Vintage refrigerator restoration

[sobi1998]

I’ve acquired my great grandparents old GE refrigerator from the early 30’s.
I plan to try and restore it. I plugged it in probably a decade ago and it still worked. Haven’t tried since.
Did some research and found out it uses Methyl Formate, as the refrigerant.
Does anyone know if that’s still sold? Or could I possibly replace with R-134a?

(Image from google for example)


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[oldag]

This is ONLY a guess. But I would suspect that you could not use R-134A.

But it will take research to know for sure.

 

[Axxe55]

Subbed.

I refinished a few in the past, but none that old.

Maybe if you could find an old appliance repair man, maybe he could point you in the right direction.

 

[sobi1998]

Subbed.

I refinished a few in the past, but none that old.

Maybe if you could find an old appliance repair man, maybe he could point you in the right direction.

I found a website that sells old appliance parts. I guess if it still runs and cools, don’t bother with the refrigerant?
I haven’t looked it over yet, but it may just need some new wiring, new paint, and new gaskets


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[Axxe55]

I found a website that sells old appliance parts. I guess if it still runs and cools, don’t bother with the refrigerant?
I haven’t looked it over yet, but it may just need some new wiring, new paint, and new gaskets


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If it's still cooling, then it should still have refrigerant.

You might plug it in, let it run at least 24 hours, and put a thermometer in, check the beginning temp, to the temp after 24 hours.

That might give you some indication of whether it has refrigerant or not.

 

[sobi1998]

If it's still cooling, then it should still have refrigerant.

You might plug it in, let it run at least 24 hours, and put a thermometer in, check the beginning temp, to the temp after 24 hours.

That might give you some indication of whether it has refrigerant or not.

That’s about what I was going to do
Just my luck it bursts into flames in the night haha
Hopefully I’m not getting into too deep of a project (famous last words)


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[Axxe55]

That’s about what I was going to do
Just my luck it bursts into flames in the night haha
Hopefully I’m not getting into too deep of a project (famous last words)


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P
Put it on the porch outside!

But, you're suppose to say, "Here hold my beer, and watch this!"

 

[gasgas]

If you plug in and cools , don’t try to do anything to refrigerate system
Most have steel line and if it has not leaked yet It will still cool, I started working in AC and refrigeration in 1976 and did not ever see one other than a few in barns
One (OLD ) guy back then said he worked on them in 1940-50 but mostly replaced with newer ones, also said the refrigerate has a bad oder

 

[Glenn B]

Stuff ain't cheap. https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sial/291056?lang=en&region=US

 

[Axxe55]

P
Put it on the porch outside!

But, you're suppose to say, "Here hold my beer, and watch this!"

If you plug in and cools , don’t try to do anything to refrigerate system
Most have steel line and if it has not leaked yet It will still cool, I started working in AC and refrigeration in 1976 and did not ever see one other than a few in barns
One (OLD ) guy back then said he worked on them in 1940-50 but mostly replaced with newer ones, also said the refrigerate has a bad oder

This sounds like sound advice.

Most of the fridges I have seen, the lines are either soldered or brazed. Not sure how freon is even added, since I don't remember if there are fittings.