The Monitor Top Fridge is the most easily identified vintage refrigerator because of its unique top. It was named “Monitor Top” after the resemblance of its top to the turret on the ironclad Civil War warship, the USS Monitor. GE manufactured the Monitor Top Fridge from 1927 to 1936. It was finally replaced when GE released the “Flat Top” model fridge in 1937.
Priced at $300, these were considered the first affordable refrigerators for the typical American family. GE made it possible to make monthly payments of $10 a month, which was conveniently added on to the family’s utility bill. These were not the first household fridges, but they were the first to be sold in such great numbers.
Small changes were made through the years of its production, such as the condenser coils being enclosed and the addition of slide out shelves. But the basic design of the Monitor Top stayed pretty much the same for the nine years it was made. Cooling was accomplished with the use of either sulfur dioxide or methyl formate. It was the first fridge to come with an all-steel cabinet. The Monitor Top was available as a one-, two- or three-door fridge. The single-door fridge was the model most widely used in private homes, and provided 5 to 7 cubic feet of storage.
The Monitor Top is believed by many to be the best and most reliable fridge ever manufactured. As a matter of fact, many of them are still in use in homes today, like this model unit that we restored for a customer. This model is a 1929 or 1930 Monitor Top that was restored and finished with vintage ads for Frostie Root Beer, Squirt Soda and Kayo Chocolate Drink. (Please note we are no longer in the restoration business.)
Dimensions: 64”H x 24”W x 21½”D
This item is not for sale. We show restored items in this blog to encourage discussion, prompt questions and further the hobby of collecting and restoration. We also enjoy sharing the photos of the many items we have restored over the years.
35 responses so far ↓
1 George // Oct 6, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Hi, I have a GE Monitor top that I am restoring and looking for information on how to recharge it with an approved agent. I believe it has sulfur dioxide in it. any help would be great.
2 BARBARA JOSEPHSON // Nov 14, 2010 at 8:32 pm
My friend bought me a GE Monitor last week, The owner said it worked until recently. He thought the relay may have gone out. My friend can fix just about anything but this fridge seems more complicated than my Chambers Stove. So, where do I start?
3 Jerry Walker // Dec 9, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Barbara,
Email me at jwalker152@hotmail.com. I may be able to help you a bit. Send me a pic of the top of your fridge from the front and rear if possible.
4 Jerry Walker // Dec 9, 2010 at 7:49 pm
George,
Is your refrigerator still cooling and are the coolant lines still in good condition? If so, I’d say leave the original refrigerant in it. If not, the only retrofit I’ve heard of is installing a new compressor under the unit and routing lines back into the cabinet using the original evaporator/freezer. They would also install cooling coils on the rear of the cabinet. I have a friend that had a local refrigeration shop retrofit his and it works great. My refrigerator has the original refrigerant and I have no plans to change it.
5 scott higdon // Dec 11, 2010 at 4:33 pm
We do total rebuilds motor rewinds and
recharging with new SO2.
Its a very tricky process so thats why we
have units sent to use from all over to be made
new again.
scott
6 Tim // Jan 1, 2011 at 3:52 am
Scott,
where are you located and what is the cost of reconditioning a monitor top that is low of refrigerant?
7 dan // Jan 3, 2011 at 10:21 am
how can i get your # 315-348-6454
8 Julie Neefe // Jan 6, 2011 at 10:25 am
My parents have an old ge monitor top refig that still works. I would like to have it restored and painted. Is there someone in Pa. that can do this work? Let me know I want to keep it in the family. Such good memories. Thanks.
9 Jack Woody // Jan 15, 2011 at 9:39 pm
Scott Higdon, we have a 1927 GE Monitor top and are in Texas. How do we reach you?
10 Jack Woody // Jan 15, 2011 at 9:41 pm
Scott, here is my email address. Thanks.
Paytnj@aol.com
11 Daniel morgan // Jan 31, 2011 at 2:36 pm
I found a ge monitor top refrigerator in an old house that is falling down and pulled it out thinking it might be worth more than scrap, but I can’t find specific info on it, like year, or worth. Any help is appreciated, please email me at bluedeuce20@gmail.com and I’ll send pics, thanks.
12 rick adams // Feb 1, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Scott, my monitor top went out last week.
pls e mail me if you will repair it
13 Colleen Zbuchalski // Feb 16, 2011 at 7:32 pm
I have a stick gum dispenser. It takes a penny which can be inserted in one of two slots depending on the flavor you desire. It has a paper tag stuck on the back that reads:Jolly Good Industries Inc. 2007 Corporate Dr. Boynton Beach, FL. It is a wall mount machine. Do you know anything about it or it’s value?
Thanks in advance for any info you may provide.
Colleen
14 Ted Godfrey // Feb 24, 2011 at 6:37 pm
I have an old monitor top GE refrigerator I would like to begin to restore. Can anyone direct me on how to begin? Please e-mail me at tedg@theopencupboard.com
Thanks
15 Boomer // Mar 30, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Scott, I would also like to contact you about compressor rebuilding. I currently have a large 5 door unit I’m restoring that uses a Type: D_50_B26 (or 826) 1/2 h.p. compressor. It’s missing and I’m trying to track one down, but assume it will need rebuilding once I do find one.
What’s the best way to contact you? You can reach me at iamboomer@hotmail.com
Thanks.
