“ZIL” refrigerators: brand history + secret of longevity

The USSR collapsed long ago, many factories modernized or completely replaced production lines that produced household appliances.But some engineering projects still surprise with their reliability, despite non-ideal operating conditions.

One such example is the ZIL refrigerator - a truly “indestructible” appliance that can still be found in the kitchens of our apartments or dachas. What is the secret of such longevity? Let's try to figure it out.

History of production of ZIL refrigerators

The starting point for the production of domestic compression refrigerators running on freon is considered to be the Decree of September 7, 1949, by order of which a design bureau was created at the Moscow plant named after J.V. Stalin.

It was here that drawings were developed and prepared for the manufacture of small 85-liter Saratov units and more capacious 165-liter ZiLs.

For the first time, the famous refrigerators rolled off the assembly line in April 1950, but since their “native” automobile manufacturing plant was named after Stalin, the logo of the devices consisted of the abbreviation “ZiS-Moscow”, and already in 1956, when the enterprise was renamed “ Plant named after Likhachev”, its products became the ZIL brand

The prototype for the first ZiS-Moscow refrigerator was a pre-war model produced in the USA. One of the “premiere” devices, by the way, was presented to Brezhnev and received high praise from him.

But in the difficult post-war times, people were not able to purchase expensive equipment - the plant initially had serious problems with sales, but after a couple of five-year plans, the queue for products was scheduled for many years in advance.

More than 5 million ZiLs were assembled at the Likhachev plant, but after the collapse of the Union, foreign manufacturers appeared on the market.

Domestic technology could not compete with them due to interruptions in financing new developments and incorrect marketing policies.

In order to stay afloat, management began to reduce the quality of products and “turn a blind eye” to various defects, which immediately affected consumer demand.

Today, on the territory of the former multi-kilometer industrial zone of the enterprise, only a few buildings remain, which have been reconstructed and turned into an auto center with showrooms

In 2016, the legendary Likhachev plant celebrated its centenary, but there is no talk of restoring its production capacity - most of the workshops were demolished for the construction of a new residential neighborhood.

Reasons for the popularity of ZiLovs

The main secret of the longevity of Soviet refrigerators is the high quality of all parts, from body materials to all components.

For a long time, these devices belonged to elite equipment, not accessible to everyone: a third of the produced volume of products was sent for export, the same amount was sold in Moscow, and the rest was sold according to orders for high ranks from various cities of the Union.

Advantages of ZIL refrigerators:

• stylish (for that time) appearance;
• high-quality assembly;
• thick-walled, strong body;
• durable, height-adjustable, non-absorbent, easy-to-clean shelves;
• loyalty to voltage drops in the network;
• easy disassembly and high maintainability.

Each product underwent strict quality control. Even a fully functional device could be rejected if there were only minor scratches or minor irregularities in the welded material of the body.

But at other factories producing refrigerators, such nuances were not considered defects.

High standards were applied to all details. There are known cases when entire cars with blanks were rejected, on which stains or deviations in surface color were found.

Components that did not pass inspection were redirected to other, less “fastidious” factories. Such a tough position was the main reason why the ZIL brand was for a long time considered the manufacturer of the most reliable refrigerators in the Union.

Design features of various models

At the Likhachev plant, several lines of ZiLs were created, each of which had its own undeniable advantages at that time.

Of course, there were some drawbacks, but in terms of service life, Soviet refrigerators are far behind modern appliances, and many of them still serve their owners faithfully. Let's take a closer look at the ZiL model range.

No. 1 – the first bird “ZiS” DH-2

The flagship of the enterprise was assembled at the plant from 1951 to 1960. The first “swallow” of the design bureau of the plant named after. Likhacheva had a small freezer with a volume of 8 liters, a stainless steel evaporator and a reliable steel condenser.

The body with rounded corners and streamlined shapes was made of welded steel 8 mm thick and protected from corrosion by a layer of silicate enamel. The characteristic “highlight” of the model is the massive handle, which could be used as a lock.

The volume of the first refrigerator DH-2 was 165 liters, but at the same time it had quite compact dimensions: its height was 133 cm with a width of 67 cm

But the plant’s “first pancake” also had significant shortcomings:

1. The normalized temperature was not maintained in the freezer (the device did not even reach the stated value of -6 °C in hot climates).
2. A huge amount of metal was used in production.
3. The unit itself was massive, heavy and took up a lot of space in the kitchen.
4. At that time, a volume of 165 liters was considered unreasonably large (consumer demand for 85 liter models was much higher).

But over time, when people appreciated the advantages of storing food in the refrigerator instead of a string bag outside the window, this disadvantage not only turned into an advantage, but also served as an impetus for the development of more capacious appliances.

Few such refrigerators were produced - about 50 thousand per year. And today this model is considered a rare piece of equipment.

There is a known case when in Kazakhstan it was possible to sell a unit for almost 1 million tenge, but this was more likely a happy accident than an adequate price for the device.

No. 2 – improved “ZIL-Moscow” KH-240

The second model of the plant named after. Likhachev was produced in 1960-1969, and production volumes increased significantly due to already high demand and the best advertising - positive consumer reviews.

Refrigerators in this line had a total volume of 240 liters, and the capacity of the low-temperature compartment increased to 29 liters.

Every year the company produced about 120 thousand ZiLov KH-240, and this model became the first Soviet refrigerator exported to other countries

In addition to increasing the usable volume, the modernized ZiL had 4 duralumin shelves for dishes of various sizes, illuminated and varnished.

There are also trays for eggs, a place to store butter and “nests” for bottles. A pull-out metal tray was installed at the bottom of the refrigerator for fresh vegetables/fruits and other chilled foods.

