1950 International Harvester Fridge

[Captain America]

I have a 1950 International Harvester fridge that has been in my family since it was bought new. My mother's parents bought it new to put in their house, then they sold it many years later to my father's parents and it ended up in their garage as a beverage (beer) fridge. I acquired it in my college years and used it as a beverage (beer) fridge, I can't imagine how much beer has been in the fridge!

The fridge works great and I want to repaint it to a correct era color, because it has been painted a few times with my crappy college paint job (don't Hate) as its latest color that it has been wearing for 10+ years.

It needs a new door seal, and I was wondering if someone can point me in the right direction on a replacement seal. Also, it needs a few seals where the shelves attach to the back of fridge.

According to the pics, the warranty expired a few years ago...Hahaha!

 

[tipsy]

You can try Repairclinic.com with your part number and see if they have the door seal etc. If not then I would strip it off and try using a "camper seal" from your local Ace Hardware or whatever. It's a foam strip with adhesive on one side, you could adhere it to the door and it woill do the same job as the original seal.

 

[wasfuzz]

I would check with a appliance parts outlet either online or in person. Many carry replacement seals by the foot. If they do not have the proper profile gasket, you can find one that will work. I would not use camper foam as it will break down from use and leave a leaky mess.

 

[captaindiode]

This is a possible source for gaskets:

http://store.antiqueappliances.com/Door-Gaskets_c_8.html

 

[zcbauer89]

Can't really help with repair parts, but very nice IH fridge. Those things were built like tanks, but sadly one of the things that brought IH down in the end.

 

[countryroad82]

I keep seeing these old fridges and it keeps me wanting one!

 

[Captain America]

Thanks captaindiode for the link, I believe one of those seals will work. It cools fine as is, but I'm sure it is leaking cold air. I need to replace it now before the whole seal dry rots off the door.

 

[Farmall 1066]

Love anything IH, as you may have guessed by my name here!
Nice fridge, and good for you in fixing it up.

 

[stihlntime]

I have my grandmother's old IH fridge in my shop. Butter compartment in front door. Works like a champ. My wife is wanting to paint it a seafoam green color.

 

[nine4gmc]

Awesome!

 

[txvwnut]

I see nothing wrong with the current colors.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I may be wrong, but maybe it's porcelain? If it is it should be easy to get the old paint off.

Tommy

 

[BuickFarmer]

Captain America, here is my 1950 IH fridge that was bought to keep my milk cold when I was born. Before that my parents had a wooden ice box and bought ice from the iceman. I also still have that wooden box.
I use the IH now as a beer fridge and to keep my old Pioneer receiver on in the barn. It has been running continuously, never fail, for the last 64 years. I also need to replace the gaskets as it is needing defrosting more frequently lately.

thanks for sharing yours

 

[trainer]

You can "fem-ineer those things any way you want!

 

[nine4gmc]

Buickfarmer, my mom has the old "ice box" that her great uncle made when he came to the country around the turn of the century. He was a furniture maker by trade from the old country and made some incredible pieces. My step dad decided it would be better used as an entertainment center for the electronics and drilled a hole in the back for the wires to run. It was inner/outer walls with sawdust between as insulation. DO NOT drill through your ice box.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Very Jealous! I'd love to get my hands on a nice clean one...not my pic, but rest assured, when I find one, I'll be painting it like this: