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI )
Checkrate/Likes 2 If they're both working as good as you say then there would be no need to replace the current compressors with more "efficient" modern ones. It will still take the same amount of electricity to cool those spaces. Replacing a compressor is also kind of a PITA.

Post# 1128761 , Reply# 6 9/15/2021 at 16:54 (947 days old) by Junior8uup (In a house)
Checkrate/Likes I bet I'd hate to replace a compressor in one of those. How do they make the new ones more efficient? Coil size like A/C units? A 12 seer 3 ton condenser coil is like the size of a VW Beetle now.