You did such a beautiful job painting this lovely old gal. I have one is my kitchen as well, and I love it. The food just seems so much more fresher. Veggies last a long, long time. I think not having frost free is the key. I also have a stove from the same era. It's great to see someone else who loves these priceless work-horses too. Thanks for doing the video on the paint job!
They don’t make things like they used to. I also have an oven I picked up for about $25 in the barn kitchen that has to be 40 years old. At home we have an 8 year old GE fridge on its last legs. Water in the door failed years ago and started leaking out the bottom. Got a quote and they said $500-$700 as they can’t just fix a part, it requires a new door. So now we are on the hunt for a new, simple no options fridge and they are dang hard to find 😕
@@TryNewThings I saw a documentary recently that explained that today's products are actually engineered to only last so long. We can certainly see this is real life when it comes to appliances (and many, many other things)! I think they are in cahoots with the appliance insurance biz. :) I hope you find something. Maybe since you're handy, you should look for a good solid older one. The service guy who came to look at my '49 GE fridge last year told me ALL the part on her are original. That's like 75 years of faithful service. Can't beat it.
Thanks Dennis! Funny how my vintage GE is kicking along out at the barn and working awesome, while my GE fridge (about 6 years old) at home in the kitchen I had to shut off the water connection because water was running through the door and out on the floor, motor howls on occasion, and door is difficult to keep sealed. I love my old fridge... only downside is the occasional defrosting - but I can happily live with that. Congrats on your resto! Let's keep these old girls in use for another couple decades.
@@TryNewThings may sound weird,... Tape and flex seal outer edge of using old mag trim or just the door seal. It does repair very well , just be patient when applying . Hope helps, oh p.s., fridge is done, Corvette foil red.
May not be the most efficient, I am also very ok with having to defrost it every 3 months. But there is something about it’s simplicity of design that makes it very appealing (and it is still working after 70 years which is not what you can say about any fridge on the market today). If I was a good painter I was strongly leaning towards a deep red finish, but in chickened out based on my skill level.
be nice with a bigger freezer, but apparently we are spoiled these days. Likely this was more than enough for a family 3 times as big back in the day. Goes well with my not quite as vintage $50 stove in there as well. Thanks as always for the feedback AL.
Looks great Chris. I used to paint cars back in the early '80s up until about 2005. I always had to wet sand the primer. A good friend and fellow body shop man told me to use lacquer primer and I'd get better results. Well, i still had to wet sand the lacquer primer but I did find it to be a much better primer and also any brand of acryllic enamel auto paint would bond better to the lacquer primer. Also I discovered higher air pressure would give me a smoother paint job and a shiny slick finish, perfect for adding the harden top coat finish.
Dean thanks for the feedback my friend, will keep the lacquer primer in mind. I'm a little handcuffed on my air situation (without spending some more $$$) as with many of my bigger tools, my compressor is older than I am :)
I did not replace the door gasket. It did have a few cracks in it, as well as a gap in a couple corners. Thought I would try something before trying to source a new gasket and I ended up working grey caulking into the cracks and gaps. No idea if it would work or not. So far working like a champ. Best of luck with the restoration, there is just something I really like about those old fridges… maybe it’s memories 😉
I would’ve went baby blue, or Coca-Cola red with chrome handles, and I would’ve chromed out the bumper plates too. And what a pain to the name in gold. I’ve would have chrome plated everything inside too.
Thanks for the question, there are two pin hinges, one top, one bottom of the door, I removed the top one then lifted the door off the bottom pin. To put it back on did it in reverse. Tricky when you work alone but do-able.
I did not replace my door gasket, it wasn't too bad, had a couple cracks, believe it or not I 'touched' those up with some caulking and after a year it is still holding up fine. I did find this website that may be a place to start looking. store.antiqueappliances.com/Door-Gaskets_c_8.html Best of luck as well with your old fridge, I'm still loving mine. I have to defrost it about every 3 months, but that brings back memories as well :)
Not sure how to paste photo in the comments so going to post it to my channel page here in a second. It is a two prong standard plug except sideways so you can push the fridge back further I’m guessing. Not grounded (no 3rd prong).
Another question I gotta ask, I have the same fridge. With that bulb inside, is there a cover to cover it? Just trying to see if there once was one or not. Appreciate it a ton great video
Hi there...did you paint over the chrome brand emblem on the front or remove it before painting? I'm wondering if the emblem can be removed for painting and then replaced.
