|
|
Post by mj1987 on May 31, 2018 16:22:42 GMT
Hi all, New to the forum as of a few days ago. Perhaps I'm not very good at navigating the site and this question has already been answered but here goes anyway: Is there anyone in the New Jersey/New York City area that would be willing to take on a restoration project? I've just recently picked up a ball-top unit that runs, but I'd like to use it in a 1920s/30s kitchen restoration, so I'd like it "factory" by the time I put the groceries inside. Any information and feedback is welcome! Thanks! Matt Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by Travis on Jun 1, 2018 1:35:16 GMT
Hi Matt,
This forum is really for the collectors and the DIY crowd. I'm not aware of anyone offering restoration services. You might contact antiqueappliances.com. They're the only company that I am aware of that offers full service.
|
|
|
|
Post by turbokinetic on Jun 1, 2018 1:51:15 GMT
Hi all, New to the forum as of a few days ago. Perhaps I'm not very good at navigating the site and this question has already been answered but here goes anyway: Is there anyone in the New Jersey/New York City area that would be willing to take on a restoration project? I've just recently picked up a ball-top unit that runs, but I'd like to use it in a 1920s/30s kitchen restoration, so I'd like it "factory" by the time I put the groceries inside. Any information and feedback is welcome! Thanks! Matt
Hi Matt. Welcome to the forum! The CG Globe Top fridges are some of the most attractive around and seem to always become a great conversation piece. Glad you were able to locate one that's in working order and in (apparently) good cosmetic shape as well.
I love doing projects and sharing the results, but keep to my local friends and family because it's just a hobby. Hopefully there's someone nearby who can get your Globe Top back to factory-like condition.
Some of the others who have been on the forum longer than I have may know of some resources in your area.
|
|
|
|
Post by mj1987 on Jun 1, 2018 12:06:46 GMT
Hi Matt, This forum is really for the collectors and the DIY crowd. I'm not aware of anyone offering restoration services. You might contact antiqueappliances.com. They're the only company that I am aware of that offers full service. Hi Travis, One thing's for sure--I'm a collector and a DIY guy! I'm in the process of restoring a 1923 Colonial Revival house in NJ. Right now my focus has been upstairs, with a potential move-in date of early September. That, however, does not include the kitchen renovation/restoration. I also sell architectural salvage, lighting, and antiques on eBay, so old stuff is in my veins. I'm enthusiastic about restoration, but refrigeration is completely foreign, save for what I've read. After perusing this forum, it seems that many people are versed in the latter and showcase their handiwork rather impressively! Though I'm confident in my abilities to take care of the cosmetic restoration, I thought it might be wiser to seek out someone more knowledgeable about the "running gear" that powers these old beauties. I've learned that sometimes is "pays to pay" someone with experience and that knows what they're doing. I'm hoping that someone might be interested in working on something that they're enthusiastic about and make a little money in the process. |
|
|
|
Post by mj1987 on Jun 1, 2018 12:12:17 GMT
Hi all, New to the forum as of a few days ago. Perhaps I'm not very good at navigating the site and this question has already been answered but here goes anyway: Is there anyone in the New Jersey/New York City area that would be willing to take on a restoration project? I've just recently picked up a ball-top unit that runs, but I'd like to use it in a 1920s/30s kitchen restoration, so I'd like it "factory" by the time I put the groceries inside. Any information and feedback is welcome! Thanks! Matt
Hi Matt. Welcome to the forum! The CG Globe Top fridges are some of the most attractive around and seem to always become a great conversation piece. Glad you were able to locate one that's in working order and in (apparently) good cosmetic shape as well.
I love doing projects and sharing the results, but keep to my local friends and family because it's just a hobby. Hopefully there's someone nearby who can get your Globe Top back to factory-like condition.
Some of the others who have been on the forum longer than I have may know of some resources in your area.
Hey Turbo,
Thanks for the kind welcome! Like everything restoration-oriented, it seems that all the resources are outside the Northeast. I've called around to a few places that claim to service vintage appliances, but to no avail. Like you said, I think it might be wiser to find a local hobbyist with whom I can connect. Finding him/her might just be the greatest challenge. I have a great steam-heat plumber that I thought might know someone, but 'no-luck' again. Hopefully, someone from my area is on the forum and will chime in. Fingers crossed! |
|
|
|
Post by mj1987 on Jun 1, 2018 12:15:02 GMT
Yesterday, after letting the unit sit a full 96 hours, I plugged it in. It started cooling right away, but boy did the top get hot around the right and left sides. So hot, in fact, that it was almost too hot to touch. I know these units are super efficient because any heat generated by the mechanics escapes above the area being cooled, but is it supposed to get that hot? I'm thinking that maybe it gets that hot once it's plugged-in for the first time, after not running, and then cools down once it really gets going...? Or not and I'm about to bear witness to a chemical fire. Either way, I actually turned it off via the small push/pull rod just above the door and then unplugged it, totally.
Feedback and advice appreciated! Thanks!
|
|
|
|
Post by cablehack on Jun 1, 2018 13:32:44 GMT
I always recommend a plug in power meter for use with vintage fridges. It would tell you if the apparent excess heat is something to worry about. However, seeing that was its first pull down to temperature I would expect the sides to get quite warm - that embossed tubing around the sides of the cabinet top is the condenser. All the warmth inside the cabinet is being rapidly transferred to the outside there. Once the cabinet has come down to temperature, all the hard work is done and it won't run more than slightly warm to maintain it.
|
|
|
|
Post by solarmike on Jun 1, 2018 15:29:50 GMT
What are you wanting to have done to it??? It looks real nice as it is....