The temperature in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator was maintained through the operation of a thermostat with the ability to manually adjust the degree of cooling

In addition, the designers corrected many of the shortcomings of the previous model and increased the shelf life of provisions due to the temperature set for NTO at -10 degrees.

The doorway was covered with plastic overlays, and thin fiberglass was used as thermal insulation material.

Hermetic closure was ensured by an elastic rubber seal installed around the perimeter of the inner wall of the door and a trigger shutter.

No. 3 – rectangular “ZIL-62” KSh-240/26**

In the third ZiL model, the appearance of the unit has changed significantly. It turned out that despite the attractive rounded lines, the design of the device does not allow it to be compactly placed in small-sized Soviet kitchens.

Therefore, the shape of the body took on the appearance of a rectangle with clearly defined right angles.

Marking with two stars meant that in new models of ZIL-62 refrigerators the freezer compartment is capable of maintaining a temperature of -12 degrees

At the same time, the volume of the device remained the same - 240 liters, but the new models could be installed in one block with a kitchen set, and the upper surface could be used as a shelf (objects constantly fell from the previous sloping forms).

In addition, the rubber seal on the doors was replaced with a magnetic one, which is still used on almost all refrigerators today, and the width of the body was brought to the standard - 60 cm.

Disadvantages of ZIL-62:

1. Outdated model compressor, famous for its loud “sound” during operation.
2. Poor quality of thermal insulation, which did not allow a significant reduction in the thickness of the walls of the housing and led to the appearance of a snow “coat” on the freezer.
3. Shelves that made it difficult to store food in non-standard containers.
4. New “traumatic” handle design with sharp edges.

In addition, the developers were unable to eliminate the main production problems of previous versions - high metal consumption and labor-intensive manufacturing.

No. 4 – “transitional” version of “ZIL-63”

With the appearance on the Soviet market of the first two-door models “Minsk” and “Oka” with an auto-defrosting system and a volume increased to 300 liters, the demand for “ZiLs” fell sharply.

Therefore, the design bureau of the plant named after. Likhachev was instructed to create a project for a three-chamber refrigerator that could compete not only with domestic, but also foreign devices.

One of the prototypes of the three-chamber ZIL-65 with an electrical control system and a working volume of 600 liters, which never entered mass production

The design of new devices was developed together with specialized institutes, and to replace an outdated compressor, a license was purchased from the American brand Tecumsen.

But, as it turned out, the industrial capacity of the plant was not ready to implement the promising project - it “stalled” as soon as it became clear that it would be necessary to build a new workshop and purchase a production line for the then scarce currency.

Therefore, based on new developments, a model of increased comfort was released - “ZIL-63” KSh-260/26**, which was assembled at the plant until 1988.

And although the device was conceived as a transitional model before the launch of a fundamentally new refrigerator, high demand and excellent profitability indicators “delayed” its production for 12 years.

The management was satisfied with the high sales volumes, so promising developments were put aside.

In the ZIL-63 refrigerators, the “hanging handle” technology was first used, which could be installed for left- or right-hand opening

A compression refrigeration unit was installed in the Zil-63, and the compressor and an asynchronous electric motor with a starting winding were mounted on a spring suspension and hidden under a common casing.

Advantages of the new line:

• improved thermal insulation;
• noise reduction - the machine compartment of the device began to be covered with a sound-absorbing shield;
• shelves made of metal rods, comfortably adjustable in height in increments of 3 cm;
• increase in useful volume by 20 liters;
• the ability to “hang” the doors in a convenient direction;
• Lightweight removable handle of convenient length.

In addition, the device was supplemented with numerous comfort elements - a small shelf for small products, compartments for butter and cheese, a tray for 15 eggs, and a maximum door opening limiter of up to 105 degrees.

As well as adjustable rollers for transportation, a mold for making ice, a container with a glass lid for preserving fresh vegetables and fruits.

The disadvantages included the remaining manual defrosting, a reliable and durable, but outdated compressor, which was still manufactured at the plant itself.

But the persistent use of backward technologies and the cessation of continuous improvement of their product took away the “palm” from ZIL refrigerators.

You can get acquainted with modern two-door refrigerators in this article.

No. 5 – representative of the “transitional” line of “ZIL-64”

Since 1988, the modernized ZIL-64 KSh-260/30 models, which were produced until 2001, went on sale.

These refrigerators have proven to be long-lived. Moreover, even now at the dachas of some zealous owners you can find such an “old man” in working condition

These refrigerators already have an automatic defrosting function, improved polyurethane foam insulation and the ability to reduce the freezing temperature to -18 degrees.

The volume of NTO was increased to 30 dm³, it now has a dividing plastic shelf for rational placement of products.

Innovative cooling and auto-defrosting system with removal of melt water from the chamber in ZIL-64 refrigerators - an analogue of the modern NoFrost

But these devices were unable to compete with foreign manufacturers for a long time, so their production was stopped.

Despite their reliability and build quality, the “old” ZiLs also fail.

But even here they have a slight advantage over modern technology: the devices are easy to disassemble yourself, and consumable parts are inexpensive, although over the years there may be problems with purchasing them.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

For more information about famous refrigerators, watch our video collection.

History of the Soviet brand of refrigerators “ZIL”:

Replacing the thermostat for ZIL-64:

How to make a stylish rarity out of an old device - restoration of the ZIL body:

Despite their glorious history, the ZIL models are long outdated and cannot be compared with modern refrigerators in terms of capacity, quiet operation, or ease of defrosting.

But if you have such a rarity, do not rush to part with it - some workshops offer services for modernizing old devices and will be able to turn your ZIL into a stylish highlight that will decorate the interior of a cottage or apartment in a vintage style.

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