In my recent guide to buying a retro refrigerator, buying vintage was tip #6. That prompted me to look through lots of stories in our archives and put together this roundup of 12 vintage refrigerators. Spanning 1934 to the mid-1970s, these vintage refrigerators are marvelous, wacky, classic, or rare — chosen to taste some of the coolest kitchen appliances that American had to offer. Above: the incredible GE Refrigeration Center.
GE Refrigeration Center:
The pink beauty shown above: This amazing kitchen appliance has a wall-hung refrigerator and freezer on top and presumably, a refrigerator and freezer drawers on the bottom. In between are the famous GE Cabinettes. The GE Refrigeration Center is #1 on my list as the most amazing refrigerator ever. Yet, still, 13 years into blogging, I’ve still have not seen or heard of one in the wild. Sigh.
GE 1955 Wall Refrigerator:
We have seen many “magnificent” GE Wall Refrigerator-Freezers, although none that I recall still in working order. Bueller? Bueller? This remarkable refrigerator — which presents like a set of kitchen wall cabinets — was introduced in 1955. I will presume it pre-dated the GE Refrigeration Unit, although I don’t know for sure. More photos and images about this GE wall fridge here.
Revco Built-in Refrigerators:
Revco made built-in refrigerator and freezer units that I’m sure were pretty high-end brand. In the photo above, the refrigerator and freezer are shown with St. Charles Steel Kitchen cabinets, the creme de la creme. I have a complete catalog of Revco refrigerators from 1956 – so fun to ogle!
The 1953 Kelvinator Foodarama:
Are we having fun yet? I am! Above: Greg and Tammy’s 1953 Kelvinator Foodarama, which Greg had painted safety red. They purchased it from its original owner, and I’m thinking it was in original working condition. See more great photos of the Kelvinator Foodarama — including its amazing interior features here.
- Fun fact: The Kelvinator Foodarama gets a shout-out in the big profile of the blog in the New York Times in 2011. I also heard Mrs. Maisel mention it in Season 1! Same diner scene where you can spot Wilsonart Betty laminate on the tables!
1957 Philco Refrigerator:
My 1957 Philco Refrigerator and 1950 Frigidaire that are my daily drivers in my kitchen. – Will
A 1941 Westinghouse Refrigerator in Continuous Operation for 76 years:
Indeed, these old refrigerators are work horses. Above, that’s Amy’s 1941 Westinghouse refrigerator, which has been in constant operation in the same family since it was purchased. At the time the story was published, that was 76 years and going strong!
1964 GE Americana Refrigerator Freezer:
By 1964, GE was giving us a somewhat less ambitious version of their earlier Refrigeration Center. This one is called the GE Americana Refrigerator Freezer, and we have lots of photos and the paperwork, too. This beauty has an ingenious built-in counter area that lights up, and there’s an easy-access electric plug, too — handy!
1967 Limited Edition Sears Coldspot Designed by Sundberg Ferar:
The 1967 limited edition Sears Coldspot designed by Sundberg Ferar seems pretty rare. It even came with an inscribed nameplate for the buyer. Flora was one lucky lady! This photo of the Sundberg Ferar design came from reader 52PostnBeam via a 2012 uploader.
1970s Poppy Red Frigidaire Refrigerator:
Ya gotta love the ’70s. Avocado green and harvest gold appliances were rocking American kitchens big-time. On the other hand, this poppy red color on refrigerators, stoves and dishwashers was pretty rare — chosen by truly adventurous decorators. I think.
1938 Hotpoint Refrigerator:
Now, dialing back in time, here’s what the inside of refrigerators looked in the 1930s. Simple. Functional. Beautiful. Solid. This one is Alli’s, also from our uploader.
1934 White Seal Ice Box:
Finally, I couldn’t resist: Chutti’s gone old school — or at least, for collecting purposes — with her 1934 White Seal Ice Box.
Derek says
check out https://www.automaticwasher.org/ they have very active and complete discussions regarding vintage appliances. the wall-mount GE fridges are certainly stars of the show. they show up from time-to-time but are pretty impractical. hard to repair and they don’t hold much capacity…but they are gorgeous!
Kathryn Asbahr says
My mom had the GE wall hung units and the GE Americana later. The wall hung ones did not last long as they were above a washer and dryer and the heat and humidity got to them. She loved the Americana refrigerator in coppertone. The kitchen had very little counter space and this was the perfect height for her grandsons to be able to make their own PB&J sandwiches. When she retired, it went into her mobile home. Bought in 1966 for about $1000, it was still going strong when she passed away and we sold her home in 1999. Wish I had kept it but we did not have room for it at the time.
Carolyn says
The GE Refrigeration Center “Mo-om! there’s never anything to eat in here!”
