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Post by dlb21964 on May 13, 2018 3:58:29 GMT
Hi everyone...new member here.
I have an old Kelvinator refrigerator that was taken out of my grandfathers '48 AirStream ( I believe it was an Airstream) trailer. He used the trailer as an on-site office and the fridge ran every day and night for 50 years while he used the trailer.
It still has the original stickers on the back, and has several pieces stamped "11/48" on them. It had been in a storage unit for 10 years until I took it to my house and plugged it in. I know its history well, as I used to get sodas and spare change out of it (my grandfather kept a cold cash tray in the back of the fridge) when I was growing up thruout the early 70's and into the 80's.
Its almost like a mini fridge...about 5' tall, maybe 30" or so wide. It has a center aluminum compartment that the icecube tray goes in to. There looks to be a place where a door or cover is missing on the compartment. The hinge is there, but the door is not. Everything else is there, its just missing that piece.
I have had the fridge running for the last 6 years and it runs like a top. I recently decided to restore it- I have painted custom motorcycles for years and have my own downdraft booth and all the tools necessary to do it. Its more just to bring it back to a retro piece that will look cool in my man cave, since right now its just a many-times-over painted white dirty looking fridge. But if I'm going to restore it, I want to 100% fix it up, so I am looking for that door or a way to reproduce it.
Anyways...does anyone know where I could find a picture that shows the design of that door? Were all the compartment doors basically the same on the Kelvinator line? I would like to get a CNC shop to reproduce the door if possible. I have several acquaintances that can mill one out of plastic or even aluminum if I can simply get an idea what the door might have looked like.
Thanks!
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Post by turbokinetic on May 13, 2018 4:34:14 GMT
Hi everyone...new member here.
Welcome! Glad you found this forum. I have been enjoying participating here recently myself. I don't know what the Kelvinator door would have looked like, but some pictures of the unit, with door open and with it closed might help others to understand exactly.
If I understand correctly, the evaporator inside the fridge originally had a door on the front to allow you to "trap" cold air in there and use it as a freezer compartment.
Glad you're going to keep and restore this machine!
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Post by dlb21964 on May 13, 2018 14:32:33 GMT
Hi everyone...new member here.
Welcome! Glad you found this forum. I have been enjoying participating here recently myself. I don't know what the Kelvinator door would have looked like, but some pictures of the unit, with door open and with it closed might help others to understand exactly.
If I understand correctly, the evaporator inside the fridge originally had a door on the front to allow you to "trap" cold air in there and use it as a freezer compartment.
Glad you're going to keep and restore this machine!
Thanks! And I believe you are describing it exactly right. I’m assuming the door would shut, lowering the temp in the compartment low enough to create ice. I will get some pics tomorrow and post up so everyone (or just you lol) can see what I’m describing. And just in case anyone is curious I have searched the net for images of the interiors of the K fridges. Seems to be a lot of pics of the outside and not many interior shots. |
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Post by turbokinetic on May 13, 2018 15:50:57 GMT
Welcome! Glad you found this forum. I have been enjoying participating here recently myself. I don't know what the Kelvinator door would have looked like, but some pictures of the unit, with door open and with it closed might help others to understand exactly.
If I understand correctly, the evaporator inside the fridge originally had a door on the front to allow you to "trap" cold air in there and use it as a freezer compartment.
Glad you're going to keep and restore this machine!
Thanks! And I believe you are describing it exactly right. I’m assuming the door would shut, lowering the temp in the compartment low enough to create ice. I will get some pics tomorrow and post up so everyone (or just you lol) can see what I’m describing. And just in case anyone is curious I have searched the net for images of the interiors of the K fridges. Seems to be a lot of pics of the outside and not many interior shots.
Glad you saw my reply! I'm sure others will see your post as well. I'm relatively new here, but have learned that we have all types here. Some members are retired, some working full time, and then there's me who works for weeks and then has weeks off-duty. I'm sure the others will reply when they are able! 
It's also wise to check back periodically even if you don't see any e-mails from the forum. It seems that the notifications are somewhat hit-or-miss.
Looking forward to seeing your pictures! Sincerely, David
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Post by ckfan on May 13, 2018 20:47:43 GMT
Sounds like a nice fridge. Glad you are putting forth the effort to restore it. Wiring and door gaskets are probably the two things that you should watch out for the most as they can make or break a great fridge otherwise. As far as the evaporator door is concerned...that is going to be tough. Your best bet is to scour the web until you come across a picture or an ad for your model. Then you can ask pretty please for a picture. Aside from that there really isn’t any easy way to come across that info. Brochures perhaps? Just start searching for everything 48 Kelvinator and eventually you will find what you are looking for.
