Vintage Kegerator Options

[Dr_Jeff]

@ZackN There are too many bottles in there, you need to send some of them to me.

 

[Transamguy77]

Wow man that’s awesome that you still have it! Congrats on graduating! So I put the taps through the door of mine for the same reason you mentioned I’ll never use it for anything other than beer.

That door is thick and you’ll need like 5” long shanks to go through both panels, I didn’t realize this until I had already drilled my holes, I ended up taking the inner panel off and it turned into a bigger project than it needed to be so my advise is measure the door thickness so you can just drill and assemble, and I know that sounds so simple and so simple it could get over looked.

 

[madscientist451]

I've been using picnic taps in my keezer and it works fine. No, its not as cool as the taps in the door, but I didn't have to build the collar for the keezer or buy the shanks/faucets and I only pour a pint or two a day so I'm not changing anything.

 

[odie]

Very old thread...I'm running a 1946 Westinghouse as my kegerator and a 1947 GE and 1946 Frigidaire as yeast/hops storage and bottle beer fridge.

The STC1000...get rid of it. You do not need it. The original t-stat is fine. These old fridges will run forever on their original Freon and compressor. The old relay is all they need.. Just upgrade the power cord to a 3 prong so you can ground the cabinet.

A new door gasket is the only thing these need, after a decent cleaning. Likely the only rust issues you will need to deal with is inside the lower door. Remove the door, completely disassemble and treat rust, reassemble and put a new gasket on.

Antique and Vintage Refrigerator Door Gaskets

Go thru the door for your taps. Measure like a thousand times...consider carefully how many kegs you can fit and room for the shanks when you close the door.

From the picture, I'm guessing you can fit 3 of those kegs in there. I would suggest putting 3 taps above the door handle higher than the shelf

 

[Transamguy77]

@odie do you have any pics of them? I’d like to see some pics, I love those old fridges.

 

[bracconiere]

looks like you might have a co2 leak? 9 years? your tank is almost empty? probably a slow leak though!

 

[odie]

here ya go...it came out of a meat market...that's blood, not rust...

 

[day_trippr]

[...]..that's blood, not rust...

Funny how you think that's better...

Cheers!

 

[Transamguy77]

That bloody one looks like mine. From 1949

 

[Tom R]

A friend had a '50's fridge, I think it was a Philco.
It had a big "V" shaped handle in the middle of the door, and depending on which way you turned it, it would hinge on either the left or right side.

Coolest fridge I ever saw!

 

[grampamark]

My ferm fridge is a 1949 Hotpoint.

My kegerator is a 1963 GE.

 

[odie]

Funny how you think that's better...

Cheers!

it's long soaked deep into the finish and permanently stained the enamel. It ain't ever coming out and it's now been sealed with Penetrol. It just looks cool with the "patina" and such...

 

[odie]

That bloody one looks like mine. From 1949

Yours is a Frigidaire. I have one like it, 1946 model. No taps though. Only holds mini kegs, not 5s. cause of the ice box.

Any inside pics?

 

[odie]

I suspect those Hotpoints are made by GE. I see many identical parts and design features to my 47 GE.

 

[acrowe]

I like the vintage kegerators! Its common for governments and power companies to push getting rid of older fridges for more energy efficient new ones. How noticeable is the difference in power use?
I really liked hearing about the fridge with the handle and hinges that allow it open either way - just like my 1951 International pick-up! My kegerator is boring 90s

 

[odie]

Vintage refrigerators use very little power. They are well insulated and they do not defrost. During a power failure they will hold cold for a long time cause the ice build up.

Defrost is the big power suck. Cool down, heat up, cool down, heat up...

The only down side is ice buildup so eventually you must thaw it out. But you only open a vintage fridge once, to tap a keg. Then it never opens again until time for a new keg. My 3 tapper gets a defrost like every year or two...and I'm on the humid Texas coast.

The vintage "drink" fridge gets thawed more often.

 

[Ki-ri-n]

My '56 Philco

Holds 3 but only two taps on the outside.

 

[Transamguy77]

@odie ill get some pics this weekend, it’s not in use at the moment and has some garage stuff piled in front of it that I plan to deal with while I’m off.

 

[Scout]

A friend had a '50's fridge, I think it was a Philco.
It had a big "V" shaped handle in the middle of the door, and depending on which way you turned it, it would hinge on either the left or right side.

Coolest fridge I ever saw!

those old V handle Philcos are somewhat rare and desireable!