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Post by jfleming1997 on Jan 22, 2020 19:51:09 GMT
I recently learned about monitor tops, and I’m enamored. My wife and I are currently restoring our first home, a Victorian, and a monitor top will go well with our Chambers stove. I’m looking to buy a monitor top ideally within a few hours of Syracuse NY (closest city. We live in Oneida but no one knows where that is really.) I prefer the later models where the coils are a bit more concealed. My budget is $300. The cosmetics don’t need to be perfect but it must be functional. I’ve already exhausted marketplace Craigslist and eBay.
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Post by stlvortac on Jan 23, 2020 0:03:01 GMT
Welcome to the forum! I believe the version you’re looking for are the CK models. There’s a ton of information on them in the CK section and all over the forum in general.
Keep checking the above sites. Here in the Midwest they seem fairly common. A few members here have storage units full of them, shipping might put it above your budget but might be a backup option. If this is your primary fridge, after an exhaustive search I discovered chest freezers from the same family line. Got it from a member on the forum. Best of luck and welcome again!
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Post by jfleming1997 on Jan 23, 2020 3:32:12 GMT
Welcome to the forum! I believe the version you’re looking for are the CK models. There’s a ton of information on them in the CK section and all over the forum in general. Keep checking the above sites. Here in the Midwest they seem fairly common. A few members here storage units full of them, shipping might put it above your budget but might be a backup option. If this is your primary fridge, after an exhaustive search I discovered chest freezers from the same family line. Got it from a member on the forum. Best of luck and welcome again! Thanks for the welcome, and thanks for the advice! We currently use a smaller “Smeg” fake vintage fridge, and have a full size vertical freezer in the cellar. The freezer actually came with the place and works great, the shelves ARE evaporators. We paid a good bit for the smeg and would hate to get rid of it even though our taste has definitely moved towards real antiques. The MT probably serve as mostly a beverage fridge at first until it earns my wife’s trust for the meats and produce. We own only vintage cars, we have a couple vintage appliances, but she still has a certain level of doubt that it’ll be as good as the new thing each time we convert another major “thing” to vintage.
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Post by elec573 on Jan 23, 2020 5:26:53 GMT
Hello and welcome to the forum. A ck would I think be your best option. They were the last model produced and most reliable. They use sulfur dioxide as a refrigerant ,and work well unless abused like with an ice pick during defrosting . You we’ll have to rewire it to make it safe and new door gasket but not that hard if you have some diy skills.
7 cubic ft is the most common but there are 2 doors that show up but not very often. We have a member that’s in your area but have not seen a post for a long time. I myself have been to your area to pick up a ball top . They are out there and you’re doing the right thing watching eBay and craglist. 300$ should get you what you want but you we’ll have to wait for one to show up in your area.
If you have a pickup and willing to drive ,someone that we’ll help you load I’m sure we can come up with sum for you.
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Post by jfleming1997 on Jan 23, 2020 13:03:58 GMT
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Post by Travis on Jan 23, 2020 15:18:17 GMT
That looks like a 1937 or 1938 model with a CK 26 unit. It looks to be in very nice shape I think there is one of those in New Jersey’ for sale.
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Post by jfleming1997 on Jan 23, 2020 15:24:49 GMT
That looks like a 1937 or 1938 model with a CK 26 unit. It looks to be in very nice shape I think there is one of those in New Jersey’ for sale. I’m looking forward to seeing it! As long as it looks good (the plug is cracked so the seller is not allowing a test) I’ll be taking it home. The price is quite low so I’m willing to take a gamble like that. My question is, regarding moving it, it’s obviously on a different base than most having no feet. Is that side wall structural, can I put an appliance dolly under that broad edge, or should I still plan to span corner to corner with a 2x6? My moving plan is to rent one of those uhaul trailers with the ramp and the nice low deck, much easier than getting into a pickup bed. I’m going to stay the top on, and strap the refrigerator in place extremely well and move it upright.
