50's refrigeration experts?????

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

I don't know where else to ask this. The Inter-Web is no help.

I recently aquired a 1949 Crosely Shelvador Refrigerator. It runs and cools just fine. BUT, it seems to run for 3 minutes, off for 7 minutes and continually repeats that cycle. Is this normal for that vintage of a CLASSIC refrigerator?????

[RoadsterRich]

First off... I know nothing about refrigerators.... that said...

You might check with http://www.antiqueappliances.com. I have heard they are very knowledgeable and helpful as well, though I have no personal experience (or connection) with them.

Rich

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

Thanks Rich. I'll take a look. Silly ME never thot to do a web search on 'antique'.

[RoadsterRich]

I remember back when I was a kid (and the fridge was older than dirt back then), my grandparents would cycle on and off. It was an old monitor top unit. No it wasn't the defrost cycle, it was back in the days of manual defrosting. Nothing like a rather warm pail of water in the frost encrusted shell of a freezer section. Ah memories... and I'm one of the 'young' ones here.

Rich

PS: anyone need any 39/40 Cadillac parts (yeah yeah, I know, but I really would like to sell them so I can buy some stuff I do need for the Chrysler!)

[rocketraider]

That is one of the coolest websites I've seen. I remember family having some of those, including that way-cool 1962 Frigidaire "Flair" stove.

Between cars and appliances, I often wonder what it would have been like to be a young up-and-comer in the early 60s and able to afford some of that nice stuff.

[Guest DeSoto Frank]

Glenn,

If that website is for the folks down in Georgia, you can drop them an e-mail with your tech question, and someone will get back to you.

They were pretty helpful to me when I was seeking info on an early '30s Tappan gas range that I'm re-doing.

Friends of mine bought a house last year (c 1910), which had be re-modeled a few times, and their kitchen was re-done in the late '50s, with beautifully made Cros-Nappanee cabinets (peach color), complete with built-in bread drawer, and a spring loaded fold-out mixer shelf big enough to accomodate a Kitchen-Aide. Complete with an Avocado Frigidaire "Flair" stove and Avocado GE Fridge.

Everything was pretty dirty, and they were about to gut the kitchen and I pleaded with them to wait and see how everything cleaned-up, since it was all functional....well, mom-in-law went at it hammer and tongs and made everything sparkle <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />, and now they love the cabinets and the appliances!

My experience with 1950's & earlier refrigerators is that they do cycle on & off, but my units have been PHilco and G.E.....try letting the unit run for a while (couple of hours, or overnight) until the inside is cooled-down to 35-40 degrees, and see if it cycles less frequently to maintain that temp.

The Shelvador is a good unit; if all the shelves & other goodies are there and the finish is presentable, it would be worth having re-charged, if indeed it does need work.

Frank McMullen

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

The kitchen in this house has American Kitchen brand cabinets and counters. Made by an offshoot of Auburn-Cord Duesenberg in Indy. Built in '58 the house has never had any kids living in it so the kitchen (as well as the rest of the house ) is in good original condition and is very 1958 right down to the jalousy windows.

The refrigerator was given to me by a friend (i'm not sure he knew i was serious) when i told him my former frig caught on fire. The old Crosely runs great but needed complete rewiring, and i even painted it with Centari enamel i had left over from 1977 ... so it even has CLASSIC paint on it. Yep, all shelves and emblems etc are there. I do like to save a penny from time to time. Why buy new when used will do.