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Post by Boomer on May 16, 2014 19:45:49 GMT
Howdy gang -
Had a few free minutes so I'm back on the hunt for a D-50 compressor for my big fridge. Just posted all the info in the Classifieds, hopefully something will turn up.
In the meantime, I'm trying to get more (some?) information on the original compressor. I have an original April 1942 version of the DR Machines Domestic Products which lists what would appear to be the complete line up of compressors. No D-50. Closest thing is the DRA-4-L1, but it's a 110v machine and only uses 14 lbs of Sulfur Dioxide. Would probably work if retro-fitted to the base plate after the box is insulated, but that's another matter. And they're probably as plentiful as D-50s.
Also have a photocopy of the Dealer Specification Handbook sold on ebay, nothing in it either though it does have the CS-451 box listed.
Maybe it was carried in an earlier version of the DR manual but dropped by 1942? I'm curious to know if there's another publication out there for compressors, specifically commercial versions. I'd really like to come up with a good, clear photo to go by to help with the search. I could post copies on trees, power poles, bulletin boards etc saying 'Have you seen this compressor??' Okay, I'm not *that* desperate. Yet.
Does anyone out there have a good library of documentation who could check on this compressor? It's not fair to call it a ghost because it really did exist and somewhere out there probably still does. I just can't find anything on it.
TNX.
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Post by Travis on May 25, 2014 16:57:38 GMT
Boomer,
I have the spec sheet on the DR-5. The DR-5 is listed as being used on the 45 and 60 cubic foot cabinets, and also the 27 cubic foot cabinets for low temperatures. I also have a few pages on assembly and knocking down the 451 cabinet you have.
I have collected and watched for antique refrigerators for 15 years. I do know where a DRF4 is, but only one. I have never seen a DR-4 or DR-5 sold. Considering how tempermental the DR-3's are, I suspect the larger units that were sold, failed. I also feel that the larger units tended to get scrapped more due to their weight. The DR-5 unit weighs 460 lbs uncrated. The weight of the larger units, makes moving them to a new home difficult.
Good luck in your search.
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Post by Boomer on May 30, 2014 19:29:14 GMT
The doorways in this 80s house are t-i-n-y. I'd say the overall size of the CS-45* series limits them pretty well for most homes these days. When I found it, I was living in an old 1880s Victorian with real doors and windows, so that was my mindset. Had a 1400 lb, 7ft tall AM broadcast transmitter in my living room(no wife yet, of course). The place we're in now was meant to be a temporary stop which ended up going 6 yrs so far thanks to the roaring economy we have. Looks like next year we'll move on, to a house that can accommodate the big fridge and small Garland gas range I have. I'm itching to hook that up, too.
Travis, the information you have there is the first I've heard of and I would love to get copies if at all possible. I'm more than happy to pay copying/scanning/whatever costs. The price would be cheap since in this case it seems you can't buy it anywhere. I've been able to find replacement hinges for two that were worn out, but can't find anything on the big compressors. And I plan to tear down the box to re-insulate it, so that info would be most helpful. It looks pretty straightforward, but looks can be deceiving.
It makes perfect sense what you say about the compressors being scrapped. Pretty sure that's what happened to this one. The old timer whose dad started the store remembered that it "looked like a UFO on top of it". I wondered from the shadowing and rubber mounts if at some point it had one of the newer units with the square box cover. The evap unit in it now is much newer, as is the remote compressor. I'm confident it can be hooked back up as it was and be working with minimal effort and expense, but I'd really prefer to do it right or as close to right as possible.
As to the weight of the compressor, some kind of portable crane or lifting beam would need to be in place once the box was set up. I don't think even the old house doorways are that tall. I'm 6'2" and the box is taller than me by a bit. Add another 18-24 inches or more on top of that.
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Post by jhigdon2 on May 30, 2014 23:25:05 GMT
Taking the horsepower of the of the original twin cylinder compressor in consideration, I have to wonder if this was an early freezer, not a refrigerator.
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Post by blackhorse on Sept 19, 2014 16:43:10 GMT
Man that's a beautiful cabinet! The only ones remotely like it that I have seen have been converted as well, one had a Copeland semi-hermetic 1/2 Hp condensing unit set on top. Just open, no cabinet around it. It had hinge problems as well, the doors drug when you closed them. I'm attaching a picture of the official GE servicing crane for the monitor units, I've never seen one in person but often wished I had one. Note that it's adjustable for various room ceiling heights, and only the boom over the unit for very small overhead, all the works are on the column. Attachments:
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