westend wrote:
I would contact a local appliance repair shop to see if someone can help with the replacement. Who knows, they may have a failed cooling unit with a good thermostat.
Yes. Some shops even specialize in fixing older appliances :). Someone like that would probably get a kick out of consulting on your project!
I also think the timer circuit is not a terrible idea. Or (this is what I would do because I am cheap and also paranoid about antique wiring) just run the fridge during the day and unplug it at night. It will stay cold.
BTW, the best way to determine the temp of a fridge is to put your thermometer in a glass of water, in the fridge, for many hours or overnight. Fridges often take 12-24 hours to stabilise at a new temperature after you adjust the setting. Anyway this is what my appliance guy told me.
