who wants a 1973 non-working fridge?

[MsMagnolia]

Howdy,
After almost 40 years of good service, our 1973 coppertone Frigidaire fridge bit the dust. The repairman says the needed parts to repair it aren't available (compressor and motor?), but he said that there are folks out there who collect and refurbish older refrigerators and might want this one for parts. It's in northern California, btw.
Any advice on how to find a taker?
Thanks!

[steponmebbbboom]

I really don't see why a modern compressor and relay couldn't be adapted to fit the refrigerator. Beyond those components, there's not much to them. I would hang onto it and get a second opinion from someone more sympathetic to old fridges.

[MsMagnolia]

Thanks for the suggestion. The further detail, however, is that we're getting ready to sell the house and no longer live there. So our motivation to work on the fridge is lacking.

Just want to find someone who wants it, rather than send it to the dump.

[YinzerMama]

Northern California like north north or like bay area? There is a used appliance store in San Jose called Beta Appliances that our landlord got all his stuff from. They used to have some old stuff laying around. They might take it or have parts for it.

[Texas_Ranger]

I don't think it's possible to replace the compressor. That would require refilling the refrigerant afterwards and those old refrigerants are no longer available. Using modern refrigerants in an old system could cause nasty explosions!

From what I can tell this affects fridges well into the 1990s - don't know when freon was really banned.

Maybe your's only needs a new thermal cutout though - that's a 50 cents part. Was it moved or anything before it gave up the ghost?

[steponmebbbboom]

Using modern refrigerants in an old system could cause nasty explosions!

I'm afraid this is not true. R134a is inherently explosive under certain conditions none of which are caused simply by using it in an R12 or R22 system. The only consideration for using it in an older refrigerator with a new compressor is to get all the old refrigerant and oil out, and recharge it.

[Texas_Ranger]

Using modern refrigerants in an old system could cause nasty explosions!

I'm afraid this is not true. R134a is inherently explosive under certain conditions none of which are caused simply by using it in an R12 or R22 system. The only consideration for using it in an older refrigerator with a new compressor is to get all the old refrigerant and oil out, and recharge it.

I can only quote what I was told by an old refrigeration tech, so there is no way I can confirm it, sorry! We were talking about my old fridge on some electrical forums and he basically said if there's a refrigerant leak or the compressor is damaged I can kiss it goodbye. Thankfully it was only the thermal cutout (my parents had the fridge moved downstairs after they bought a new one and apparently it was plugged in too soon after moving). I replaced the thermal cutout and the fridge (a French beast ca. 1960 with pink interior) worked perfectly again. It's incredible how smooth and quiet the compressor is compared to a modern one!

[MsMagnolia]

Thank you all for the discussion! Lacking a taker, the fridge went to the transfer station, and I'm on to the next thing. Thanks again!