New vs. Old Deep Freezer Showdown - How Does a New Crosley 7.0cf Freezer Compare to an Older Unit?

In this sponsored video,. Crosley sent me a brand new American Tribute Chest Freezer. Rather than just review it, I tore it down and compared it to an older Frigidaire we had for sale at our shop. Has much changed in ~20 years on deep freezers?
Link to Buy Freezer (Amazon): amzn.to/49LnTDA
Link to Buy Elitech Data Logger: amzn.to/3uA3NvN
Elitech Data Log/History for the Crosley Deep Freezer: drive.google.com/file/d/187ZP...
Elitech Data Log/History for the Frigidaire Deep Freezer: drive.google.com/file/d/1EyGq...
Tools I use in all videos can be found at my Amazon Idea Page: www.amazon.com/shop/bensappli...
Did this video help you out? Send me a tip, and help me make more Appliance Repair videos for people to watch for free!
PayPal: paypal.me/BensappliancesYT?lo...
CashApp: $BenjaminSchlichter
Affiliate Disclosure Form: bit.ly/3oXeu3B
** Links to external websites and parts may result in me receiving a commission on sales.
Additional Note: Crosley paid / sent this freezer to me for free to review. The addition of the Frigidaire deep freezer by comparison was paid for, utilized, and ran entirely by myself and fully independently of Crosley.
As an additional disclosure, Crosley didn't request any cuts or modifications from any statements made in the video, they were fully my own.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Link to Buy Freezer (Amazon): amzn.to/49LnTDA Link to Buy Elitech Data Logger: amzn.to/3uA3NvN Now that I have this deep freezer, what other tests can I do?

[@youdontknowme5969]

Seeing a new appliance that doesn't require Wifi, an app and a subscription is refreshing! That's not a joke either. Six electrical components. Six! 😎👍

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

I was FLOORED how simple this thing is. If it didn't use R-600 it'd be perfect.

[@silence19999]

​@@bensappliancesandjunk What's wrong with R600

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

@@silence19999 It takes higher/better QC to make sure the refrigerant pipes are more durable so they do not leak. The companies aren't doing a great job on that almost across the board from what I have seen, especially LG and Whirlpool. It may take them a few years to figure out how to properly engineer the systems so they don't leak quickly. That and they aren't easy to repair at this time since the refrigerant is quite flamable.

[@blackrifle6736]

@@bensappliancesandjunk *Thank you for pointing out the other R600a deficiency. That of materials quality and assembly. Additionally, have yet to find one chest that chills lower than -10F at room temperature...*

[@status101-danielho6]

Still running a 40 year old Medalist Energy 7 chest freezer. We bought it new in 1983, and has an EnerGuide label that says it consumes 43 kWh/month. So it uses at least double the power of a modern fridge. It outlived 3 kitchen fridges, and will probably outlive me.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Nice! Always check w/ a meter if you can to confirm usage, as at some point it may be pulling more energy than a replacement would take over a much shorter lifespan (say 5-7yrs)

[@williampotter2098]

My GE refrigerator lasted two years. The old stuff is best. I'll pay a little more for power if I don't have to deal with repairs and replacements.

[@telefonbarmann4514]

Your reviews are top notch! I love that you take the appliances apart and show us what is going on inside. Alot of other reviewers just list the features on the marketing slide and call it a day. I really apreciate your approach. Longevity estimations are understandably hard to do but your insight and know how are a great recource for people! I wish there would be someone like you with the difference of focusing on the european market where i live LOL keep it up Ben, you are super inspiring!

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Thanks! I hope the teardowns help explain better what is going on inside these things, so you and everyone else can get an idea of what to look for, good and bad, in a unit. I do enjoy making these kinds of videos, but I don't ever want them to become the only thing I do. The only guy I think of that's close in the European market is "how-2-repair.com". I've used info from his videos a few times. Im not sure how many teardowns he does, but if anyone was going to do it right, its him.

[@telefonbarmann4514]

And i enjoy watching them! I also think pretty much all your appliance repair related content is super informative. Nice, i will make sure to check these guys out! @@bensappliancesandjunk

[@williampotter2098]

Terrific video. You know the subject and explained things clearly. I would love it if you could review and critique a simple relatively small Crosley upright freezer. I subscribed and upvoted.

[@eacox88]

I know it's almost impossible to buy a made in USA appliance but to me the US flag plastered on a Chinese built appliance is off putting. Love your videos and all the great information you provide.

[@asherdie]

Just giggle knowing some commie had to build it.

[@LarryKapp1]

You can get another brand without the USA flag on top for a couple hundred less.

[@theodorgiosan2570]

There are not many actual manufacturers of chest freezers. I'm a big fan of the Hisense from Walmart for $200. Same compressor and metal tub for over $200 less.

