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Posted about my thermostat earlier and ordered a replacement.

I disconnected my existing thermostat and wanted to see if I still had a problem with it disconnected. When it was connected and I turned the temperature control knob to off and then back on sometimes I would hear several "clicks" before the compressor would come back on.  Along with these clicks I would hear the compressor make some noises (think of when you start a lawn mower before the engine kicks on).

I figured it was just the thermostat, but yesterday I decided to test that theory by just touching the two black wires together.  Sometimes it started right up other times it clicked a bunch and finally started up.

I understand this thing is 50 years old, but i'd like to be proactive rather than reactive. Is there something I can/should replace?

your compressor is old & struggling to start, the clicking you hear is the overload device on the compressor itself turning the compressor on & off in an attempt to start it.  You can try a 3-in1 starter/booster & see if that helps, but if the compressor is really starting to go, it may not.   

search the refrigeration main topics for "3-in-1" as this has been covered before on many occasions

Thanks for the insight johnieG.

Ive been tinkering around a bit this morning with it and noticed something interesting.  If I touch the two wires together it'll turn on. If I let the compressor run for a minute or so then turn it off and let it rest for a minute or two and then turn it back on, no problems with starting up.

When I had initially tested it I must not have given the compressor enough time to rest before turning it back on?  Does that make sense and/or provide some sort of information regarding the health of my compressor?

Yes, if you try to turn a compressor on & off quickly it will stall due to the high pressure it has built up.