Post by cablehack on Aug 26, 2013 3:34:59 GMT
While there were various GE refrigerators with a flat topped cabinet prior to 1935, these were belt drive and not hermetically sealed. Thus, they are not related to the Monitor top.
The successful development of the Scotch Yoke compressor, originally used in the 1934 CK30/35 Monitor Top, led to many other styles of refrigerator using this compressor and ancillary components.
1935 saw the first of the CF models, known as the "Flatop". Along with the CE/CH/CJ/FBA derivatives, these are essentially a "CK monitor top with the parts rearranged", sharing the same compressor, evaporator, and other parts.
Changes in fashion saw the Flatop outlive the Monitor Top. The last version of the Monitor Top shares what is a modified Flatop cabinet.
As by the late 1930's, the Monitor Top was fashionably outdated, and with consumers expecting a more frequent appearance of new models, the Flatop design exploded into a multitude of variations. Some of these included such luxuries as illuminated temperature controls, butter conditioners, air filters, and built in thermometers.
However, the Monitor Top had an established reputation for reliability and to inform consumers that the Flatop had the same compressor (and thus reliability), the marketing name of "Thrift Unit" ("Scotch Yoke" would be meaningless to the general public), was used in the transitional period from Monitor Top to Flatop.
The cooling units essentially lift out of the cabinets in the same way as with the Monitor Tops. The cabinet top is similarly removable. Unlike the Monitor Tops, the cooling units were shipped installed in the cabinets.
Postwar design brought in new one piece cabinets and a new Freon 12 compressor design. Any evidence of Monitor Top heritage was now gone.
The service manual covering all Flatops is available here:
www.cool386.com/ge_service/ge_service.html
The successful development of the Scotch Yoke compressor, originally used in the 1934 CK30/35 Monitor Top, led to many other styles of refrigerator using this compressor and ancillary components.
1935 saw the first of the CF models, known as the "Flatop". Along with the CE/CH/CJ/FBA derivatives, these are essentially a "CK monitor top with the parts rearranged", sharing the same compressor, evaporator, and other parts.
Changes in fashion saw the Flatop outlive the Monitor Top. The last version of the Monitor Top shares what is a modified Flatop cabinet.
As by the late 1930's, the Monitor Top was fashionably outdated, and with consumers expecting a more frequent appearance of new models, the Flatop design exploded into a multitude of variations. Some of these included such luxuries as illuminated temperature controls, butter conditioners, air filters, and built in thermometers.
However, the Monitor Top had an established reputation for reliability and to inform consumers that the Flatop had the same compressor (and thus reliability), the marketing name of "Thrift Unit" ("Scotch Yoke" would be meaningless to the general public), was used in the transitional period from Monitor Top to Flatop.
- CF 1935-1942. Finned cooled compressor as per the CK Monitor Top. Originally using SO2, some versions used Freon 12 from 1939 onwards.
- CE 1938-1940. Fan cooled compressor and condenser. Dual evaporators. Most versions used Freon 12.
- CH 1937-1941. Similar to CF, but short condenser and fan cooled compressor. All versions SO2.
- CJ 1937-1942. Similar to CF but short condenser. Some versions have no fins on the compressor. All versions SO2.
- FBA 1940. Similar to CF but short condenser and no compressor fins. SO2 refrigerant.
The cooling units essentially lift out of the cabinets in the same way as with the Monitor Tops. The cabinet top is similarly removable. Unlike the Monitor Tops, the cooling units were shipped installed in the cabinets.
Postwar design brought in new one piece cabinets and a new Freon 12 compressor design. Any evidence of Monitor Top heritage was now gone.
The service manual covering all Flatops is available here:
www.cool386.com/ge_service/ge_service.html
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