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52PostnBeam spotted this 1955 GE wall refrigerator on craigslist and posted it on the Forum. Wow, there’s even a video. I don’t even have videos (yet). 52pnb points out to make sure you get the wall-mounting hardware if you buy these fridges.
These are sure a blast from the past: Glass combination trivets and cutting boards that are installed directly into your kitchen countertop. Yes: with metal rim aka Hudee ring. I think that these built-in cutting boards were all the rage in the 1970s, because there was one in our 1975 countertop, to the left of the sink. I’m not sure [...]
A reader wrote to ask how to bring the luster back to her vintage laminate countertops. Paste wax, maybe? To get the answer, I turned to expert Grace Jeffers. She is the writer, design historian and materials expert responsible for restoration of the Ralph Sr. and Sunny Wilson House – including its gorgeous Mondrian-style kitchen, [...]
Update: Almost all of these designs are now discontinued. See my up-to-date stories on all retro laminates here: Kitchen/Countertops Category. UPDATE (Oct 2011): Click over to –> this story to get an update on all three sources for boomerang laminate. The countertops I removed from the two vanities in my 1951 bathrooms were [...]
As follow up to my post yesterday – with a round up of all the laminates for bathroom counters that are on my radar today – I also recently found this great little history of laminate in the 1950s, from Wilsonart. 2011 update, Wilsonart has taken story down, but here are a few highlights: Laminate [...]
UPDATE (Oct 2011): Click over to –> this story to get an update on all three sources for boomerang laminate. If you are planning Formica Boomerang countertop in aqua for your kitchen renovation, you’d better order now. Alas, if you were planning the skylark (light blue) or coral, it’s already too late. Following up on [...]
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Where to buy a wall mount kitchen faucet: The Delta 200 
8 vintage style wall-mount kitchen faucets 
Alice lusts after…a 1950s wall-mount dishwasher 
Become a fan
I have this fridge in turquoise with pink interior, currently sitting on a skid in my garage until ready for installation in new/old kitchen.
Called this guy once about buying his as a backup unit to mine, for parts, and he offered it to me for alot less, though with shipping it would have been too much for a parts fridge.
The mounting bracket is crucial. Mine is original and basically a hanger-bar with multiple holes for setting screws to the studs.
The design of the bracket allows you to get the unit nearly flush with the soffit.
I
Yes, Jeff — 1952PNB in her posting on the Forum points to a Bob Vila Forum post where there apparently is greatly detailed info on the bracket situation. You’re going to send me before and after photos of your kitchen, I hope!
Hello,
… We are looking for a replacement wall mount refrigerator and are interested in yours. Does it still work and is the compressor still OK? If it is still available, please let me know.
David, AND EVERYONE: all buying/selling goes onto the forum please http://retrorenovation.com/forum … i will either delete or edit all buy/sell comments and point there… good luck
David, R, my wife, and I bought this house about 12 years ago. We thought it was wonderful, but we soon realized that the GE Wall Mount Refrigerator was too small! The refrigerator was disconnected and used as a cupboard. My son came over with one of his co-workers and lifted it off of the mounting rail (with a little help from an ATV jack. We estimated the unit to weigh about 250-300 lbs.
It has been in storage since then. I hooked it up to an extension cord and turned it on. My newer refrigerator makes more noise, and the freezer got down to 9.5 F, but being as it was set up in the sun on some peg board, probably helped with a higher temp reading.
It is a turquoise outside, pink inside 1954 refrigerator/freezer that still works just fine.
You have my email address, but you should know that we were offered $3500 for it when we were moving in. I’m not sure what it is worth now, but with all of the Internet postings, it must be worth something. I await your email.
Sincerely,
David Peterson
Moving forward: Please put all these buy/sell posts onto the Forum. http://retrorenovation.com/forum/
I am looking for a good GE Wall Refrigerator. Do you still have one for sale? Thank you. If so, please let me know.
Shelly — no buying/selling here on the main blog, please head to our forum: http://retrorenovation.com/forums good luck!
I have a 1955 unit that has not run since Hurricane Katrina. The unit did not flood (of course not, it’s wall mounted!). We’ve renovated the kitchen and don’t need it. I don’t want to throw it away, let’s help each other.
thanks.