[@KR-sh6rm]

Hey Ben! Just want to say I really enjoy your channel and have really learned a lot! My 1989 Sears Kenmore washer and dryer died this past year. Your videos helped me make an informed decision when purchasing their replacements. Thank you! Happy Holidays to you and yours!

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Thanks!

[@paulnye6025]

Love the American Flag on the door then reading on the equipment data tag: Made in China 😂

[@HiVizCamo]

We are 12 years into a Sears Kenmore 5 cu ft unit, no issues performing perfectly. Thanks for the preview of sudden relay failure, I should source a selection of replacement parts for this little guy! Glad we didn't bother shopping one with a defrost feature, I find it not at all inconvenient to manually defrost it when needed, and that is not even annually.

[@moocowdad]

I have a Danby deep freezer bought in 1984 made in Guelph ontario that still works, only replaced the thermostat twice with generic as the oem is not available, took a few minutes to take the screw off and to slide the temp sensor out of the putty stuff, the puttys is still soft,and it is ivory in colour

[@LatitudeSky]

Danby is better than their reputation.

[@wolfgangunger217]

Ben, that is a great video. Please look at the Magic Chef 8.7CF (HMCF9W3). I bought my daughter one a few months before hurricane Nicole here in East Central Florida. When her house flooded 13.5" she lost EVERY appliance in the house EXCEPT that freezer. It actually floated for two days in her garage and it also has the control panel at the bottom. Nothing internally got wet and when the flooding receded, we plugged her in and viola! It ran perfectly and it is still running perfectly. I am not sure anyone can say anything bad about that freezer!

[@Crackerjack74]

Thanks Ben, I enjoyed the comparison and the look inside. I have 2 chest freezers: a GE, which was a replacement for a 2 year old GE that just stopped working, and my mom's Kenmore from the 80s, which is still going like a champ. Push come to shove, I'd probably go for the older models due to the longevity they seem to have over today's manufacturing. I'm fairly local to you (Ashville) and my brother has purchased a W/D from you already. Once one of my appliances goes, you can bet your shop would be the first place I'd visit. Thanks for all your helpful videos and happy Thanksgiving!

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Neat, thanks! We are going to open up a scratch and dent shop soon so I can tear down more appliances soon!

[@andyroid5028]

*_If you aren't a fan of America, you'll dislike the lid design. LOL_* But seriously, thanks for such a detailed & informative video. I never knew Crosley made appliances. I have one of their Bluetooth radios. : ) _Also, thanks for the links to the detailed data research. ✓_

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

I have one of their record players. They've been around for a long time, but absolutely not a ton of recognition, sadly. Their fridges are usually amazing.

[@Coolmariodude]

Funny enough we have a Frigidaire chest deep freezer and the unit is from what my father said used to belong to my grandma who got it back in either the 1970s or 1980s and that thing still works.. Probably has outlasted any of the modern ones.

[@terdsie]

That was a great video. I'd like to see the internal temps contrasted with the external temps in the summer.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Thats a great idea. I'll see if I can do that in a future video!

[@craigsudman4556]

Looks good Ben it will be on my list of things to purchase when my old one dies. Great video thumbs up.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

I was just floored the old one died on camera. I used it specifically because it was running for 3 months prior to filming. All I did was move it and plug it in on camera and I saw the wattage spike and kill it via the overload

[@craigsudman4556]

@@bensappliancesandjunk There's got to be a term for it, it just seems like whenever you need things the most...I mean you really need them to work, they break. It's the story of my life. LOL Good save.

[@LarryKapp1]

The case looks exactly like the newer Frigidaire model I have. I have a feeling they all come out of the same factory in China.

[@blackrifle6736]

*Ben, thank you for your thorough analysis of this chest freezer. Pity is, cannot find an 8 CuFt unit that fits kitchen space dimensions. My 1977 MonkeyWard Signature's plastic underlid liner is compromised allowing ice to form, adding weight to lid. Otherwise this R22 unit still holds Zero F at the bottom. Still looking for a later R134a unit. I am loathe to replace it with a (flammable/explosive) R600a, IsoButane unit. Yeah, no one mentions why newer compressors have that little orange flame triangle on label... Love ya'!*

[@theodorgiosan2570]

There is so little R600A that there is not much to worry about. I would be a lot more concerned about the foam insulation catching on fire than the refrigerant. The amount of refrigerant in these freezers is less butane than in a 6 pack of bic lighters.

[@sinister184]

Chest freezer is a great basic appliance. They're all pretty much the same, so go cheap and replacement warranty if it makes sense. I've have great luck with the Best Buy Insignia chest freezers. I've had two and both are quiet and haven't had any issues for about 5 years now. They were also under $200 on sale.

