How Old Is a Fridge That Has All Steel Back on Its Back?

Classic Refrigerator Models

• A refrigerator with an all-steel back could be a Monitor Top appliance. First manufactured by General Electric in 1927, this unit was widely considered the first "affordable" refrigerator for the everyday family, according to Antique Appliances, an appliance restoration company. The Monitor Top refrigerator retailed for $300 in the late 1920s and featured a large, squat cylinder on top housing the unit's coolant. General Electric manufactured the refrigerator in single-, double- and triple-door varieties. At the time of publication, hundreds of vintage Monitor Top units were still in service due to their high-quality craftsmanship.

Restoring Antique Refrigerators

• Antique appliances, including refrigerators, can fetch high prices if dealers take the time to restore the units using safer cooling chemicals and modern parts. Without restoration or clear working condition, the worth of vintage refrigerators can be in the hundreds of dollars, according to the Appliance Parts website. Restored and fully functional vintage units can sell for thousands of dollars. For example, a completely restored GE Monitor Top refrigerator can sell for between $3,400 and $4,200. Rare versions of the model, including two- and three-door varieties, can sell for even more.

Modern Vintage Styles

• Modern refrigerator manufacturers may produce appliances that have the look and feel of earlier models but use updated production techniques. For example, Nostalgia Electrics builds refrigerators in the style of the 1950s with modern mechanical components and money-back guarantees. Refrigerators made in the style of earlier periods may have all-steel backs, but manufacturers usually incorporate stainless steel over carbon or alloy steels. Using stainless steel helps manufacturers save on production costs and keeps the total weight of refrigerators manageable. Lower overall weight also makes maneuvering these units through homes easier.

Modern Refrigerator Units

• Finding appliances with steel backs, including refrigerators, doesn't necessarily mean the models come from different time periods or feature outdated manufacturing techniques. Some refrigerator manufacturers produce appliance models with stainless steel plating wrapping all four unit sides. These models are more for business use than home use. Refrigerators with external piping along the back of units to carry coolant are less likely to have steel backs because of the heat generated during operation.