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Post by cammac on Aug 24, 2020 1:38:37 GMT
I've been all through this forum, and haven't seen a 4-door model, so I'd like to share this with you. This refrigerator has been continuously running since it was purchased, but I don't know if that was in 1925, when our house was built, or later. Looks like the motor is dated April 2, 1948. My understanding is that it could be a rebuild to FEA if the monitor top could no longer be serviced? It's hard to say when it was new, but it sits in its own room, which was evidently built "around" the refrigerator. I'm unable to find much information about 4-door models; I believe I read that these boxes were made by a third-party manufacturer (Seeger?), and then sold by GE? but can't find that reference anymore. |
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Post by Travis on Aug 24, 2020 3:22:54 GMT
Sexy beast, grrr!
I wish it had its DR unit still.
That's likely a Seeger cabinet, 1927-28 I would guess. I have read that those used either a DR3 or a DRA4 unit. I think which unit depended on the climate where the cabinet was installed. I know a DR3 was available in 1927, but don't know about the other type.
It's gorgeous. Be nice to it or you're going straight to hell.
I want a fridge room.
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Post by birkie on Aug 24, 2020 13:16:23 GMT
That's beautiful!
For what it's worth, literature from the GR archives says the Ft Wayne plant was commissioned to design the large DR4 and DR5 models in June 1928, and they became available in 1929. But anyway, the original cooling unit would have been around 20 years old or so before it was replaced with that FEA top.
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Post by cammac on Aug 24, 2020 14:08:18 GMT
I KNEW you guys would love this!
I love showing it to people - and I tell them (based on things that I've read in the forum) that it might be the oldest 4-door continuously running in the US! False claim? or could it be true?
I do baby it. I replaced the gaskets on the doors using information I learned from the forum, and it doesn't frost up in the summer anymore. We polished the chrome handles and cleaned up the insides, and gave it a dedicated electric source to the panel. And we keep only the "good" beer in it.
I've been with it for 60 years, but we're getting ready to sell the house, and can't take it with us - we would have to tear down the refrigerator room to move it!
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Post by Travis on Aug 24, 2020 14:50:37 GMT
It’s nice to see things I’ve never seen. I haven’t been able to find that cabinet. There’s very little information on the 4 door cabinets.
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Post by birkie on Aug 24, 2020 16:08:30 GMT
Oh, I totally forgot about this video from a while back. It shows a newer cabinet style (with butterfly hinges and legs), and a top that would have been produced in the late 30s. It could very well have been sold that way, or it could have had a DR unit on it that failed much sooner than yours... but your four door cabinet is definitely an older style consistent with Travis's 1927-1928 estimate. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcfllHlRomU |
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Post by Travis on Aug 24, 2020 17:00:11 GMT
I love that video! That lady loves her fridge!
That’s a Bohn P4-18 cabinet. I’ve seen a few of these and the one I have has the later deco hardware. Mine has a CK35B from 1934 on top.
I’ve long suspected that the larger cabinets were slow sellers and often have hardware that’s older than the unit. In my case, the 31/32 hardware is older than the unit, but the unit is likely original.
This cabinet has the early strap hinges, but latches that suggest 28-30. I do wonder if mounting holes for the older latch is under the current latch. The use of the double single strike looks custom. That strike isn’t in my book.
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Post by coldspaces on Aug 25, 2020 3:25:37 GMT
Great to see your refrigerating machine and cabinet. Thanks for sharing the the story behind it and the pics.
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Post by turbokinetic on Aug 25, 2020 3:55:55 GMT
Thanks so much for sharing this with us! It is in amazing condition and so nice to see one which has been in use for so long. So sorry you're having to leave it behind, though. Surely the new owners of the house will appreciate it as you have.
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gmacy
New Member
Posts: 39
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Post by gmacy on Aug 25, 2020 10:40:43 GMT
Beautiful piece ... amazing engineering and a true testament to the manufacturers at the time.
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