[@z06rcr]

I was quite surprised to see this freezer selling for $434.00 on Amazon.. shows how long it’s been since I bought my GE 7 cf freezer in 1998 for around $ 250…not very different though.. uses R12.

[@LatitudeSky]

Similar size deep freezers can be found for lower cost at the warehouse clubs.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Price varies a lot. I've found them in stores (Crosley dealers) for under $300. I think shipping adds a HUGE expense on it.

[@spinnymathingy3149]

Great comparison Ben, it’s quite amazing, this is probably the only product that hasn’t changed in 40 years, it looks exactly the same in every way as freezers from the 70s (only upgradeds is the insulation, gas type and compressor efficiency. Hey it’d be a great side by side comparison to find an old chest freezer and do a power consumption test. (I’d bet it’d convince people to upgrade to a new freezer just for the power savings 😉)

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Good idea! Gotta find an ancient freezer though...

[@ryansoo4000]

For off-gridders on solar PV and/pr batteries, can you do an episode on the advantages or disadvantages of using DC appliances rather than AC?

[@anfernyjackson9013]

How reliable do you find GMCC compressors? I've heard mixed things, I find that all the smaller sized brands have switched to them for their fridges, but personally haven't been able to get data on them.

[@whatthefunction9140]

My relay went bad. Had to buy a new chest freezer while I waited for replacment part. Popped in the new part and back to new. Not I have replacment parts for both on hand.

[@BlainsTube]

Thank you for the review. It was very informative. I'm almost religious about cleaning the condenser coils under my 30ish year old Kenmore refrigerator. Question: Are there any condenser coils to be cleaned on these small chest freezers?

[@youdontknowme5969]

Nope! They're all within its foam walls. Evaporaror lines are just inside the inside walls, condensor lines just inside the outside walls (you'll fell the outside walls get warm in operation) The only maintenance is periodic manual defrosting.

[@VintageMoments]

Honestly I have a Imperial commercial freezer (from the early 1980's) I got free in my journy of free appliances and it's 12ish cuft and a beast. That said it probably eats a lot more power than a modern one. Also I'm pretty sure when I unplug it I'll need to put a new cord on because that grounding pin was tenuous on there at best

[@SimonBarsinister]

What does garage ready mean? What is different? Great review by the way.

[@youdontknowme5969]

It can tolerate running (and maintaining temperature) in spaces that aren't climate-controlled.

[@DanTraina]

Hello Ben, you're the only appliance channel I trust. I looked for a video on upright freezers but couldn't find any from you. I'm in a bit of a bind, my upright broke and I need to replace quickly. In the U.S. do you have any recommendations on full size upright freezers? I would like to buy a reliable, well built machine that doesn't cost a ton to repair. Thanks

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Gladiator by Whirlpool seem to be pretty decent. I'd avoid Kenmore among other brands

[@davestvwatching2408]

It likely works a lot better than the freezer section of a typical side by side or french door fridge. It might be more efficient to have a top freezer fridge and one of these.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

One of the reasons I did the video / took the sponsorship is that I want to take this deep freezer and change the thermostat/properties to modify it into a refrigerator. I want to then go out and buy a comparatively-sized refrigerator and test if for, say, 2 weeks, and see what the efficiency of these are. This deep freezer actually did better than the mini-fridges they sent me for another video, in terms of wattage, despite being the size of literally 2 of them together. So I want to test that further in the future.

[@tonywestvirginia]

I have a 1975 Montgomery Wards chest freezer 25 cu ft. made in the U.S.A. And it still works! No thanks to that China stuff!

[@KayoEll]

So if I leave this outside in my garage all year in Minnesota will all be well??

[@c.esterling7678]

What do you think of Hamilton Beach brand freezers?

[@tom-yu2qg]

Installed new glow plug igniter and it won’t work. Can it be the control board maybe thanks

[@jennifermarlow.]

I have the exact same freezer from "Midea". Is this branding? It works great, have had it about 1 1/2 years. PS, I have watched your channel for a while, it's great! I want one of those washers that you mentioned. :)

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Great question..I'm not sure, but I asked Crosley about the mfg. They said it was another company I never heard of that did assembly. Wasn't Midea but then you never know, if it was a sub group or something.

[@jennifermarlow.]

@@bensappliancesandjunk Thanks for the reply. You never know, with globalism. It's not like the past. I am old enough to have experienced Canadian General Electric ... still have a working "Crock pot" from the 70s! So many brands, made cheaper, etc. You know what I'm talking about. Take care, and love learning on your channel. x

[@BrianDoCouto]

They are right, this is not a midea build. There's multiple brands using this exact same design.

[@user-zf9mg5kr2h]

How about an upright model?

[@abrahamjoseph6707]

What is your best recommendations for stand up freezer with lots of space

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Frigidaire or WP Gladiator. I'd avoid Kenmore (Daewoo) among the other brands.