I have the same unit as Jeff does. Mine was in excellent condition with all the correct parts, properly mounted and operating smoothly in my vintage kitchen until 6 months ago when the compressor failed. She is now off the wall and on skids in storage. I have checked into having the compressor replaced, but am told that it is an unusual design and very difficult to retro-fit. I am very sad about having to “give” up my beloved GEnie. Does anyone have any suggestions that won’t break the bank? There is a guy in Arizona who said he can do it starting at $3000. That seem’s way to steep…help!
i recently purchased a house built in 62′. this refrigerator was included along with the matching range, cooktop, and dishwasher.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27212557@N05/sets/72157623409261554
holey batmobile, nathan, your kitchen looks fantabulistic. i am getting just a teensy glimspe of your cabinets. I NEED TO SEE MORE! can you post more photos. pretty please. oh my goodness, you lucky dog.
Wow, nathan! Those appliances look like they are in mint condition. I love the star backplates on the cabinet knobs. Everything is gorgeous!
hi pam, i posted additonal photos to flick. i included some addtional pics i thought would amuse you.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27212557@N05/sets/72157623409261554/
i did forget to mention they are for sale. as you can see i’ve already upgraded the dishwasher.
my bathroom deserves a blog post of its own…
I am throbbing with jealousy over those of you who have these fridges. I’ve been clipping ads for them from vintage magazines for years.
And we need a whole giant post on Nathan’s kitchen… I’ve never seen such pristine vintage appliances, they look like they’re in a showroom!
sorry reposted here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27212557@N05/sets/72157623429185132/
Frankieswife, sorry to hear of your compressor breakdown. Mine is in the same boat, but was told that if I didn’t care whether or not the internals were original, a new refrigeration system can be adapted.
It’s on my agenda for next month, so hopefully I will have some positive news to share. I have someone coming to check it out when the weather clears, and we can dissect the problem(s).
Best part, is that my unit is in it’s original condition, and mint, save the compressor, of course!
The repairman with the 3000 dollar price tag is dreaming! You would be able to buy another couple of complete units for that price, with parts to spare!
Whatever you do, know that they can be fixed. Keep your refrigerators, folks!
Hi Pam, thanks so much for posting this- I will definitely check out the Vila link, and will be happy to share before/after photos- currently in Florida at my home here for the season, will post some shots in spring!
Nathan, if you are parting out your kitchen, I’d be interested in the fridge, dishwasher too! How cool is that???
Thanks for the photos/link.
Nathan, Jeff et.al: All buying/selling goes onto the Forum please. http://retrorenovation.com/forum/
Just put a bid in on a house that was built in 1960…..It has both the hanging Refrigerator unit and the in wall oven. Both are in salmon/pink. The wall oven works, but the Refrigerator unit is dead…….It would be really something to be able to get this up and running again But I do not have any idea where to turn in our area Midway between Harrisburg Pa and Baltimore Md……..If I knew I could get it up and running in a reliable fashion, I would remodel keeping the old equipment salmon/pink and all! It is such a cool unit, very little rust, it has been used there are some exterior scratches but is is in really nice shape considering the age of the unit. Any suggestions are appreciated! (Of course they have to accept our bid on the home for this to become a reality)
I just read an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about the GE wall-mounted refrigerator (and others, too). We have an non-working unit (pink inside, but we don’t know what the original color was – the refrigerator was painted a copper brown when we bought the house) that came with our 1940′s home (we’re positive that the kitchen was remodeled in the early 1950′s). When we bought the house 15 years ago, we tried to find someone who would fix the refrigerator, but were told that the cost would be astronomical, so we use it as a storage cabinet for our party dishes. It is just too funky to get rid of – what a conversation piece we have!!
Hi Pam,
I read here that a Bob Villa forum has excellent detail on the mounting hardware for these fridges. No link is showing on my screen and I tried to find it on the forum and nothing. Could you post or send me the link? I have one of these units in working condition and it looks like I will need to have a machine shop fashion the bracket hardware to hang it.
Thanks!
anne, i have no idea about this…
I have just come across this wall hanging unit that was in the house I grew up in. I havn’t seen it in 40 years but it is in excellent shape. I’m going to be able to put in my own home now and let my kids and grandkids enjoy this, as well as myself. It was truely a stroke of luck that I even came across this. Not sure on the set up, and how it comes off the track. Any ideas?
We just started a kitchen remodel and have a working GE wall fridge available to anyone who wants to pick it up. We have a second one in unknown condition that’s been sitting in the garage for at least 16 years. We are in Long Beach, CA. Contact me at she-ra-3947-@-hot-mail -.-com (but remove all the dashes!).
Am interested in purchasing the wall unit refrigerator. Please reply.
I’ve responded to your email. Thanks for your interest.
Just to follow up on my posting from August, we found someone who wanted our fridges and had them picked up, so they are no longer available.