Funny how the HGTV crowd is making specific niches for the fridge so maybe makers will start re-thinking some of wall-built units like the Revco. I remember a house from my childhood where the fridge was in its own alcove with an arch to echo the fridge’s rounded top. There may have been cabinets on at least one side. I thought that was so cool!
Recently I read or saw something about the brown Jennie mentioned – I thought it was coppertone was universal but that was only a certain maker’s color name, not all appliances in that shade.
Wendellyn Plummer says
Being that I am 66, I have seen and grown up with a lot of the pictured refrigerators. I remember my mom fussing every time she had to defrost the first one I remember. Then in the 70’s we got a new copper tone refrigerator and wall oven to match. Mom had an electric cooktop, in stainless, that lasted for years. I always envied the fact that she had a wall oven and had tons of storage above and below.
Amanda says
Our house had a built-in Revco fridge, and sadly we we’re unable to keep it. I do have a photo though. Now that we are remodeling the kitchen I appreciated your last article on what to fill the space with. I hope we can afford the best option
te says
There is a 1950’s GE refrigerator with gold lazy susan shelves that I have been drooling over for a few years (of course there are never any near me to pickup and don’t enough spare change to boot for a “wish”). I am also envious of refrigerators with egg holders on the doors.
Pam Kueber says
The whole “Breakfast Center” in the Kelvinator Foodarama is absolutely amazing!
Barb S. says
Bueller, here!! I love my GE wall mounted refrigerator in Petal Pink. It works like a charm, and I treat it like gold. I think I say this every time I see that refrigeration center picture, how on earth is that thing free-standing in the middle of the room?? This refrigerator is heavy as heck. I mean like 300 lbs. What support system could possibly be on the back of that center to hold it up?
Thanks for letting me talk about it! This was a fun article. xoxo
Lynne says
When I was a kid in the mid to late 1960’s, the family across the street had a complete GE metal kitchen. They had the same wall hung fridge and freezer unit as in picture #2. The kitchen cabinets, and the appliances (electric cook top and twin wall ovens) were a lovely combination of a pale butter yellow and aqua. I”m not absolutely certain, as I wasn’t in the utility room but one or twice, but I think she had the matching GE washer and dryer too. I loved that kitchen even as a kid. All of the houses in our subdivision had the GE kitchen cabinets. Ours were pink with grey counters. My mother didn’t like them, and when the “antique kits” came out in the 70’s, mom faux painted them to resemble woodgrain. They were h****** [edited]. Then she made made Dad glue Z Brick on the walls. The cabinets were replaced, but that dang Z-Brick is still there to this day.
Barb S. says
Oh my gosh! I can’t believe it, my mother did the same thing! Mine are pink metal, and my mom did that antique wood look treatment. I remember it was like a rubbery paint that I liked to scratch with my fingernails as a kid. Haha, they *were* h****** [edited]… and the Z-brick 🙂 ah, the 70s…
Jennie says
My family had a brown fridge and electric stove for awhile. What was that color called? My mom thought no more finger prints!
Pam Kueber says
Coppertone, perhaps? Different companies had different names. I’ll need to work on this question!
CarolK says
There’s currently a post on Houzz about colorful appliances and most of the comments are fairly positive. A few commenters have said how ugly that they thought that avocado and harvest gold appliances were and how dated. One designer way down in the comments said that is you stick with colors that you’ve always loved that any color choice you make will be a good one and won’t appear dated. Good advice, I think.
Recently, we were shopping for a new washer and Lowe’s had this beautiful merlot Samsung front-loader, but Lowe’s was out of stock so we got a white one. Another Houzzer did get a merlot one, and I have to confess, I’m a wee bit jealous!
These vintage fridges are gorgeous! My aunt might have had the Coldspot one. I do know that she had a bottom freezer model back in the 60s.
Lynne says
Carol, I saw that post this morning too. The thing is, they were all huge, high end models. Really industrial, restaurant looking to me. I wonder if some of the mainstream companies might start joining in?
Allison says
It would be great if the mainstream adopted some color. Hopefully we’ll be seeing some movement away from the drab and depressing all white or gray kitchens with stainless appliances from which you are constantly wiping fingerprints.
Color is frightening to people nowadays after years of the constant drumbeat of “go neutral or never be able to sell your house!” from the real estate industry.
What was really funny in those Houzz comments were the complaints that colored appliances would be expensive to change out; this from remodelers who are going to spend $30 grand to rip out their granite counter tops and replace them with quartz.
If someone wants to gut my kitchen after I die and toss my GE turquoise appliances in favor of something that will last 5 or 7 years instead of 50, I will look down from heaven and sneer at their prodigal ways. And hope that someone else can pick those beautiful 1960s appliances up on craigslist.
and a short promo; for people looking for vintage in the PNW; Appliance City in Portland always has some available. Good people.
Pam Kueber says
Yes: Granite countertops now being ripped out as “out.” This is waste at its worst.