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Post by eatenbylimestone on Oct 20, 2013 19:51:26 GMT
I was up at a friend's farm checking out his new cattle and he asked my little one (almost 4yo) if she wanted to help gather the eggs from his chickens. She was game for it and we went out to his coops. While at his 2nd coop I noticed some refrigerator doors. On closer inspection they were Servel Gas Refrigerators. There are at least 2 of (I think) this model:  There was probably one more, but I couldn't see the door so I can't be sure. I think the door was narrower though. I remember more of an Art Deco look on the door. When I asked about them he said he used to repair them and was probably going to bring them to the scrap yard. With 3 donors, I bet there is at least one complete refrigerator there, if not 3. If I had room I'd love to have a gas refrigerator in my shop/garage or even a 2nd for the family cabin. Maybe I can trade for it. He needed a little nuisance wildlife work done. I'll see if he wants the beaver on his wetland to disappear in exchange for the fridges... Matt |
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Post by allan on Oct 20, 2013 21:43:32 GMT
I was up at a friend's farm checking out his new cattle and he asked my little one (almost 4yo) if she wanted to help gather the eggs from his chickens. She was game for it and we went out to his coops. While at his 2nd coop I noticed some refrigerator doors. On closer inspection they were Servel Gas Refrigerators. There are at least 2 of (I think) this model: K There was probably one more, but I couldn't see the door so I can't be sure. I think the door was narrower though. I remember more of an Art Deco look on the door. When I asked about them he said he used to repair them and was probably going to bring them to the scrap yard. With 3 donors, I bet there is at least one complete refrigerator there, if not 3. If I had room I'd love to have a gas refrigerator in my shop/garage or even a 2nd for the family cabin. Maybe I can trade for it. He needed a little nuisance wildlife work done. I'll see if he wants the beaver on his wetland to disappear in exchange for the fridges... Matt That is koool. An absorption system. |
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Post by allan on Oct 20, 2013 21:46:26 GMT
I was up at a friend's farm checking out his new cattle and he asked my little one (almost 4yo) if she wanted to help gather the eggs from his chickens. She was game for it and we went out to his coops. While at his 2nd coop I noticed some refrigerator doors. On closer inspection they were Servel Gas Refrigerators. There are at least 2 of (I think) this model: K If you love Art Deco look at the Supefex I posted in this file under " does anyone have some kerosene " There was probably one more, but I couldn't see the door so I can't be sure. I think the door was narrower though. I remember more of an Art Deco look on the door. When I asked about them he said he used to repair them and was probably going to bring them to the scrap yard. With 3 donors, I bet there is at least one complete refrigerator there, if not 3. If I had room I'd love to have a gas refrigerator in my shop/garage or even a 2nd for the family cabin. Maybe I can trade for it. He needed a little nuisance wildlife work done. I'll see if he wants the beaver on his wetland to disappear in exchange for the fridges... Matt That is koool. An absorption system. |
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Post by eatenbylimestone on Oct 26, 2013 18:11:12 GMT
I was up at the farm today and asked about the fridges, he said, "You want them, you can have them." So I got 2 fridges for the price of gas.
I picked the first fridge up today and brought it down to the house to start work (after I finish cleaning the garage).
There was one where the body was in better shape (no dents, just a little surface rust) and one that was sitting so the back was shielded and the back looked in better shape (no rust, but a decent dent on one side). I grabbed the body with the better exterior to work on first, then I'll grab the other when I get the body ready and get a look at the cooling section. I figure I'll at least get one complete fridge out of them. One also had the grates inside and I have a full set of grates.
I can see where this could get addicting.
Matt
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Post by ChrisJ on Oct 26, 2013 21:41:59 GMT
I'm confused.
Am I the only one that only sees a picture of a GE flat top?
