Vintage Appliances

[Fading Fast]

Papperskat - nice find and purchase. As it sounds as if you are gong to do some work on, it would be fun if you kept us up on the progress.

Thanks to Shangas' kind comment, I have sent the above (6 or so posts) lighter off for repair and will report back with photos when I get it.

 

[LizzieMaine]

In the US, Electrolux was a gas refrigerator -- there are no electrical or moving parts anywhere in the mechanism, and as long as the pipes are good and the refrigerant is holding, they have, basically, an infinite lifespan. There are hundreds of them around here still in use at camps and on off-the-grid farms, converted to run on LP gas.

 

[Fading Fast]

In the US, Electrolux was a gas refrigerator -- there are no electrical or moving parts anywhere in the mechanism, and as long as the pipes are good and the refrigerant is holding, they have, basically, an infinite lifespan. There are hundreds of them around here still in use at camps and on off-the-grid farms, converted to run on LP gas.

Once again, calling on the kind patience of Lizziepedia:

I, at a very simple level, understand how refrigeration works - gas is compressed and then allowed to expand, thus absorbing heat and "chilling" the ambient air, but how does the gas circulate (what compresses it) in the Electrolux if there is no electricity / moving parts?

 

[Papperskatt]

Huh, I've never heard about gas refrigerators before. Interesting. The few Swedish Electrolux fridges that I know about have all been electric so I hope that this one is too... If not then I might put the innards of my late 40s/50s Husqvarna fridge inside the body.

FF, yes, I'll try to remember to post updates. It will probably be a while before I get to it, though. I'm working on a blog where I'll put everything about the restoration of my house, I'll post a link when it's online.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Once again, calling on the kind patience of Lizziepedia:

I, at a very simple level, understand how refrigeration works - gas is compressed and then allowed to expand, thus absorbing heat and "chilling" the ambient air, but how does the gas circulate (what compresses it) in the Electrolux if there is no electricity / moving parts?

The Crosley "Icy-Ball" worked by the same principle, except that there was no internal flame to act as a heat source. With an "Icy-Ball," you lifted out the mechanism once a day and heated it gently on a stove until the ammonia re-condensed, and then you replaced the unit in the cabinet.

 

[Fading Fast]

The Crosley "Icy-Ball" worked by the same principle, except that there was no internal flame to act as a heat source. With an "Icy-Ball," you lifted out the mechanism once a day and heated it gently on a stove until the ammonia re-condensed, and then you replaced the unit in the cabinet.

Lizzie, thank you, but the link (I think) you embedded gave me this message:

"Remote Linking Forbidden - 50megs does not support remote linking of images or files for FREE accounts - please upgrade your account."

Obviously, I don't want you to do anything more (thank you for trying), I just wanted you to know that I wasn't able to read the explanation.

 

[ingineer]

PK,
correct orifice is required, different for natural gas and LP
http://vintageservelrefrigerators.8k.com/FAQ.html
http://www.mainegasrefrigerator.com/
Good Luck

 

[ingineer]

Chimney correct?
Bottom right
https://www.lehmans.com/c-188-parts-literature.aspx

 

[LizzieMaine]

Lizzie, thank you, but the link (I think) you embedded gave me this message:

"Remote Linking Forbidden - 50megs does not support remote linking of images or files for FREE accounts - please upgrade your account."

Obviously, I don't want you to do anything more (thank you for trying), I just wanted you to know that I wasn't able to read the explanation.

Try this -- it's easier to explain visually than verbally. Basically it's the principle of evaporation and condensation in a sealed environment.

 

[ingineer]

More links;
A lot of RVers convert with these
http://rvcoolingunit.com/1200LR-Norcold-Brand-New-Cooling-Unit-built-by-the-Amish-P13259.aspx

 

[ingineer]

OH and thank Albert
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_refrigerator

 

[Fading Fast]

Try this -- it's easier to explain visually than verbally. Basically it's the principle of evaporation and condensation in a sealed environment.

View attachment 33754

Thank you. And how fantastic is that. All it needs is the natural gas flame to keep the process repeating itself (that's what was troubling me when you said there was no electricity or moving parts).

Computer this, smart phone that, programer here, technician there - they have nothing on the person that came up with that refrigeration system.

 

[LizzieMaine]

The "Icy-Ball" is even more astonishing. If you ever see one in person, you'll have a hard time believing it exists, let alone that it works.

Come the apocalypse, there'll still be refrigeration thanks to people like this guy, who built his own Icy Ball from scrounged junk.

 

[ingineer]

Quote:
" High pressures are involved. The Icyball can leak or explode resulting in death or serious injury. Exposure to ammonia can cause serious injury or death"
That will work but
I think that was Szilard and Einstein were trying to avoid

 

[Papperskatt]

Wow!

 

[Big Man]

Anyone have any good sources for replacement elements for an electric range? My old 1948 model Hotpoint bake element gave out yesterday. I had replaced it several years ago with a spare element my Dad had secured and had in storage. The part number is WB44X142. I've found several places that have replacement parts, but that one is "discontinued" on all the sites I've found.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ingineer]

Maybe?
Sorry not my expertice but any thing with correct voltage that you can get to wire up should work
Some leads


https://www.m-and-d.com/MDA_GEN-WB44X142.html
http://www.dappz.com/wb44x5043-oem
Or perhaps a universal?
Sounds like you need a repair guy to keep it alive

 

[ingineer]

ah-ha i think i found it
https://www.theignitorstore.com/product/GE-Range-Oven-Stove-Bake-Element-1450576

 

[Big Man]

Thanks for the help and the links, ingineer.

I looked in all the usual places but couldn't find anything right off. On the off-chance they might have something, I went by a little hardware store here in Marion (small town, real hardware kind of store). They didn't have one like I needed, but said they knew of a place that might have one. I gave that place a call, and BINGO they had not one, but three. The store is in a little town about 20 miles from here, so I'll be going there tomorrow.

Might as well get all three of them while I can, that way I should be covered for the next 20 or 30 years. WAIT - did I just say that? That sounds like the way my Dad used to think.

 

[ingineer]

Lucky you to have found a good hardware store.
Reminds me of an old story
The carpenter went to to the old church,
Sorry Minister the old oak beams are rotten and can not be replaced.
The Minister shoke his head and said:
See those Oaks outside:
That is what they intended for