I left it on and tapped over it using an exacto knife to trim the tape neatly where it connected to the fridge. I did not want to tear the inside of the fridge door apart to see how it may be connected. When I was done painting I peeled the tape off.
my grandma has one of these at her house, used continuously for the last 70 years. amazing considering new fridges like samsungs only last about 2-4 years and then are too expensive to fix. I think when you take into account the tightly latching door, thicker insulation, smaller internal volume and more efficient banned refrigerants, that these have to be one of the most "green" fridges ever produced. from a time before wasteful consumerism tookover and labor was cheap enough to justify fixing things. Ive seen a couple of these in videos from cuba that are still working since before the embargo.
G Money, thanks for the great feedback. And I agree on lack of quality with new appliances. We have been particularly unlucky with any in-door water and ice options. Have shut off on our fridge at home due to leaks and the $600 fix estimate. Next fridge for home will just be a … fridge.
Hi! I’m trying to change the temp in mine, but I don’t have the “key”. Do you have any info/recommendations on how to change the temp? Mine is just running at 0° so….
I paid $90 at auction. It wasn’t that clean (took care of that in one of my early videos) however it worked great since I bought it. No mechanical fixes just cosmetic.
![How to Restore a Antique / Vintage Fridge 1940 General Electric [Phoenix Fabrications]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QcjeY2Z3bYg/mqdefault.jpg)
![How to Restore a Antique / Vintage Fridge 1940 General Electric [Phoenix Fabrications]](/img/tr.png)
You did such a beautiful job painting this lovely old gal. I have one is my kitchen as well, and I love it. The food just seems so much more fresher. Veggies last a long, long time. I think not having frost free is the key. I also have a stove from the same era. It's great to see someone else who loves these priceless work-horses too. Thanks for doing the video on the paint job!
They don’t make things like they used to. I also have an oven I picked up for about $25 in the barn kitchen that has to be 40 years old. At home we have an 8 year old GE fridge on its last legs. Water in the door failed years ago and started leaking out the bottom. Got a quote and they said $500-$700 as they can’t just fix a part, it requires a new door. So now we are on the hunt for a new, simple no options fridge and they are dang hard to find 😕
@@TryNewThings I saw a documentary recently that explained that today's products are actually engineered to only last so long. We can certainly see this is real life when it comes to appliances (and many, many other things)! I think they are in cahoots with the appliance insurance biz. :) I hope you find something. Maybe since you're handy, you should look for a good solid older one. The service guy who came to look at my '49 GE fridge last year told me ALL the part on her are original. That's like 75 years of faithful service. Can't beat it.
Finishing restoration of a 1948 ge fridge tomorrow,. Yours is absolutely gorgeous as well brother🤙🤙🤙
Thanks Dennis! Funny how my vintage GE is kicking along out at the barn and working awesome, while my GE fridge (about 6 years old) at home in the kitchen I had to shut off the water connection because water was running through the door and out on the floor, motor howls on occasion, and door is difficult to keep sealed. I love my old fridge... only downside is the occasional defrosting - but I can happily live with that. Congrats on your resto! Let's keep these old girls in use for another couple decades.
@@TryNewThings may sound weird,... Tape and flex seal outer edge of using old mag trim or just the door seal.
It does repair very well , just be patient when applying .
Hope helps, oh p.s., fridge is done, Corvette foil red.
It turned out beautiful. I would love to have one of these old fridges in a metallic orange.
May not be the most efficient, I am also very ok with having to defrost it every 3 months. But there is something about it’s simplicity of design that makes it very appealing (and it is still working after 70 years which is not what you can say about any fridge on the market today). If I was a good painter I was strongly leaning towards a deep red finish, but in chickened out based on my skill level.
That’s a great looking fridge love the classic look 👍👍
be nice with a bigger freezer, but apparently we are spoiled these days. Likely this was more than enough for a family 3 times as big back in the day. Goes well with my not quite as vintage $50 stove in there as well. Thanks as always for the feedback AL.
Good looking final product.
Looks great Chris. I used to paint cars back in the early '80s up until about 2005. I always had to wet sand the primer. A good friend and fellow body shop man told me to use lacquer primer and I'd get better results. Well, i still had to wet sand the lacquer primer but I did find it to be a much better primer and also any brand of acryllic enamel auto paint would bond better to the lacquer primer. Also I discovered higher air pressure would give me a smoother paint job and a shiny slick finish, perfect for adding the harden top coat finish.
Dean thanks for the feedback my friend, will keep the lacquer primer in mind. I'm a little handcuffed on my air situation (without spending some more $$$) as with many of my bigger tools, my compressor is older than I am :)
Great video! I’m restoring a 1955 Philco fridge, doing the gasket now but will be painting in the future. This was very helpful.