[@Biggnuncio]

Here is a question, We have those nice water proof sheets on our bed, we put one into the dryer and it came out damaged. Our dryer doesn't seem to have a low heat option and it would take days to dry on air fluff. Since we are about to get new units I wonder if dryers can be different enough in this respect to choose one brand over another?

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Great question. I should do a test on that some time for a video. Brand temperatures absolutely vary. GE tend to be on the lower end and Whirlpool and Speed Queen on the higher end IMO

[@keithcress1335]

Is that shiny inner liner waterproof? From the vid it just looks like assembled chunks of aluminum covered insulation. What's the actual temperature range of the control knob? The lowest temp and the highest temp? If the highest is high enough then the unit could do refrigeration duty. I'd be nice to have that option. The lowest will describe long term ice-cream storage ability.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

I'll be doing refrigeration tests in the near future on it for sure

[@mikevandenboom5958]

Wow wow wow! Put your hat back on Lol😊

[@MiddleEastMilli]

Where is the mini fridge?

[@JonasVilander]

This deep freeze is nearly identical to a deep freeze(7 CuFt), sold under the "Thomson" moniker, that my wife and I bought from Sam's Club about 3 years ago. Has worked without a hitch. Shame you had a relay issue, but that might have just been an isolated defect or potentially a dirty power issue.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Its a 20 year old deep freezer. It took me longer to find the tools to replace it than actually replace the relay. Thats about the easiest issue you can find w/ a refrigerator or freezer, and I was only fusterated that I may not of had one on hand than actually doing the work of replacing it.

[@garyjones5489]

Bought a new freezer at Sam's. 9 months later it stopped working. The process to return the freezer was ridiculous. And would have had to pay shipping from Canada to the USA. Friends were moving and there was a 40 year old Montgomery Wards freezer they didn't want that was about 5 years ago.

[@streamingaccess4719]

😍😍😍😍

[@woodrowwilliams1812]

I didn’t like my chest freezer because too hard to get to things or organize things. Now have an upright freezer with shelves that help organize and access contents. Would never get a freezer that requires manual defrost.

[@mtaylor9055]

Do you happen to know what parts/who owns/the real brand of a hamilton beach upright freezer? The 11 cubic ft one is really popular at Costco and is all drawers, I'd like to buy it but I have no idea of the reliability of that brand. Is it really a frigidaire?

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Sadly not sure. I am going to guess its the same company that made this deep freezer. There are only about 4 companies that make them for the US market. Daewoo, Xingjing/Midea, Whirlpool and I THINK Frigidaire.

[@mtaylor9055]

@@bensappliancesandjunk Hey thanks so much for the quick response. Your videos have helped me immensely with my last few appliance purchases. You do good work!

[@davestvwatching2408]

It looks like at Lowes this is sold as the Avanti brand, Danby? at Home Depot

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

They look similar but the sealed systems are likely different

[@davestvwatching2408]

@@bensappliancesandjunk I was going by the controls and lights on the unit looking similar. Plus the door design looks similar.

[@LarryKapp1]

@@davestvwatching2408 A lot of these type freezers look the same with different names on them. It would depend on if they used different compressors in different brands but my guess is not.

[@karenreneelyles261]

I want a full size Crosley compared To bigger name freezers.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Hopefully they enjoyed the video I did, and get feedback that a larger one is needed.

[@congruentthree3142]

I'd trust that embrace compressor with my life before I trusted that little midea 600a one.

[@JesseJ.Speigner]

Good its a repair vs reaction channel 😂😂😂😂😂😂 HILARIOUS

[@samsquires2877]

I don’t like that every fridge and freezer now comes with R600A Refrigerant.

[@jeffreyfwagner]

The basic problem with a chest freezer is that the stuff near the bottom never gets used in a timely manner. But they are very cost effective for the volume.

[@sbcinema]

the flag on it looks silly and the weathered look makes it look ratty

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

I'll be honest, in real life it looks quite a bit better than the camera shows.

[@emiliog.4432]

Is the unit made in America?

[@sbcinema]

@@emiliog.4432is anything still made outside of china ?

[@KayoEll]

I really dislike when companies use the flag as a marketing gimmick...

[@gregordiseth6651]

It looks like a vinyl sticker, one could use a heat gun and just peel it off. If it were mine I would remove it immediately lol

[@emiliog.4432]

Wow A USA flag on a Chinese made product. wtf??

[@LarryKapp1]

Just a marketing ploy for gullible consumers.

[@youdontknowme5969]

*American Freedom* _-- Made in China_

[@MadHatter1707]

Why are the flag colors blurred in the cover pic? If done on purpose someone’s an asshole.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

I didnt make the thumbnail, someone else did. I'll check in on it.

[@rocktech7144]

Way too pricey. That flag must add $200 to the price.