Need help with Marvel Refrigerator

[Erin and Roger Dulin]

Hello, We are refurbishing our 1955 Cree Coach only to discover that our Marvel refrigerator runs but does not cool. Our local RV sales and service department tells us that it needs a new compressor.  However, they can't find one for it.  We have tried all the appliance places around here to no avail.  What are our options?  We want to keep the camper as original as possible.  Erin & Roger D.

[VK Lee]

Try RV salvage yards and pickers to find another compressor. You might have to buy the whole refrigerator to get a working compressor. They are out there-just difficult to find.

Another option is to use the old Marvel door to cover a new refrigerator. The old door could be mounted on a piece of plywood and used to hide the replacement.   VK

[Erin and Roger Dulin]

Thanks, We have thought of doing all of the above.  Junk yards are great! Once we tore down a junked Shasta...for $20.00 we loaded down our long bed truck!  There was hardly anything left of it when we pulled off the lot.  We are still using those parts and that was four years ago...LOL   Erin

[Tony durfey]

Hi,

  One of the things I do is work on freezers, big ones and build them.  Depending on if you want a two voltage or single voltage.  Single is much easier/cheaper.  You should be able to find a like size compressor, then have a reefer person put in,  vac the system and charge it.  The compressor just does what it does.  As long as it's close to the right size it will work.  You should be able to find a compressor online for about a hundred bucks.  And any new compressor that size should take 134a freon available at napa.  Should you ever need more.  I would call around to reefer repair shops and check maintenance folks at plants that have reefer equipment.  Maybe they want a little fun side job.  Think outside the RV box.  Hope this helps. Feel free to contact me if you have ???s  Fair winds, Tony, Joy and Cool Paw Luke.

[Irene Sheppard]

I, too, have a Marvel fridge.  It's in my '57 Kenskill and works great when the trailer is plugged into an outlet.  It falls short (and wet) when used as an ice box.  Does anyone know if these old refers can be run off the trailer batteries?  I have recently had  a converter/charger installed...can't say I am electrically saavy, as I generally just follow my mechanic's advice (it's nice to trust your mechanic...).