Vintage Revco Bilt-In refrigerators and freezes are the “holy grail” of refrigerators from the 1950s and 1960s, more even than the vintage GEs constructed like wall cabinets and even more than the Kelvinator Foodarama. Is this correct, you readers who are stalking them and so much more knowledgeable than me… who can name vintage fridges and their model years like car guys name cars? Here for your retro research pleasure is are 17 pages of a Revco catalog from 1958, which I scooped up know that we had some Revco fans out there. Here for your retro research pleasure is are 17 pages of a Revco catalog from 1958, which I scooped up know that we had some Revco fans out there.
Revco was based in Deerfield, Michigan. According to the brochure, in 1956 seems to have introduced custom colors as well as Stainless Steel and Antique Copper.
In addition to featuring great photos, these brochures always give us hints about the design ideas and trends — and of course, what the marketers were simply trying to sell us on — that were driving design changes and innovations in the home. For example, in this fabulous California kitchen, “built by Fred C. Von Guenther of Orina, Calif.” the text says:
California, the land of outdoor living, offers a fresh not in kitchen planning. Lost forever is the old-fashioned kitchen with its stark white appliances, separated from the rest of the house by barriers of walls and doors. In contrast — here under a spacious beam ceiling the copper-hooded open barbecue pit serves as a transitional wall between the open kitchen and the living room area of the house. The trend-setting interior textures, exterior brick, clay tile, the exposed wood beams, with all appliances recessed into the walls, provide a living room feeling to every area in this charming home.
Indeed, this opening of the kitchen into the main house… treating the kitchen like an extension of the living space and decorating it thus… was a key shift hot under way by 1956. As I’ve discussed before, this was likely one of the death knells of steel kitchen cabinets — over time, we wanted our kitchen cabinets and to look like “furniture.”
Tips to use slide show — click on any thumbnail and it should open large (up to 600 pixels wide) on your screen. Use arrows below image to move forward or back. You may start or stop on any image. If you are having trouble getting image to enlarge…hmmm, make sure your Java is updated?
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Hey, also be sure to see this vintage kitchen — with orange-laminate covered Revcos spotted in the wild here. Yum.
Michael Raymond says
Hi Karen, we can’t seem to find the article in FAQ or kitchen/appliances for resources on the Revco..can you provide the link?
Thanks
Mike
pam kueber says
https://retrorenovation.com/2011/08/29/parts-service-and-advice-to-fix-old-stoves-and-other-vintage-appliances-a-list-of-9-online-resources/
geri silk says
Looking for a compressor for a 1964 Revco.”Half unit”–just fridge, no freezer. Square Stainless.
The refrigerator repair man trashed it when he took it apart Didn’t know what he was doing.
thanks
pam kueber says
See our FAQ/Appliances for resource suggestions
Karin says
Do u know how we can find replacement parts for a retro cabinet style revco fridge? Serial NU 205051. Model RU85. Prob from the 50s. The freezer fronts are broken. Thanks!!!!!!
pam kueber says
Karin — see FAQ for appliances. Good luck.
Eric says
Hi Pam,
I was so excited to come across this Revco brochure you posted. My name is Eric Forsthoefel and I am actually a grandson of the founder of Revco, Gregg Forsthoefel who started the company in 1938. It was just a couple weeks ago that my father told my brothers and I a bit of the family history surrounding our grandfather’s old company. With a little bit of an internet search I’ve been able to discover a treasure trove of information, including old patents registered by my grandfather as well as old print ads from the 40’s and 50’s. I have been stunned to learn what a cultural touch-stone the Revco brand was in the 40’s and 50’s. I had no idea. I am now motivated to put together a small book for family and friends documenting some of my grandfather’s history with the company and am searching out any and all information and materials I can get my hands on. Would you be willing to share pdf scans of the brochure you posted with me? If you have any other important information or insights into the brand/company as well I would love the opportunity to speak with you or exchange emails. I look forward to hearing from you.
Eric says
Actually, I would love to get in contact with ANY of this blogs readers who might have more information on Revco and it’s role in kitchen design in the 40’s and 50’s.
Cheers,
Eric
Karen says
Hi Eric,
My grandfather, Howard D. White Sr., was also involved with Revco in the early days. He lived in Adrian, MI. We still have a Revco refrigerator in our cabin in the upper peninsula that works perfectly. (My grandfather installed it in the early 50’s.) I vaguely remember hearing your last name, so I am sure our grandfathers knew one another. Do you know anything about that?
Eric says
Hi Karen. Our grandfather’s certainly knew each other quite well as your grandfather was a top executive and actually took over as President of Revco when my grandfather moved from the President position to Chairman. The two of them shared patent credit as well on a few refrigerators from the early days. I have done a tremendous amount of research on Revco over the past couple of months and plan to pull it all together into a mini-book of sorts. I will gladly share a copy with you when completed. If you or any of your family have further insights/recollections/stories about your grandfather and Revco from those old days it woul dbe great if you could pass them along. You can write me at eforte1@yahoo.com
Ruth Kanous says
Hi, Karen…I’m glad to see your reply, as I’ve been wondering what happened to your family. My dad worked at Revco too, and shared with your grandfather a love of all things outdoors. I remember many enjoyable times at their house on Budlong, and how generous they were to us. My brother and I were very young during that time, but your Grandmother was so gracious to us. She always gave us a book at Christmas, a nice science book, usually, and it was something we really loved. We visited your place in the UP too, but I don’t remember much about it. Your dad was older enough than us that I don’t remember him, but I heard a lot about him in conversation! Recently I have been trying to put together the period when your Grandfather, I believe, had interest in the railroad line in Adrian, and had an engine named after him…is that right? I look forward to reading Eric’s book when he finishes it, and will continue to look for pictures from that time, both from Revco, and from times with your family!