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Post by eatenbylimestone on Oct 26, 2013 22:18:07 GMT
That was a pic I used to show the door styling along with the handle style. I really couldn't find one that looked exactly like it, thought I thought it was at least a Servel fridge. I found the pic under Google Images for a Servel and then looked at the handle style. Here's a pic of it in the back of my truck as I still haven't taken it out. The rust looks much worse than it is, but it really looks bad in the pic.  The only part I can see missing is the bottom panel covering the burner control. I'll have to figure out something eventually to cover it. He's going to keep an eye open for them though. |
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Post by eatenbylimestone on Oct 27, 2013 3:26:34 GMT
I started pulling apart the door tonight. Surprisingly, everything is put together with Phillips head screws. I'm not sure how to pull the latch off. Maybe with some pics, somebody can point me in the right direction. The 4 posts that you can see in the 1st photo are threaded so I'm sure that is what holds them in, but I can't get to them from the other side. Any ideas? Edit: The trim popped off. I was a bit leery of prying on pieces that I can't replace, but it came off. Now on to the hinges. The bottom one is soaking in Kroil.   Matt |
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Post by coldspaces on Oct 27, 2013 4:33:48 GMT
The screw heads are on the other side so there has to be a way to access them. The cover must snap on and off some way and slip up over the handle. you may have to have the handle pulled out to make the cover clear it. Try a thin pudy knife under the edge of the cover and gently pry. I cant tell you if there is an particular side or end you should start at so be careful.  Good luck with your new addiction, I will be watching. Been thinking it would be cool to have a gas absorption unit. Be careful though they will put off Carbon monoxide if not burning right. I used to receive recall notices for Servel gas refrigerators because of CO issues. Attachments:
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Post by eatenbylimestone on Oct 28, 2013 0:43:54 GMT
By the time I went to bed last night I was happy with the back of the door. I was pretty busy taking the little one to swim class and then to her birthday party (4yo!) that I didn't get much work done. Unfortunately I left my camera at my Aunt's house so I won't be taking pics of this step. I had Kroiled the hinges last night to get them to at least move and then let them soak in phosphoric acid to get the rust out today. They move great and I'm going to take the paint off so they are smooth. They are simmering on the stove at the moment in a dish soap bath to remove the paint. It looks too nasty to save. It turns out that there are little chrome bands between the painted steel parts and at the ends of the hinge. I don't think it's going to be smooth enough to save. I see completely white hinges in the future.
On the front of the stove I sanded with 80 grit in my ROS and was somewhat surprised to see that much of the rust in the above pic wasn't even through the porcellin. It was surface staining. I sanded it down anyway so I could see what was there and to show any low spots out and then painted the entire front with the leftover phosphoric acid from the hinge bath. I hate to waste it and don't have anywhere else to store it. I'm going to have to sand it with higher grit sandpaper anyway to remove the 80 grit swirlies.
Since the door is the entire front of the fridge it's all anybody is going to see. It will probably make sense to go slow and make the metal and then the primer as smooth and nice as possible.
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Post by eatenbylimestone on Oct 28, 2013 1:57:23 GMT
I'm tempted to paint the inside of the door after it's primed to stop any rust from condensation that may decide to sit in there for a while. I never thought about condensation in the door until I read the post on MT door leaks. I have a good amount of Ace Hardware Rust Stop in Allis Chalmers Orange from the cant hook project. Maybe a coat of paint in there will keep it so nobody ever has to see it again.  |
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Post by eatenbylimestone on Oct 28, 2013 22:25:26 GMT
I worked a bit on the door today. I finished sanding and priming it. An autobody supply store suggested self etching primer and said the oil based enamel that I wanted to use will stick to it without issues. Here are the shots... After I removed the back of the door and pulled the fiberglass out I found this. This looks like the worst rust on the fridge.  I wanted to take a shot of the converted rust, but didn't have the camera handy. Here's a shot of the bottom with 1 coat of primer.  Here's the front of the door sanded down. The porcelain that was in good shape was just feathered and I was assured that the primer would stick to it.  And here's the front now.  |
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Post by eatenbylimestone on Nov 15, 2013 2:54:30 GMT
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Post by eatenbylimestone on Nov 15, 2013 2:59:02 GMT
 Opened up and washed down:  What makes the whole thing work:  The whole cooling system is mounted to a frame and appears to unbolt from the back in one piece and lift away. I'll have to call a friend over to operate the block and tackle in my garage while I tug here and there and try to get it out. Matt |
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Post by jhigdon2 on Nov 15, 2013 7:33:11 GMT
Great pics. I have never worked on one of these. It is sure interesting,and I can't wait to hear updates. I wonder how well these perfomed. I do know a guy in NJ that has a servel in his house that he uses as a backup when there is power failures. I guess power failures are common in his area in winter months, and it comes in handy.
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Post by ChrisJ on Nov 15, 2013 14:31:17 GMT
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