In the 1930s, The “Monitor-top Refrigerator” quickly became one of General Electric’s most popular appliances. Its design was based on a sound principle and a highly efficient plan: The compressor sat atop the fridge, and heat extracted from the appliance cabinet naturally moved up and away from the refrigerator.
According to all reports, these were also unusually well-built appliances, with a life expectancy of 25 years – or more. Today, appliance aficionados are always on the look-out for these vintage refrigerators, because with a little work and a few new parts, they can be restored to their original condition and live on – indefinitely.
Heretofore, no one has created a reproduction Monitor Top refrigerator which is a surprise, especially considering how popular these used appliances have become. A thoroughly restored three-door Monitor Top fridge (fully restored) can fetch $10,000 or more. For more information and detail on these appliances, click here.
Incidentally, the monitor-top GE refrigerators got their name from the iron-clad Monitor Ship from The Civil War.
An image from a 1930 magazine, showing the GE Monitor Top
The ad reads, "One of the most amazing...and revolutionary triumphs of modern engineering. So remarkable, so unbelievably efficient that the GE refrigerator has established a record of trouble free service unequaled in the entire history of refrigeration..." Further down, it explains that the price was $205 for this modern marvel.
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I have a Square Top General Electric Decal refrigerator that is still running with all of its origenal parts. How much are they worth ?
I am going to build a reproduction monitor top compressor, to modify the icebox on our old railroad bunk car, the compressor will be a newer one, but it will not be noticeable that it is.