Oldest Operational Air Conditioner
- CoalHeat
- Member
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
- Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
- Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
- Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
- Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert
Who has the oldest air conditioner that still functions?
Mine is a 1972 Philco 6000 BTU, weights in at a svelte 82 pounds.
Mine is a 1972 Philco 6000 BTU, weights in at a svelte 82 pounds.
- warminmn
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- Joined: Tue. Feb. 08, 2011 5:59 pm
- Location: Land of 11,842 lakes
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Junior, Efel Nestor Martin, Riteway 37
- Coal Size/Type: nut and stove anthracite, lignite
- Other Heating: Wood and wear a wool shirt
That is really neat! I could win most of these oldest thingies as I love old stuff but not an AC unit unless you count fans.
Gotta ask, how many years have you been using it? Does it say Ford Philco or just Philco? Ford owned the name at the time. There are an awful lot of old Philco fridges still working fine, pre Ford included. I see them at sales often.
Ive been thinking this year that I need an old window unit to match my other old crap but havent searched yet.
Gotta ask, how many years have you been using it? Does it say Ford Philco or just Philco? Ford owned the name at the time. There are an awful lot of old Philco fridges still working fine, pre Ford included. I see them at sales often.
Ive been thinking this year that I need an old window unit to match my other old crap but havent searched yet.
- CoalHeat
- Member
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
- Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
- Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
- Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
- Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert
I've been using it since it was new, it's moved everywhere with me. I did have to take it apart twice and make a washer to shim the blower motor, also to lube it, the fan was seizing up. Doesn't work very well on low speed anymore. These days it's in the window of the bedroom where I have my desk, only use it when I'm in here. It's a Philco-Ford.
I found there are videos on YouTube, there actually are people who collect old air conditioners. And I thought I collect some odd things.
I found there are videos on YouTube, there actually are people who collect old air conditioners. And I thought I collect some odd things.
- warminmn
- Member
- Posts: 8110
- Joined: Tue. Feb. 08, 2011 5:59 pm
- Location: Land of 11,842 lakes
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Junior, Efel Nestor Martin, Riteway 37
- Coal Size/Type: nut and stove anthracite, lignite
- Other Heating: Wood and wear a wool shirt
Wow, you got good use from it! There are people that collect anything. Check out facebook groups and there are some really crazy collector groups on there.
Where that was a common make, its possible you could find a NOS fan if you have the part number, or a good used one. Ebay or possibly Amazon or Etsy. If you know how to save the search you would get an email when one becomes available. Ive waited years but sooner or later parts show up. They may have used the part in fridges too. I think I waited at least 5 years for an antique gun stock that way.
Where that was a common make, its possible you could find a NOS fan if you have the part number, or a good used one. Ebay or possibly Amazon or Etsy. If you know how to save the search you would get an email when one becomes available. Ive waited years but sooner or later parts show up. They may have used the part in fridges too. I think I waited at least 5 years for an antique gun stock that way.
- lsayre
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- Joined: Wed. Nov. 23, 2005 9:17 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
We're at about 21 years living here, and the whole house AC unit that was here when we moved in is still going. No idea as to how old it actually is, but the house was built in 1964. I think we've used it more (so far) this summer than for any previous summer. This has been a hot one.
- CoalHeat
- Member
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
- Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
- Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
- Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
- Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert
Same here, I've used air conditioning more this year than as long as I have lived here. Usually the nights are cool enough that I can just ventilate the house, not so the past few weeks.
- EarthWindandFire
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- Posts: 1594
- Joined: Sat. Dec. 18, 2010 12:02 pm
- Location: Connecticut
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Leisure Line Lil' Heater.
- Other Heating: Oil Furnace and Kerosene Heaters.
The old low-pressure AC units will last decades. My neighbor's outdoor unit is 30 years old.
No old air conditioner here... I kind of wish I did so I could sell it to a collector!!
I do have a window exhaust fan in the workshop from at least 1960. It came from the parents house and Dad says they brought it up from Philly when they moved from there, that was in 1961. He thinks they got it in '57 or '58 when there was a real hot stretch and he was working nights and trying to sleep during the heat of the day. Couple drops of oil in the spring and fall is all I have ever done to it.
I do have a window exhaust fan in the workshop from at least 1960. It came from the parents house and Dad says they brought it up from Philly when they moved from there, that was in 1961. He thinks they got it in '57 or '58 when there was a real hot stretch and he was working nights and trying to sleep during the heat of the day. Couple drops of oil in the spring and fall is all I have ever done to it.
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- Location: Harrison, Tenn
- Other Heating: Wishing it was cold enough for coal here....not really
We had one (fan) that we put in the window in the upstairs bedroom....of course you cant imagine it being hot in Maine, especially coastal Maine...but late July and August can be hot and of course with all the water around it is humid...it was old even then and since I am remembering the mid 60's.....it had the oil ports on it and was ALL metal....hell, it is probably still in the house.....I will check next time I am in Maine.....lol.
Kevin
Kevin
- CoalHeat
- Member
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
- Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
- Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
- Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
- Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert
That is true Rob. The Philco spec label claims it uses 9.5 amps for 6,000 BTU, I do have a newer 12, 000 BTU unit that is supposed to draw 11 amps. I don't expect that one to last 50 years.