1933 Frigidaire antique refrigerator - 1 - Project intro and rewiring...

[@rotorspinny5516]

Great video, I’ve got a similar model I’m hoping to restore one day , seeing this one in such great condition has inspired me

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

Hey glad it was inspiring!

[@Clement-xy9iv]

Amazing ! So cool you try to preserve it !

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

Thank you!

[@ss-sq1hn]

What a masterpiece. Even belt driven ancient tiny compressor. Think about it when your fridge only failing part is transmission belt that can be changed easily. This compressor looks like it will never break. Insides of the fridge looks like high quality futuristic hipster stuff for rich people. Imagine the price of this machine back then.

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

Thanks! These were quite costly when new, accounting for inflation. They were sold during the depression era, as well, adding to the "unobtainability" factor for most people! They do last a long time, but unlike sealed systems - they do require maintenance during their life. That is the downfall - nobody now knows how to service them.

[@douro20]

While I've never seen a Delco repulsion-start motor personally, I do remember a few years back a personal friend having a 1/3hp capacitor start one from the early 1940s which was belted to a blower which was way too big for the motor. I took it off of the blower and put on a new capacitor and it started right up. It was probably the smoothest and quietest running motor of its age I had ever encountered.

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

That's cool! The first belt-drive fridge I repaired was my 1931 Frigidaire. It had been repaired in decades past. Someone had installed a capacitor-start Delco motor; which was apparently an authorized Frigidaire replacement. It had all the correct mountings and same casting features as the R-I Delco motors. It's pretty quiet as well, although the capacitor start is a lot more jolting and abrupt compared to the gradual spool-up of the repulsion-induction motors.

[@douro20]

@@davida1hiwaaynet The motor was very high-slip so it didn't jolt on startup. It actually had a very nice startup sound. The capacitor I used was an old French-made photoflash capacitor rated 180-220mfd @330 volts.

[@georgiannmaloney6594]

Such a pretty fridge

[@rtec6106]

I love the Deco style of this fridge!!!

[@enlightenthis3749]

I just came across the same unit. General Motors owned - Made Frigidaire until 1979 I believe. These sulfur dioxide units were made from 1925- 1933. Mine is in good condition, but one in video is near perfect. Glass pan goes under ice box.

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

That's great you found a similar one! Hope you're able to get it going, and share videos!

[@enlightenthis3749]

Well I got it sanded , painted in white and DuPont coke red, will clear coat yet. replaced all wiring- very brittle, fridge looks better than new. Ordered coke machine decals for the year, coke slogan, Pause that Refreshes, going to install flat belt pulley on motor drive, compressor runs, but not cooling, I assume out of gas, have heard 3 gas drop ins should work R-12, 401A and off memory don't remember the 3rd. Not sure how to upload video to this post. I will try and put something together. Iceman

[@enlightenthis3749]

From what I understand, they made 3 models? Standard, deluxe and master being the top model. Mine is a Master - 5 - 35. 1933

[@enlightenthis3749]

Door gasket on door on mine was in tough shape, removed and plan on trying thin black roofing rubber for my new gasket.

[@johnrhodes4007]

Hi, Dave, I’m John from the Pittsburgh area and I have this same fridge(without the door badge. If you have one, please post a price). I’m ready to fire this thing up and add coolant, but I don’t know how much oil to put into the compressor. It was dry when I acquired it. What is a base line amount, and is there a guideline to follow to keep it topped off?

[@edvanders6705]

This might be a silly question but did fridges always have lights inside of them or was that feature added in 1933?

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

It's not silly question! If I'm right, General Electric introduced the cabinet light in their 1929-30 model DR Monitor Top refrigerators. It was an option in the nicer cabinet models.

[@edvanders6705]

@@davida1hiwaaynet Oh so they were already established by '33. Thank you.

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

@@edvanders6705 Yep and as said I think GE was the first in their Monitor Top refrigerator cabinets.

[@enlightenthis3749]

Hi. I drilled hole bigger for high side tap last night, I must have drilled down too far? A needle looks like it's showing now when looking down. When you drilled out, did you penetrate into tank?

[@luisavelez2407]

Hi. Just rescued a roached one of these and could use some help restoring if you have any tips. I'd appreciate them

[@MsLizzydee]

I have one of these fridges in ALMOST awesome shape LOL. My daughter broke the handle on it and I have no clue where to get it repaired, or how to get the replacement part. Thought of selling it "as i" too but have NO idea what its worth...

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

Hi and thanks for the comment! Broken handles are a common thing and are difficult to find. Depending on the point of the damage to your handle, it may be possible to repair it. It's worth what someone will pay for it; but that will be highly dependent on location and other factors. Feel free to contact me via e-mail if you would like to talk about getting another handle or repairing yours.

[@nejuw]

ah we had a fridge like that in my grannies. The interior is identical

[@timallbritton3716]

I have the old refrigerator that I grew up with and would love to change it over to a modern system (110 v) that I could run off my solar system in my RV. Is it possible to do this?

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

Hi Tim. I'm a little confused. Was your fridge designed for 220V for a different market? Most of them for the North American market were already good for 110V power.

[@timallbritton3716]

@@davida1hiwaaynet Yes it's 110v but I am thinking that it will draw way more amps being that old than it would by today's standards. The refrigerator still works perfectly as it is but I just wanted to update it and help ensure that it draws fewer amps as possible on my solar system. Thanks...

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

@@timallbritton3716 Is yours belt-driven or a sealed system?

[@timallbritton3716]

@@davida1hiwaaynet I will look in the morning when I get home. It has the motor sitting on the top but I can't remember about the belt. I really appreciate your help :) Thanks so much!

[@willthetrill4849]

You collect the sulfur in a tank?

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

No, it is not safe to use SO2 this type of refrigerator in an indoors environment. I replaced it with a modern refrigerant.

[@Clement-xy9iv]

What !? Refrigerators used to work with sulfur ?

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

They used a refrigerant gas called sulphur dioxide. It was the norm for years until refrigerants such as Freon were invented. Very severe irritant, toxic, and corroded everything when it leaked.

[@Clement-xy9iv]

Oh, thank you, I learned something today... But... So this fridge was full of it ? How did you do to deal with it ?

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

@@Clement-xy9iv There are ways to neutralize it by reacting it with alkaline solutions. The vast majority of these refrigerators have already leaked out the charge, so normally you don't have to deal with it.

[@johnskogman5623]

Do you hang out with that guy on here that collects old TV's?

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

John, I don't but would probably enjoy visiting!

[@zachmueller2830]

Hey I was wondering if you had an email or phone number for contact information about an old fridge

[@joseclass7224]

Similar to the 1 I have.

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

Nice. How's yours running?

[@joseclass7224]

@@davida1hiwaaynet I haven't left it on long enough to see it cool. But it does turn on, and it didn't leak when doing so. Hoses don't look cracked. I registered at MonitorTop for advice n that landed me here.

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

@@joseclass7224 That's good! Will look at the forum soon and read up on your thread.