OBCM - Antique Frigidaire Mini Fridge

[automobiliben]

Does any body know anything about my new Old Beer Cooling Machine? I picked this up off of the list today in a trade for stuff that I am in to for $35, so I guess you can say it cost me $35. OR, I guess you could call it FREE since I sold my moving boxes the company bought for $35 today on the list as well! I can't find any information on this antique mini fridge, nor much about the full size version.

Was this just a mini fridge like how we use them today? I am almost thinking it could be for an RV or perhaps a medical use (the mounting holes on the top of the back have me thinking it needs to be bolted down...). If anybody knows anything about this cool little guy let me know. I plan on doing a bodywork style restoration once I get my shop up and running. The guy I got it from says it makes beer so cold it freezes on the top! The badge on the front says Frigidaire Made by General Motors and on the back is a stamp AB-43.

More to follow tomorrow when it is light outside...

Sellers Picture:

In the back of my truck:

 

[sam_i02]

That thing is beautiful! Lots of potential there. Good find.

 

[jerryW]

That size was built to be used in mobile trailers. Mechanically the same as the full size units. Looks to be from the early 50'.



jerry

 

[Jarhead0408]

Very nice man!
That's going to look great all fixed up.

 

[JasonW]

That's going to look really nice restored and sitting in the shop!

 

[oilslick]

Awesome fridge, wish I had one of my own.

 

[bad_idea]

Think it is energy star rated? Looks sharp.

 

[automobiliben]

Here are some more pictures for everybody's viewing pleasure, in light this time!

A close-up of the badge, it has definitely been re-painted before and all over everything. I might have my first go at getting something chromed...

A couple piece of body work that will need attention. Guess I am going to have to learn that. This one of top looks like it will need to be pulled out before applying body filler.

With the door wide open.

Remnants of the warning sticker on the inside.

What lies below the radiator, the electrical is probably going to need some attention.

Some shots of the backside.

Some details of the motor/compressor.

The badge on the motor clearly states "Made in the USA", that made me laugh.

And lastly, a keg trial (I homebrew). 5 gallon would squeeze in if I shave a 1/16th off the top. A 3 gallon will fit fine. I am thinking this will be a bottle/can only fridge though...

So far my plans are to put it in the shed until I have the shop finished. Once I get the shop in order I will give it a "bodywork" restoration. Probably paint the sides and door. Will leave the back and all running parts the way that they are.

One thing that I was surprised about was the amount of plastic parts on it for being a '43 (if that is the case). The majority of the insides are plastic along with all of the trim.

bad_idea, if Energy Star took into account the long term effect of something on the environment, perhaps it would be! How many POS Chinese fridges would you have bought in the same amount of time this one has been working? I don't have a Kill-A-Watt yet, but once I get this thing running, I wouldn't mind seeing how much juice it takes!

 

[nine4gmc]

made by General Motors!! gotta love it!

 

[SweetD]

I love that thing. What a cool score! You ****!

Dave

 

[EOC_Jason]

I wonder if the compressor still works...

 

[automobiliben]

I wonder if the compressor still works...

The PO claimed that it worked within the last year until he was forced to move it outside. I am scared to plug it in without going through it though...

 

[Duck]

The two round threaded bungs on the back of the fridge, are there to receive two threaded standoffs with rubber tips.
The standoffs are there to keep you from pushing the fridge too close to the wall.
I've got a full size '47 model that mom and dad bought new.
It was still running until June this year.
If you need pics of the standoffs, I'll try to oblige.
Duck

 

[EOC_Jason]

The PO claimed that it worked within the last year until he was forced to move it outside. I am scared to plug it in without going through it though...

Yeah you can see the cord is frayed, I would most definitely give it a once-over and a little cleaning. But if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

[BillK]

Pretty cool. I have never seen a shorty like that. We have a full size one that my Wife's parents bought new in 1949. It is still chugging along like new keeping sodas cool in our attached garage

 

[automobiliben]

The two round threaded bungs on the back of the fridge, are there to receive two threaded standoffs with rubber tips.
The standoffs are there to keep you from pushing the fridge too close to the wall.
I've got a full size '47 model that mom and dad bought new.
It was still running until June this year.
If you need pics of the standoffs, I'll try to oblige.
Duck

Duck, that would be cool if you get a chance! No rush though!

 

[cyclecars]

I just finished a restoration of one of these. I have the original colors for the logo. See attached.
And, yes, there are supposed to be stand-offs in the back.

I hope that this helps.

Anyone know approximate year of these? I am just starting to research now that I am done fixing it up.

 

[Thorold]

Plug it in and standby with a fire extinguisher !!!! That project had better make it to the top of your list - can't wait to see it completed.

 

[Falcon67]

Cool - bet it ***** the juice too. But still cool.

As far as Energy Star, well - you can't just throw out a fridge anymore. Scrap yards won't take them unless the compressor has been removed and the trash people won't pick them up either for the same reason. Have to be delivered to a recycling yard and pay a charge for disposal. We had a big 25 cu/ft that worked OK in the fridge department and not so well in the freezer. I could not give the thing away and no used appliance dealer wanted anything to do with it, many citing envro regulation issues. Even Goodwill didn't want it unless it was in proper operating condition. I had to dispose of the compressor unit and scrap the rest.

 

[richtersrodz]

I would love to find somewhere local to rebuild my old 1940's fridge. I got it handed down to my son by my grandmother. It weights like 400 pounds!! It's kind of rough, and would love to get it back running again. I plugged it in, and it threw sparks...!!

 

[brownbagg]

best thing do with it, is landfill it

 

[automobiliben]

I just finished a restoration of one of these. I have the original colors for the logo. See attached.
And, yes, there are supposed to be stand-offs in the back.

I hope that this helps.

Anyone know approximate year of these? I am just starting to research now that I am done fixing it up.

Nice first post! Now I want to see some more pictures, post them up! Do you have any before pictures?

Intersting to note that your "box" is square where as mine has the same shape of the door. I was told on another forum that in the AB-43 stamped on the back of mine, the 43 stands for 1943. Does yours have anything similar?

 

[automobiliben]

best thing do with it, is landfill it

And why would I want to do that?

 

[GGB]

So he can retrieve it and fix it for himself......

I love those old Frigidaires.

GGB

 

[marty_p]

Anyone know approximate year of these? I am just starting to research now that I am done fixing it up.

I bet that is a 1950 model. My parents received one like it for their wedding in 1951. It is a 1950 model and it still runs fine in his shop, albeit a tad rusty on the outside. I probably will be restoring it and posting pics of it here one day.

 

[automobiliben]

Well, you guys will enjoy this story.

I have been running an ad the local List saying I was looking for older woodworking tools, email me with what you got. So I get this email today, the guy says he has a radial arm saw he was looking to sell, wanted $250 for it. So I open it up and check the picture, it was MY old saw, the one I traded to the guy to get this fridge! I laughed and laughed, as I only gave $35 for it in the first place and I know well that it wasn't in "mint" condition like he claimed it to be...lol. So here this guy is trying to sell me my old saw back!

I am still pondering if a reply is warranted! I would hate to inform him that the saw is barely worth $50!

I am starting to figure out why he wanted to meet me at a Lowe's instead of my house, he was using 2 different generic emails, but at least the same name. I am wondering if the fridge will even run, at least I don't have any money into it!

 

[er3456df]

Well, you guys will enjoy this story.

Ha, that's classic.

I am wondering if the fridge will even run, at least I don't have any money into it!

If you like this thing and want to make it worth keeping, try to find a newer fridge about the same size and see if anyone on CL near you is trading appliance service. It's not terribly hard to swap a sealed system, provided the size and shape of the coils is reasonably close.

If you were near me, I could do the soldering and charging for ya. Any post-2000 R134a system will pull about 1/5 the amps of those old beasts. Plus, parts will be easy to find when (not if) it breaks down on you.

 

[Steroblan]

Studio apts and motels with kitchenettes had that size. Some of the "motor courts" had them. May be too big for trailers of the day.

 

[Cougar67]

I googled "vintage frigidaire mini refridgerator" in images and found an identical one, working, in better shape for $150 in the St. Louis Craigslist:

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/app/3140731024.html

It says it was made in August 1951. I hope you are able to restore yours! Another thing I did not know I needed before I found GJ!

 

[GGB]

I googled "vintage frigidaire mini refridgerator" in images and found an identical one, working, in better shape for $150 in the St. Louis Craigslist:

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/app/3140731024.html

It says it was made in August 1951. I hope you are able to restore yours! Another thing I did not know I needed before I found GJ!

If I was closer, I'd be all over that. Yeah, they use more electricity, but they just look so good.

It still amazes me that something built 60+ years ago is still functioning. My Dad bought a house back some years back with an old Frigidaire in the basement which the former owners said was there when they bought the house. The former owners had just been using it for storage, and hadn't even tried to plug it in to see if it worked. Dad plugged it in, it started up and began cooling, and was still running when they sold the house. Kind of wish I'd "rescued" it, but at the time I didn't have a place for it. Oh well....

GGB

 

[automobiliben]

I googled "vintage frigidaire mini refridgerator" in images and found an identical one, working, in better shape for $150 in the St. Louis Craigslist:

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/app/3140731024.html

It says it was made in August 1951. I hope you are able to restore yours! Another thing I did not know I needed before I found GJ!

I did see that thing posted, that one and the one cyclecars posted are the only others I could find. I also did a patent search and couldn't come up with anything.

I did notice that the one on the STL CL had 2 racks and mine has one...

 

[camarotoolman]

Too much work and money to fix. Them too much money to run. Not worth it me, but each his own.

 

[brownbagg]

that make a good fridge to keep welding rods in, just add a 100 watt bulb

 

[Steroblan]

I had a cool little 40's unit on the porch for a while but really sucked power. Compressors were over built for 50 years of service. I had it on CL free for PU for a month but no takers. Ended up in the landfill.

 

[Bar Ditch]

If its too expensive to run you can always do a retrofit of a newer compressor and electrics. It definately is a cool setup.

 

[was2]

Like Marty_P my Dad still has the first one my parents owned, now in his garage. Frigidaire made by General Motors. Home model was just a little bigger than the one for apartments or trailers. Had to replace power cord a few years ago. Stand barefoot on the concrete and grab it to open it, you sometimes get a tingle off the handle. We put down a rubber mat.

My guess is internal wiring for light or something also needs replacing - someday. It can freeze beer if turned up too high.

 

[the.one.mo]

Awesome find! I'm picking one up tomorrow for $20 so this makes me feel better about it. Mine is coming with an extra motor. Did these come in wood grain also? The one I'm getting had it on it and wasn't sure if it was an option on these.