I did not replace the door gasket. It did have a few cracks in it, as well as a gap in a couple corners. Thought I would try something before trying to source a new gasket and I ended up working grey caulking into the cracks and gaps. No idea if it would work or not. So far working like a champ. Best of luck with the restoration, there is just something I really like about those old fridges… maybe it’s memories 😉
Where can you find the rubber seal on the inside of the door? I need to replace mine. TYI
I did not replace mine, but bookmarked this site in the event I have to. store.antiqueappliances.com/Door-Gaskets_c_8.html
I would’ve went baby blue, or Coca-Cola red with chrome handles, and I would’ve chromed out the bumper plates too. And what a pain to the name in gold. I’ve would have chrome plated everything inside too.
Love this Chris! It's missing something 'red' lol. Well done
I know…. Would have looked great all red. But Kim wanted it to match the oven 🙂
I’ve had really good-luck on the refrigerators with Ben Moore advance
Have you replaced a door seal on one of these? We have the exact model and it works well but will need a new seal at some point.
I have not as of yet. Patched the cracks in mine with silicone. Worked good. Holding up and remains flexible.
I have the same one but my compressor is shot.... any suggestions on giving it new working parts?
Mine worked fine when I bought it. Just googled vintage GE compressor… not cheap 😞
How did you get the fridge door off?
Thanks for the question, there are two pin hinges, one top, one bottom of the door, I removed the top one then lifted the door off the bottom pin. To put it back on did it in reverse. Tricky when you work alone but do-able.
Do you have a link to the gasket that you used on it? I just picked up an old GE and need to find a gasket to put on.
I did not replace my door gasket, it wasn't too bad, had a couple cracks, believe it or not I 'touched' those up with some caulking and after a year it is still holding up fine. I did find this website that may be a place to start looking. store.antiqueappliances.com/Door-Gaskets_c_8.html Best of luck as well with your old fridge, I'm still loving mine. I have to defrost it about every 3 months, but that brings back memories as well :)
Antique appliances in Clayton Georgia will have your gasket they have a website
Could you show the plug in? I just bought a 1950 Philco Fridge and mine doesn't seem safe to plug into a outlet.
Not sure how to paste photo in the comments so going to post it to my channel page here in a second. It is a two prong standard plug except sideways so you can push the fridge back further I’m guessing. Not grounded (no 3rd prong).
I have the same one yesterday the handle snapped off. Do you know anyone that sells a replacement part. Thank you
I'm not finding (other than door seals) anywhere on the internet.. Hopefully this is something you can fix ???
Another question I gotta ask, I have the same fridge. With that bulb inside, is there a cover to cover it? Just trying to see if there once was one or not. Appreciate it a ton great video
No cover over the bulb. Hope this helps. I appreciate the feedback and the question.
Hi there...did you paint over the chrome brand emblem on the front or remove it before painting? I'm wondering if the emblem can be removed for painting and then replaced.
I left it on and tapped over it using an exacto knife to trim the tape neatly where it connected to the fridge. I did not want to tear the inside of the fridge door apart to see how it may be connected. When I was done painting I peeled the tape off.
@@TryNewThings Thank you so much!! Thats exactly the information I needed!!
my grandma has one of these at her house, used continuously for the last 70 years. amazing considering new fridges like samsungs only last about 2-4 years and then are too expensive to fix. I think when you take into account the tightly latching door, thicker insulation, smaller internal volume and more efficient banned refrigerants, that these have to be one of the most "green" fridges ever produced. from a time before wasteful consumerism tookover and labor was cheap enough to justify fixing things. Ive seen a couple of these in videos from cuba that are still working since before the embargo.
G Money, thanks for the great feedback. And I agree on lack of quality with new appliances. We have been particularly unlucky with any in-door water and ice options. Have shut off on our fridge at home due to leaks and the $600 fix estimate. Next fridge for home will just be a … fridge.
Hi! I’m trying to change the temp in mine, but I don’t have the “key”. Do you have any info/recommendations on how to change the temp?
Mine is just running at 0° so….
Key? Hmmmm. Mine as a temp setting knob in the freezer section. I can take a photo of it if you like next time I’m out there.
@@TryNewThings I think I figured out that it’s just missing the temp dial!!
@@sashaclifton3489 I think you are correct, let me know if you want a photo of it at any time.
@@TryNewThings yes! I would love a photo.
About how much for one like that but not clean like that I’m wondering???
I paid $90 at auction. It wasn’t that clean (took care of that in one of my early videos) however it worked great since I bought it. No mechanical fixes just cosmetic.
I need a light bulb for mine and I can't find any info on the type of bulb Help please lol
I’ll be out there tomorrow, I’ll try and get you the bulb type.
www.amazon.com/GE-Lighting-15206-40-Watt-Appliance/dp/B000QRDOJG/ref=mp_s_a_1_31?crid=EP72842TUKD4&keywords=refrigerator+bulb&qid=1679233892&sprefix=refrigerator+bulb%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-31
Thanks you rock