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Post by elec573 on Jan 23, 2020 16:40:06 GMT
That’s a very nice looking fridge . Even has the chiller tray and door on the evaporator both usually missing. I have the same one in my garage it works very well, remove everything from inside or it we’ll rattle around and scratch and dent things . I would pull the little drawer out all so just to be safe. Yes you can put a dolly on the side there’s a frame on the bottom that’s pretty stout. Yes strap the top securely to the cabinet. It’s going to be top heavy so you we’ll need help to hold it up when moving. I’d recommend 3 people if possible. Once you get it home you’re going to have to replace the wiring. There’s post on here that we’ll help you. I think you we’ll be very happy with it .
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Post by jfleming1997 on Jan 23, 2020 16:47:12 GMT
Great, thank you for those details! I have read a few threads about prepping it for use. The rewiring, letting it heat up for 12 hours, the seals. There’s a particularly helpful thread one guy made tracking his process from pickup to use. I was excited to see that it had the accessories too, I’ve heard the chiller trays are hard to come by. I’m planning to get some antique enamelware containers with enamel or glass lids to keep in the bottom, kinda like the drawers in a newer fridge. I’ll keep everyone posted, hoping to take it home this weekend!
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Post by turbokinetic on Jan 24, 2020 16:35:42 GMT
Great, thank you for those details! I have read a few threads about prepping it for use. The rewiring, letting it heat up for 12 hours, the seals. There’s a particularly helpful thread one guy made tracking his process from pickup to use. I was excited to see that it had the accessories too, I’ve heard the chiller trays are hard to come by. I’m planning to get some antique enamelware containers with enamel or glass lids to keep in the bottom, kinda like the drawers in a newer fridge. I’ll keep everyone posted, hoping to take it home this weekend! Hey that is a nice find! The CK cooling unit is different from the previous units. It doesn't require a heating-up time. There is no heater at all in it. Otherwise, you seem to have done your homework! The sides of the cabinet are probably not going to tolerate a lot of pressure on them. The lower front of the cabinet is (I believe) a non-refrigerated storage drawer. That should be taken out so it doesn't get damaged. Once it is out, you can look at the structure under the cabinet to see how it's made. I don't have this exact model, but do have a flat-top where the compressor is underneath. It has structure at the corners of the bottom, but in the center it would be very easy to bend or warp the cabinet. I'm not sure looking at the pictures, but it may be a porcelain cabinet. If it is, then bending or warping can cause it to chip. Either way it's in great shape, so I would be careful to support it by the corners under the bottom, far enough under to be under the feet. Sincerely, David
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Post by jfleming1997 on Jan 24, 2020 19:23:18 GMT
Unbelievably the current owner has agreed to deliver it for an extra $30. He seems to have done a decent job moving it the first time, so I’ll trust him to do it again. I’ll be all in at $180 which I think is a reasonable price for the overall cosmetic condition. Even if it doesn’t work on arrival I’ve done enough research and fixed enough things to be confident in my ability to get it running.
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Post by jfleming1997 on Jan 24, 2020 19:30:41 GMT
I'm not sure looking at the pictures, but it may be a porcelain cabinet. If it is, then bending or warping can cause it to chip. Either way it's in great shape, so I would be careful to support it by the corners under the bottom, far enough under to be under the feet. Sincerely, David According to the trade in guides these particular models were only available painted, which I would be fine with because it’s porcelain those scratches in the side will be considerably more difficult to repair than a sanding and panting
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Post by Travis on Jan 24, 2020 21:01:23 GMT
Those are the last of the monitor tops. The metal is solid. You just have to secure the top to the cabinet and strap the cabinet to an appliance dolly.
$30 for delivery is great. I’m sure it needs to be rewired and likely not much else.
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Post by stlvortac on Jan 25, 2020 12:53:29 GMT
Great find and you won’t beat a $30 delivery fee!
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Post by jfleming1997 on Jan 25, 2020 18:31:36 GMT
It’s here!! I’ll start a new thread in the CK section as I fix it up. I couldn’t help myself though I had to test it, let it run for about 5 minutes rattles went away after minute 1 and the freezer was down to 26* when I shut it down. I was a little paranoid at fit because there’s a funny smell in the ice box, but my wife insists it didn’t resemble burnt matches, and it’s pretty faint. You’ve really gotta sniff for it so I don’t think it’s a leak. From what I’ve heard if it were a leak I would KNOW. Guess it’s just funky old smells from sitting
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