Or are you wanting to just have it checked out??
|
|
|
|
Post by ckfan on Jun 1, 2018 15:58:37 GMT
Cable hack is right. The sides do get very hot when you first turn it on. These units have the condenser in the ribs that run along the sides that fit over the cabinet. Unlike the CK that it’s based on it has no easy way to dissipate the heat since there are no fins. However, since the cabinet and evaporator are small it works out ok. As long as the unit cools down good and starts to cycle you should be just fine. Things to watch out for are gaskets and wiring. Bad gaskets can lead to rust damage around the legs. A very common issue with these units.
|
|
|
|
Post by elec573 on Jun 1, 2018 16:08:33 GMT
Cold spaces did a rewire on one and had several pictures he posted on the forum. And some others as well I would look those over to get some ideas . And better
understanding of them .
|
|
|
|
Post by turbokinetic on Jun 1, 2018 22:15:28 GMT
Yesterday, after letting the unit sit a full 96 hours, I plugged it in. It started cooling right away, but boy did the top get hot around the right and left sides. So hot, in fact, that it was almost too hot to touch. I know these units are super efficient because any heat generated by the mechanics escapes above the area being cooled, but is it supposed to get that hot? I'm thinking that maybe it gets that hot once it's plugged-in for the first time, after not running, and then cools down once it really gets going...? Or not and I'm about to bear witness to a chemical fire. Either way, I actually turned it off via the small push/pull rod just above the door and then unplugged it, totally. Feedback and advice appreciated! Thanks!
Hi Matt! I know I'm a little late because it's already been answered!
Without getting into heavy theory, it is a good sign that the sides of the top get hot immediately. This heat you feel is the heat removed from the interior of the fridge cabinet. The CK Monitor Top I've been working on is a very similar design to your Globe Top. The difference is that the condenser is located in the ribs of the large "drum" on top of the machine surrounding the compressor dome. When the unit is powered on from sitting; the condenser gets hot quite quickly. If the unit is powered on, while my hand is on the side of the condenser, the heat begins to rise in about 3 - 5 seconds, and within 30 seconds it's almost too hot to touch.
As the unit runs and cools the cabinet, you will see that the condenser will get less hot; and the compressor dome will become warm. If the machine cycles on quite often, as it will when the door is open many times, or there is a lot of hot food placed in there - the dome may get quite hot - about like the condenser during the initial cool-down period.
These machines are overengineered! The compressor dome surface area is used to radiate heat and cool the oil circulating inside the compressor. This oil flows over the motor winding and around the compressor cylinder. The heat it picks up from these areas is transferred to the dome, to cool the mechanical parts. It takes the heavy metal parts a long time to get warm, so the dome warms up slowly. The condenser, however, is heated instantly by the compression of the refrigerant gas.
As Cablehack stated. it's great idea to have a power meter for the fridge. It's a good tool to measure the health of the machine and ensure it's not developing any problems.
The door gasket makes a world of difference in the cycling and temperature of the compressor dome after it has stabilized. If there's any question about the condition of the gasket, you should definitely replace it. It will save wear and tear on the compressor as well as reduce the ice buildup on the evaporator.
If your Globe Top lived its life in the NYC area, it may not have had the heat-related deterioration of the wiring and gaskets like we see here in the south. I spend time in Louisiana and Alabama and everything rubber has rotted away years ago!
One place to be very careful with the machine is in the area of the refrigerant lines inside the cabinet. After all the years, moving, corrosion, and what not - this is an area that needs to be treated delicately. If a leak develops, it can be repaired quite easily; however the materials were difficult to locate.
Sincerely, David
|
|
|
|
Post by coldspaces on Jun 2, 2018 1:35:38 GMT
When I find the time I could rewire it and even convert it to R124 if it was in my garage. I am not set up to paint and such. Pretty good distance between us though. Welcome to the forum. Globe Tops are fun!
|
|
|
|
Post by mj1987 on Jun 6, 2018 12:55:30 GMT
When I find the time I could rewire it and even convert it to R124 if it was in my garage. I am not set up to paint and such. Pretty good distance between us though. Welcome to the forum. Globe Tops are fun! Thanks! The information that everyone has provided is awesome. This forum is definitely the spot for old monitors--really glad I found it! Ah, you're located in IL! I'm in NJ. Wish I was closer. If the unit is running cold, is there any downside to keeping it SO2? |
|
|
|
Post by ckfan on Jun 6, 2018 17:43:56 GMT
There is no downside to keeping a working system on SO2. These scotch yoke machines are very reliable. No need to change it.
|
|
|
|
Post by turbokinetic on Jun 7, 2018 0:16:42 GMT
There is no downside to keeping a working system on SO2. These scotch yoke machines are very reliable. No need to change it. My opinion is that the sealed system is like its own "ecosystem" that has lived in harmony for 80 years. It's stabilized and become very acclimated to its internal conditions. Anything changed, would only stand to shorten its life. |
|