Karen says
Hi Ruth!
I loved that house on Budlong and have many happy memories of it also. We actually are in the process of selling the cabin in the upper peninsula. Sadly, I am one of 4 family owners and the other 3 relatives had no interest in keeping it. I am broken hearted to be losing it. I just started typing up the Log Cabin Log (my grandpa’s sense of humor!) which he wrote in religiously during the building, and also the guest log. I bet I will run across some entries with your names in it. We still have a working Revco refrigerator in the cabin! What was your maiden name? I would love to tell my folks about you and see what they remember. Feel free to contact me at my personal email, and we can reminisce further! karenrosinski@hotmail.com
Ruth Kanous says
My dad worked at Revco as a design engineer until the company moved south…he loved Michigan and didn’t want to relocate. I remember going to work with him on occasion, and loved to sit and play with all the cool stuff in his desk. I believe I met your grandfather during that time, and have certainly heard your last name many times growing up! My dad brought freezers home to test, and we always had one or two in the basement.
Eric says
Thanks for the info Ruth. Since my first post I’ve been able to dig up a lot more details on the company/brand history. I was quite surprised to learn that Revco was bought by Rheem in 1975 and eventually by Thermo Fisher Scientific where REVCO is still the brand name for a line of industrial refrigerators, i.e blood banks and other biological samples. It’s kind of gratifying to learn that the brand lives on! If you come across any marketing materials from your Dad’s time there I’d love to get copies
Mike says
My son has purchased a home with a circa 1955 revco refrigerator in the pool house. The compressor works and it still chills but he needs a replacement door handle and some misc parts. Anybody out there got a line on what happened to the company or where to get ahold of parts
Mike in Grand Rapids Michigan
pam kueber says
See our category Kitchens / Appliances for the story on resources.
Molly Murphy says
Some people say we have the best kitchen Frank Lloyd Wright ever designed. Evelyn Gordon loved her very modern efficient workspace full of Wright innovations. Designed in 1957, built in 1963-64, Revco Gourmet refrigerator freezer intalled in 1963. We want to restore it back to working glory. The Gordon House and its kitchen is open to the public as a historic site with guided tours daily. Visit our website and call for a reservation at 503-874-6006 when you come to Oregon.
Eric says
Hi Molly,
My grandfather, Gregg Forsthoefel was actually the founder of Revco in 1938. I’m in the process of discovering all of this amazing information about his company and the impact it had on kitchen design in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. Our family has been clueless about most of this history. I’m now determined to pull as much of it as I can together for a small book for our family. I would love to include a section on the Gordon House. May I contact you to find out more information about the house and kitchen and maybe even some photos? I hope to hear from you. My email address is eforte1@yahoo.com
JC says
FYI ALL.
Just saw this on Craiglist – Retro washer, stove, fridge and these are in amazing condition. Here is the link –
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/atq/2768839726.html
pam kueber says
cool, JC, but take it over the to forum please – no buying/selling here on the main blog including links to finds, or it would be chaos: https://retrorenovation.com/forums thanks!!
52PostNBeam says
The holy grail of retro fridges is the GE Americana from the mid 60s, as seen here (pls post this on the blog so that someone will buy it and put me out of my misery looking at the ad every day):
http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/clt/2753380324.html
Great Revco pix! I did have the opportunity to buy a stainless Revco set last year, but once I saw them in person I balked. Each unit is a three foot cube of steel, massively heavy and built like tanks. Yes, they probably last 4ever … but I like a fridge on casters. 🙂
Alice says
Pam, when you share these brochures, I always feel a little sad when I get to the last slide! I covet the built in refrigerators…to me they make more sense, organizationally. The pink, yellow and blue Geneva kitchen made me smile (not sure it would if I woke up to it every morning though!) thanks so much for keeping us all informed and sharing eye-candy!
pam kueber says
You’re welcome. Me love these too! 🙂
Catherine says
I just jumped out of my skin… the main photo is a picture of my kitchen! Unfortunately missing the cool refrigerator… I have a Scholtz home and the cabinets are identical and the brown color would have been right as the oven/toaster and the sink are both the same chocolate brown, and are still in the house and perfectly functional since 1957…
pam kueber says
Very cool, Catherine — Can you send me some pics???? I’d love to share? retrorenovation [at] gmail [dot] com
Anne L H says
Many thanks for this posting. This has finally solved the refrigerator mystery in our home. Our current fridge (a non-descript Hotpoint from the early 1990s) rests in a built in shelf above the floor with a shallow shelf above. We wondered how a refrigerator could have previously been installed in this shelf and now we know.
However, this begs a question. Is anyone out there familiar with refrigerators similar to these awesome Revcos? Perhaps a custom fridge?