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Today β€” 26 January 2026Tech

Restoring a 1924 Frigidaire B-9 Refrigerator Back to Working Condition

26 January 2026 at 14:30

Before the refrigerator became a normal part of any kitchen, those with enough money to throw around could get an icebox, which used melting ice to cool food and drinks in a second compartment. As refrigerators became available for sale in the 1920s, this created somewhat awkward transition models, like the 1924 Frigidaire B-9 that [David Allen] recently got offered for a restoration. This was part of the restoration of a 1926 house, which foresaw putting this venerable unit back into operation.

As [David] explains, this refrigerator was still in use until about 1970 when it broke down, and repairs proved tricky. Clearly, the fault wasn’t that severe as [David] got it working again after a number of small repairs and a lot of maintenance. The running unit with its basic elements can be seen purring away in the completion video, with the journey to get there covered in a video series starting with the first episode.

What’s fascinating is that during this aforementioned transition period, the vapor compression electric cooling system was an optional extra, meaning that the basic layout is still that of an icebox. Correspondingly, instead of ice in the ice compartment, you find the low-side float evaporator, with the basement section containing the condensing unit, motor, and compressor. The temperature sensor is also a miracle of simplicity, using bellows that respond to the temperature and thus volume of the evaporator coolant, which trigger a switch that turns on the compressor.

Despite a hundred years having passed since this refrigerator was constructed, at its core it works exactly the same as the unit we have in our kitchens today, albeit with higher efficiency, more electronics, and with the sulfur dioxide refrigerant replaced with something less toxic to us humans.

Gemini in Google Calendar now helps you find the best meeting time for all attendees

26 January 2026 at 15:39

Google Calendar gets new Gemini-powered Suggested times feature to help users find the most optimal meeting time for all participants.

The post Gemini in Google Calendar now helps you find the best meeting time for all attendees appeared first on Digital Trends.

These Bose open-ear earbuds are $100 off, and they’re perfect if you hate feeling β€œplugged in”

26 January 2026 at 14:50

Some people love the sealed, noise-cancelling bubble. Others can’t stand it. If you want music or podcasts without losing awareness of what’s happening around you, open-ear earbuds are the sweet spot. The Bose Ultra Open-Ear true wireless earbuds are down to $199.00, saving you $100 off the $299.00 compared value. That’s a meaningful cut for […]

The post These Bose open-ear earbuds are $100 off, and they’re perfect if you hate feeling β€œplugged in” appeared first on Digital Trends.

My biggest smart home regret is not doing this from the start

26 January 2026 at 15:00

I only started creating a smart home last year, so nearly all of my devices communicate via Matter. For the most part, things have just worked. As I try out different smart home hubs and troubleshoot the occasional issue, there’s only one simple thing I wish I did from the beginning that would have saved me a lot of frustrationβ€”write down my Matter pairing codes.

Things you can 3D print at home (but shouldn't)

26 January 2026 at 14:30

Having a 3D printer is great! You can make just about anything you can imagine, as long as it's made from something that comes in the form of a filament. However, there are limits to what you should bring into the world from your imagination. For example, it's probably a bad idea to print any of these.

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