16 Dave // May 11, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Hello, I have an old Westinghouse fridge that looks a lot like the one on your page. Do you have any idea if it’s worth anything? Please email me at drawingguy@aol.com. I’d apreciate any info you could give me.
Dave
17 sean kennedy // May 23, 2011 at 6:48 pm
scott higdon,I recently purchased a 1935 ge monitor top and one of the lines on the compressor was cracked by the previous owner so I would need that repaired and recharged. How do I contact you? Please email me at kennedysmach@aol.com
18 Rick // May 24, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Right now (May 24, 2011) There is a Monitor Top reproduction service manual on E-Bay. We purchased one after we acquired our Monitor Top. It will answer most of your questions.
19 JIM ROSS // May 26, 2011 at 6:38 pm
I HAVE A NARROW BODY MONITOR WITH A SQUARE COOLING UNIT ,NOT ROUND . ANY INFO .
20 JIM ROSS // May 26, 2011 at 6:44 pm
I ALSO HAVE A NARROW BODY, ROUND TOP [ MINT ] ALSO A WIDE BODY ,ROUND TOP[ FAIR COND. ] ALL WORKING . WITCH MODEL IS MORE DESIRABLE ?
21 john /scott higdon // May 29, 2011 at 11:06 pm
for you folks who want to get in touch with us about your monitor top fridge compressor problems.
John/Scott higdon e-mail
jhigdon863@charter.net
22 Dan Conway // Jun 13, 2011 at 5:39 pm
I have a monitor top the will not start. When I plug it in it seems like it wants to start and then a relay kicks in and shuts down.
Can you help me. Thanks. Dan
23 Arthur Givens // Jun 27, 2011 at 8:12 pm
I have a Monitor refrigerator with a square top and not a round one. I need the year and name.
24 Juliet Burch // Jul 7, 2011 at 9:16 pm
I’m interested in buying a monitor top fridge, but am concerned about the sulpher dioxide and methyl formate refrigerants. Were any monitor tops made using freon, and if so what years/models? Any info would be helpful. Thanks, Juliet
25 Anita Hilton // Jul 16, 2011 at 11:50 am
I have a GE Monitor Top which is, according to its ID tag, CA-2, is charged with methyl formate. I have been told that it is nearly impossible to change out the coolant for SO2 because of “an access port which requires special tools which are no longer produced.” I am uncertain if the restorer I contacted meant the special tools are no longer made, or the access port is no longer made.
I would really like to have my fridge restored and after feel safe about using it. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Anita
ahfracas@sbcglobal.net
26 Brian Walker // Sep 15, 2011 at 5:22 pm
I just bought a monitor top and I am looking to restore it. I have excess to all kinds of equipment to restore it as I am in the air force. My unit runs and has sulfer dioxide in it. My issue is with the wiring. It is dry rotted and I a liitle concerned. I am looking for diagrams and directions…if anyone can copy and/or scan some I would be greatful. I could use any help anyone has. I am not experianced with applianced. brianwalker@ymail.com
27 clay patterson // Sep 20, 2011 at 8:41 pm
i have a 1946 ge refrigerator that runs perfectly and quietly i would like to get the compressor rebuilt so it can run another 65 years plus. Does anyone know who could rebuild one. dons’nt seem like a difficult task seeing that car engines can be rebuilt.Dont know if refrigerators are the same way? thanks..
28 clay patterson // Sep 20, 2011 at 8:43 pm
my email address is claypatterson@hotmail.com
29 Larry Russell // Oct 26, 2011 at 8:46 am
I just bought a restored GE Monitor top and would like to know how to get information like the year it was made. I have the serial number from the information plate.
30 rick force // Nov 8, 2011 at 5:27 am
Hi all,
I have a 1934 CA-2-B15, with a 110v,50 cycles motor. I was told it ran/started and cooled fine before I moved it home (upright, not laying down). Well, all I get is a motor hum, wont start. I believe the heater is dead as I get infinity at the cord blades. I waiting for the manual to arrive, but thought I’d ask here to see if anyone has any suggestions on this. Also, will the 50 cycle motor run ok (assuming I can get it started) on a 60 cycles line? Thank you, Rick.
31 Bernard // Nov 27, 2011 at 10:26 am
I recently bought an old house as part of an estate and it came with an old GE Mount Top refrigerator that looks to be in very good shape..although I have not tried to plug it in. It includes a copy of the original warranty from 1936. I would be interested in selling it, but I’m not really sure what it is worth or how to go about selling it. Does anyone have advice? I have no experience with the world of vintage and antique items, so any tips on how to proceed would be appreciated.
32 Aaron // Dec 5, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Bernard where are you located. I am interested in picking one up
33 Cathy // Dec 16, 2011 at 7:11 pm
I too have an early 1930’s GE Globe Monitor top fridge. Anyone interested? Salinas/Monterey, CA
cnichols1964@gmail.com
thanks!
34 Austin // Dec 21, 2011 at 3:55 pm
I have a GE Globe top CG 1-a16. Looking to sell, located in CT, 06820. Looking for immediate sale and pickup. Pictures are available, asking price is $1000.
Globe Top: http://www.antiqueappliances.com/monitor_top_refrigerators.htm
Contact me via email.
35 Elaine // Jan 18, 2012 at 10:23 am
Hi,
I have an old monitor top ge refrigerator. I don’t know if it works because I don’t have a power cord. Where would I get one? It appears to be one of the earlier models as the coils on the top are not enclosed.
Thanks
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