The big four major appliance manufacturers in the US are Whirlpool, Maytag, Frigidaire. On all major appliances, part of the serial number contains the date it was. Philco; Tappan; White-Westinghouse; White Consolidated Industries (WCI). Number is different than the manufacturer's, the code for the serial numbers is.

On all major appliances, part of the serial number contains the date it was manufactured.

Brands of the Big Four US Appliance Manufacturers

When I started doing expert witness work in the late 1990's, there were four major appliance manufacturers. Now there are only two:

In 2006, Whirlpool purchased Maytag.

In 2014, Electrolux purchased the appliance division of GE.

• Whirlpool
  • Kitchen Aid
  • Roper
  • SinkGuard
  • Estate
  • Inglis (Canada)
  • Norcold
  • Partners Plus
  • Conquest
  • Coolerator
  • Crystal Tips
  • Hampton Bay
  • Jordan
  • Sub-Zero

• Maytag
  • Admiral
  • Amana
  • Bravos
  • Caloric
  • Crosley
  • Glenwood
  • Hardwick
  • Imperial
  • Jenn-Air
  • Maycor
  • Magic Chief
  • Menumaster
  • Neptune
  • Litton
  • Modern Maid
  • Norge
  • Speed Queen
  • Sunray

• Electrolux
  • Frigidaire
  • Gibson
  • Kelvinator
  • Philco
  • Tappan
  • White-Westinghouse
  • White Consolidated Industries (WCI)

• General Electric
  • Hotpoint
  • RCA

Sears - Kenmore Brand

Because of my horrible experience ordering a part for an appliance from Sears Parts Direct , I do NOT recommend purchasing any Sears or Kenmore appliances.

Sears doesn't manufacture any appliances. The first three digits of the model number specifies the manufacturer. Although the Kenmore model number is different than the manufacturer's, the code for the serial numbers is the same as the manufacturer's.

• Whirlpool
  • 106
  • 110
  • 198
  • 562
  • 665
• Roper
  • 103
  • 155
  • 278*
  • 647
  • 835
  • 911

• Amana
  • 596
• Caloric
  • 174
  • 960
• Jenn-Air
  • 629
• Litton
  • 747
• Maycor
  • 925
• Speed Queen
  • 651

• Gibson
  • 253
• Kelvinator
  • 417
  • 662
  • 628
• Tappan
  • 791
• WCI
  • 790

• General Electric
  • 362
  • 363

• Design & Mfg.
  • 587
• Fedders
  • 484
• Toshiba
  • 562

This list is in numerical order and more comprehensive and detailed: Detailed Kenmore List

• Manufacturer Links

• Repair Links

Statute of Repose for Product Liability Lawsuits

I started doing forensic engineering work in the late 1990's. If I was looking at an appliance, on an insurance claim, the first question the adjuster had, was how old was the appliance. The insurance adjuster wanted to make sure that the appliance manufactured date was not past the 'Statue of Repose'. A Statute of Repose is similar to a Statute of Limitation. The appliance manufactures have lobbied state legislatures to pass laws that limit their responsibility for subrogation damages based on the age of an appliance. The manufacturer's argument is that if a product has lasted for ten years, then it is not defective in design, manufacturing or materials. Difference states have difference time limits, but ten years is the average. On the surface this sounds reasonable, but design defects often go undetected for a number of years. For example, in the 2014, there was class action lawsuit settlement against Electrolux for design defects in clothes dryers manufactured from 2002 through 2011. All states do not have Statue of Repose Laws. Two of states I do work in Mississippi and Louisiana do not have Product Liability Statute of Repose Laws, and the law passed by the Alabama Legislature has been found unconstitutional. The Statute of Repose for all 50 states are listed in the referenced tables:

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Below are samples of various styles and makes of refrigerators that were built between the 1920’s and 1950’s. These are a sample of the models and makes that we have for sale, but does not display our complete inventory. We’re constantly getting in more items, so if you’re looking for something specific, let us and know and we’ll check our storage stock to see if we have one. If not, we receive countless emails from folks all over the country, everyday, people who have taken possession of an appliance and don’t know what to do with it. Before sending it to scrap metal, then send us pictures to see if we’re interested in buying or if we have an interested buyer.

Full Restoration Included In Pricing

Our Unrestored Antique Refrigerators are not for sale “AS IS”. Once you purchase an Unrestored Antique Refrigerator from our unrestored inventory we restore it to your specs. Therefore, All Prices Include Full Restoration. Items marked “New” are new to our inventory only and have not yet been restored.

About Our Unrestored Antique Refrigerators

Our refrigerator inventory is a selection of various manufacturers and styles that covers a wide range of decades. Many are absolute works of art, as well as those that offer really cool features and practical functions. During our restoration process, we are modifying all original door closures and latch mechanisms so that the finished restored appliance meets USCPSC safety codes according to the Refrigerator Safety Act (Codified at 15 U.S.C. 1211-1214, under public law 84-930, 70 Stat. 953, August 2, 1956). As every manufacturer produced different door closure designs and even those varied from year to year and decade to decade, we take each refrigerator restoration on an individual basis to determine the most effective and safe method of modification for that particular refrigerator.

In most all post-WWII production models, we will be modifying from a closed latch mechanism to a magnetically sealed door that works with a custom made magnetic door gasket, or by fitting the cabinet to work with custom fitted “super magnets” around the doors perimeter. For models built before WWII, many of which used more of an “ice-box” style, exterior mounted latch, these units can be fitted with a push button, glow in the dark release button on the inside of the cabinet that pushes through to trip the exterior mounted handle. At Antique Appliances, we are dedicated to the safety of all our customers and their families, so we are taking this step in our restoration process to insure your restored vintage refrigerator is safe and functional for many years to come.

If you have questions regarding an antique, vintage or period refrigerator that you already own, please feel free to contact us directly by calling our office at 706-782-3132. Business hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 7:00AM to 5:00PM, Thursdays from 7:00AM to 4:00PM. Alternately, if you currently own an antique refrigerator and have questions, you can email pictures and questions regarding the appliance to: john@antiqueappliances.com

Have Something to Sell?

We do occasionally purchase vintage unrestored antique refrigerators . We are very selective. If you think you have an item that would be of interest to us, please send us two pictures of the item by e-mail to John (john@antiqueappliances.com). Photos should represent a full view of the front, one with the doors open and one with the doors closed. Please tell us your location so that we can appropriately consider our costs as related to purchasing your antique.