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Post by jake on May 15, 2018 4:29:59 GMT
Welcome and it does sound like a nice fridge! Especially since you know it's history and have fond memories of it as a child! I've found that eBay and Etsy are very good sources for vintage refrigerator advertisements, owner's manuals, and even the occasional parts book. Sometimes with just a part number you can find what you're looking for on the internet. That's exactly how I found the inside light cover for my 1950 Frigidaire. I found a 1950 Frigidaire parts book on eBay. Then I googled the part number with "Frigidaire" in the Google search box behind the part number. It popped up that somebody had 2 for sale on a yard sale type site so I bought one. Good luck with your searching and restoration!! The people here are very knowledgeable and very willing to help! You've definitely come to the right place!!
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Post by coldspaces on May 15, 2018 12:58:30 GMT
I will get you a pic of my sons 47 door. Will try to get it done tonight.
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Post by dlb21964 on May 15, 2018 20:58:59 GMT
I will get you a pic of my sons 47 door. Will try to get it done tonight. Thanks!! Just for reference, I have added a pic of the compartment. You can see in the pics where the hinge is in place, but the door is obviously missing. Also, not sure why the pic is sideways?  |
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Post by dlb21964 on May 15, 2018 22:00:26 GMT
I will get you a pic of my sons 47 door. Will try to get it done tonight Couple more...   |
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Post by turbokinetic on May 16, 2018 0:58:09 GMT
Good pictures!
I can see on the screws that are remaining on the hinge, that the door was plastic and there is some white plastic residue in the threads there. Hopefully you'll be able to locate a door or a detailed drawing to be able to make a door. I know my Frigidaire AS-76 has a plastic door there as well.
For the pictures, the sideways orientation has to do with software compatibility between the device which took the picture and the rest of the world. Some phones will mark a picture as being taken with the phone held "sideways" and then show the picture "sideways" on future views. This is not compatible with standard software used on the Internet. To solve this, make any edit to the picture with photo editing software (on a real computer, not a phone) and save it. Then it will work.
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Post by jake on May 16, 2018 4:19:56 GMT
NICE fridge!! The fact that we know it's a '48/'49 model and have the model number is a big help! That little compartment is indeed the freezer. It also is what cools the rest of the inside of the refrigerator cabinet. The professional name for it is the evaporator. It's called that by refrigerator service people because liquid refrigerant goes in there, absorbs heat, then boils. When the refrigerant boils it turns into a gas, or evaporates, and heads back to the compressor. You can usually hear the boiling refrigerant as a gurgling or bubbling sound coming from the freezer. Unlike a modern frost free refrigerator frost will build up on the freezer and it will need to be defrosted when the frost gets about 1/4 inch thick. Since the freezer door was plastic I bet the frost had gotten thick enough to interfere with the opening of the door. Someone accidentally pulled a little too hard on it and broke the door. But now, armed with the model number and production date (11/48) of November of 1948 you can start searching for a replacement door. I'm sure the fridge will work fine without it for now. The only thing I can think of is without the door you may not be able to get freezer temperatures in there. Or it may take longer than normal for ice cubes to freeze. Be sure to inspect the wiring before putting it into daily use, safety first!! If the door gasket needs replacing you can contact antiqueappliances.com for a price and availability. Please keep us posted on your progress! So glad you're saving it!!
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Post by jake on May 16, 2018 4:39:46 GMT
 Here's a full sized '48 Kelvinator. Your freezer door will probably look like this. Only smaller. I'm guessing by your dimensions you have an apartment sized fridge. Hope that helps! |
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Post by dlb21964 on May 16, 2018 13:12:50 GMT
Thanks for ALL the replies and help guys! I will keep this thread updated since I’m going to at a minimum start sanding the outer shell down and dropping off the racks to be powder coated!
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Post by coldspaces on May 17, 2018 3:08:45 GMT
Glad jake came through with a pic. We took our 47 apart about 5 years ago and I am not sure were the freezer door has been stored, thought it was still on it. The joys of having too much stuff and not enough room to store it properly.
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Post by dcraven on May 17, 2018 14:08:15 GMT
Glad you found a picture, I also have a full size late 40's Kelvinator. For the time being it's waiting in line behind several other projects and storing parts. Previous owner who gave it to me said the compressor stopped running and I haven't played enough with it to understand why. Can't wait to see what yours looks like finished! Here's the one I have as it currently sits  |
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