Fallingwater Friday: Frozen in Time

On Monday, May 24, Fallingwater's restored refrigerator returned to the kitchen. Late last autumn, when Electrolux Home Products (EHP), the parent company of Frigidaire, learned of the fridge's compromised condition after over 50 years of hard labor, they generously stepped in and donated a complete refurbishment. The Frigidaire Cycla-Matic CT150 dates to 1952, and is a model with unique details, such as frozen juice holders, serving trays in the door, and built-in compartments to store leftovers.

Dr. Mark Newell of EHP organized the search and rescue operation. He started by contacting Ed Ebersole, of Ebersole Appliance in Elizabethtown, PA, Frigidaire's oldest active servicer. Ed took delivery of Fallingwater's fridge this winter and began the painstaking process of determining exactly what would be needed for repair. In the business since 1945, he has almost 60 years of experience.

 "The most obvious defects were cosmetic, the left handle of the unit was missing, there was damage to the escutcheon plates, and the paint finish needed restoration. Trays and their covers were also missing from inside the refrigerator and three of the four shelves were broken," said Ed.

To keep the Frigidaire's "new" look compatible with the rest of the appliance rather than looking brand new, the search was on for parts from other Cycla-Matic models from the era. This quest led us around the nation, with successful matches found in Rochester, NY, and Florida. Ed restored both front doors and they now each have working handles and escutcheons that date to the original production period. The interior's missing parts have been found and installed.

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