# I'm moving a 60 year old refrigerator 1000 miles **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 4, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857 "2012-04-04T21:35:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/1 "2012-04-04T21:35:04Z")
Yep. We are cleaning out my FIL’s house in Indiana, and planning to move a circa-1950 \*\*Crosley Shelvadore \*\*back to our house in Arizona. Photo here: [![](https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll247/legendcity/CrosleyShelvador.jpg) ](https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll247/legendcity/CrosleyShelvador.jpg) It has been running without problems since purchased new. It lives in a nice cool basement where it keeps my beer cold for when we are there. 😉 However, we are selling the house, and it has been decided to bring the Crosley back to my man cave. Anyone have any hints on moving it? It has been unplugged for a couple of months, and I know not to plug it back in after moving until it has “settled” a few days. My biggest fear is just getting the pig up the basement stairs. Once out of the basement, I’ll put it into the container we are hiring. I’m probably crazy to try this, but I’ve got room in the container, so what the heck? Even if we cannot keep it long term, I have a friend who wants it, and I’ve seen similar fridges bringing some serious $$. Anything I need to think about to ensure it’s survivability? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/2 "2012-04-04T21:42:18Z")
I really need to ask my dad about this. He helped ship a similar fridge to Germany. My folks have some friends there that visited the US a few years back and they saw the old fridge in the basement. They said, at the time, that such items were a fad in their area. So dad helped them find another here in town. I think it went through Houston. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/3 "2012-04-04T21:54:22Z")
[Weasel words]There might be some benefit in trying to secure the compressor someway so that it doesn’t get jostled around too much.[/ww] ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/4 "2012-04-04T22:48:48Z")
I’d recommend removing the shelving and box it separately. If at all possible try to keep the fridge standing up right in the moving truck. The compressor can be ruined if the fridge is laid on its back. You mentioned waiting a few hours before plugging it in. Excellent idea. I’d wait until the next day just to be extra cautious. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/5 "2012-04-04T23:09:36Z")
Most certainly keep it upright at all times. I understand the nostalgia you must have, but it must use a lot of electricity compared to new models. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/6 "2012-04-04T23:14:53Z")
Since you’re looking for advice, I’ll move this from MPSIMS to our advice forum, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/7 "2012-04-05T00:45:27Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’d recommend removing the shelving and box it separately. > > If at all possible try to keep the fridge standing up right in the moving truck. The compressor can be ruined if the fridge is laid on its back. > > You mentioned waiting a few hours before plugging it in. Excellent idea. I’d wait until the next day just to be extra cautious. Yeah, I’m right with you on all these. I hadn’t actually _thought_ about removing the shelf(s) but would have realized it before the move. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/8 "2012-04-05T00:49:44Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Most certainly keep it upright at all times. > > I understand the nostalgia you must have, but it must use a lot of electricity compared to new models. Cite? 😃 Actually, I’m not so sure about that. It’s overbuilt, and doesn’t have the frost free feature and all the other doodads. The freezer portion is tiny, maybe a cubic foot(?). It might use less, especially if we keep it loaded and chugging away. I seriously doubt it exceeds the power consumption of my 2004 GE. It would be interesting to find out the actual useage of each. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/9 "2012-04-05T01:38:59Z")
I found a quote on the 'net indicating that a 1950’s era GE refrigerator consumed about 3.5 Kwh/day, or nearly 1300 kwh/year. I couldn’t find the stats on your particular model. Compare that to a high efficiency model today, which consumes less than 500 kwh/year. [http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/refrigerators.html](http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/refrigerators.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Goliath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rex\_Goliath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Goliath)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/10 "2012-04-05T09:12:49Z")
> [@campp](#): > > Cite? 😃 > > Actually, I’m not so sure about that. It’s overbuilt, and doesn’t have the frost free feature and all the other doodads. “Frost Free” works because the freezer cycles on and off, preventing ice from forming. A freezer without “frost free” cools 24/7, using _more_ energy. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/11 "2012-04-05T17:28:28Z")
It will use more electricity than a modern fridge because it has a much bigger compressor. The bigger compressor will run a lot quieter than a small modern one. You end up spending a couple bucks a week for a significantly quieter room. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/12 "2012-04-05T17:52:07Z")
But he’ll save the cost of a new fridge. Plus, that looks like the perfect style beer cooler for a man cave. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/13 "2012-04-05T18:54:38Z")
I’m not really worried about the electricity cost. Our home is quite green. It’s all about man cave decor. Thanks Qadrop and Rex for the information. I had no real idea, but had noticed it doesn’t make much noise at all. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/14 "2012-05-27T23:55:11Z")
Update: The Shelvador was emptied, defrosted, de-shelved, and remained unplugged for 48 hrs before the move. Three guys pushed the thing up 7 steps with a big dolly, tilting at a minimum. It was packed into a moving container, with old pillows and wads of sheets, and is working its way across the plains. First thing loaded, last thing unloaded when it gets here. I can’t wait! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/15 "2012-05-28T01:20:58Z")
I gave my brother my old fridge some years ago. When he fired it up, which would have been some months after I last had it powered, it didn’t work. No cooling. The coolant pipe had developed a leak by rusting somewhere. The moral is to not leave it idle a long time cause that lets the rust attack. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/16 "2012-05-28T02:27:45Z")
It’s going to be about 10X more trouble and cost to move than it would be to just buy another used fridge once you get there. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/17 "2012-05-28T04:07:14Z")
Ya, but we’re talking vintage heirloom for a man cave 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/18 "2012-05-28T04:18:07Z")
[Here is the beer](http://churchkeycanco.com/home/) to put in that refrigerator. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/19 "2012-05-28T05:27:59Z")
Is that the kind with the door that can’t be pushed open from the inside? During my broke days we had one of those in a house I shared. My dad liked to tell me stories about kids climbing in them to hide and suffocating when they couldn’t get out. When you do eventually trash it, take the door off so that can’t happen at the junkyard. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857/20 "2012-05-28T12:55:22Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > It’s going to be about 10X more trouble and cost to move than it would be to just buy another used fridge once you get there. Yep. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-a-60-year-old-refrigerator-1000-miles/617857.md?page=2)