Do you think we 2000-somethings “invented” refrigerator drawers concealed in base cabinets? It appears not — because here is GE showcasing refrigerator drawers (update: okay, maybe they are freezer drawers, but big diff) that look like kitchen base cabinets… which they have combined with their Wall Refrigerator-Freezer and Cabinettes in this mother of all midcentury modern refrigerators units called, humbly, the GE Refrigeration Center.
Love. Although, we don’t quite understand what’s holding it up, as readers have pointed out that the wall refrigerator-freezer weighs hundreds of pounds. I do not have a date for this piece of marketing — but the image is from my collection and is one of my boxes, so I’ll find it someday(ish) and add the year to this documentation. At minimum, it’s 1955. Oooooh, if we could ever spot this in the wild!
Want to see more of this amazing line of vintage GE kitchen appliances? Also see our story in the GE Wonder Kitchen.
Ed says
Ugh, that lead picture. All the doors open. And you know that’d be happening all the time. Bad enough with just a normal freezer/fridge.
lauren says
here’s a link to some photos a friend sent me of a relative’s kitchen that was about to be remodeled (noooo!)
http://s22.photobucket.com/user/laurherm/Mobile%20Uploads/story
definitely a GE wall fridge on top but I’m not sure about the bottom cabinets.
Janet in ME says
I finally found my GE product manual books and found that the above pictured freezer is an HU-5N. That’s the 1956 model number. I am not sure about previous years but wanted to document this for my information should I lose them again!
pam kueber says
Thanks, Janet!
Peggy Vanantwerp says
While browsing through the website, I came across the advertisement for the GE Wall hung refrigerator. I happen to have a turquoise one and they were originally from 1953 until about 54/55. They weren’t a big seller. They came in turquoise, pink, yellow and white. I have seen both the pink and the turquoise. I can send you pictures of it if you wish. When I first purchased it I had a very difficult time finding much info on it. I do know that the matching stove is in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mi.
Peg
pam kueber says
Here is my story on these, the ads I have say they were introduced in 1955 – https://retrorenovation.com/2013/04/08/ge-wall-refrigerator-freezer/
Latesa says
I have one of these under counter GE food freezers. I have been looking for info on it but this is the first I have found mentioned on them. Mine has 2 drawers – the top one slides over the bottom one when the door is closed. The door pulls down like a dishwasher door – when we bought the house, we thought it was an old dishwasher until we opened the door and read the name on it.
Latesa says
I was not able to post pictures of the unit here but I did post 2 pictures on your facebook page of it. Thanks! Would love to win the $100 gift card
Jeff says
I own this fridge and matching wall oven in turquoise with pink interior. Sadly it stopped working!!! Compressor failed, and freezer coil developed a leak. Won’t hold a charge. Cosmetically it’s like showroom new…as well, can’t find anyone to fix it! The “best” appliance doctors here keep saying “get a new refrigerator” so I bought a 1962 GE floor model for the garage, and WILL NEVER remove the wall mounted one! I will eventually find someone to fix it.
Diane says
Jeff, there is a place in Tucson that recently rehabbed both of these appliances for me. They repaired and restored the fridge, but I retired the freezer part to expedite the process. It took 5 months, but they’re back home and working beautifully.
Betty Roth says
Hi! Not only have i seen one but i know where you can purchase it. I frequent estate sales by Lucky Rabbit Estate sales and they’re handling a home in Brooklyn, NY with a complete GE kitchen- wall refrigerator and freezer, dishwasher and range. All in pink, one owner. They can be reached on their website: luckyrabbitestatesales.com. The owner, Paul, said that he thought it was still available and it is a real find! I hope someone saves it from the dumpster! If I had the room I’d buy it myself!
Joe Felice says
You’re in good company. Many of us would like to own that jewel. I’m sure it won’t end up in a dumpster!
Cory says
As others have mentioned, the far right door is a freezer and the middle and left doors are the fridge. They were available in 5 different colors and the early models through ’57 have pink interiors..which can look a little odd with the exterior color options.
The roll-outs are freezers and are much tougher to find.
I can’t think of a heavier fridge, free-standing or otherwise, that compares with these. The wall bracket gets screwed to your studs and the entire unit hangs in shear. A real lesson in physics when your intuition says “this’ll never hold”.
GE did make a single unit that combined countertop, lighted backsplash, a double door fridge above and a single double width rollout freezer below called the Americana. Tough to find, but they’re out there.
pam kueber says
Ok. Now I am on the hunt for the Americana. I *think* I’ve seen one here and there… now I need to get one into our archive!
Joe Felice says
Does anyone remember the GE Gold Medallion Homes? They were all-electric homes built by GE to showcase its home products. My parents purchased one new in 1964. It was also the builder’s model home. I remember, there was a plaque next the front door with a number on it. (I suppose there was a limited number built.) I took the plaque off, thinking it was no big deal; that these homes would be a dime a dozen in the future. How wrong I was! I wish I could remember what I did with the plaque. I know I didn’t throw it away. Mom & dad are gone now, but the home is still there. It is very-well built, and still looks good, although the buyers have not kept up the beautiful lawn and shrubs that dad & I had planted over the years.
The electric baseboard heat fell out of favor in the late ’70s, when electricity costs skyrocketed, but, at the same time, was the only type of heat available for a few years, when there was a moratorium on gas taps. Still, it was clean, each room had its own thermostat, and it was maintenance-free. The biggest problem was the metal fins, which creaked and cracked as they heated & cooled. After a while, though, we got used to it.
Tracey says
I love this! I would put it in my house in a second!!!!