D_Mac 8,593 #1 Posted July 2, 2020 I picked this up today. Even though my garage is jammed pack full of tractors I cant pass up a good deal when I see one. 1930's to mid 40's Coca-Cola Cooler. It isnt refrigerated so it makes refinishing it all the easier. I have done a few antique Ice Boxes in the past, this shouldnt be any different. Someone along the way painted it orange, maybe they liked Sunkist, or Orange Crush. It is in great shape otherwise. Missing the bottle cap catcher. See if I can get one, or have my friend make one. I will keep you all posted on the progress. The lettering is the only thing that worries me. I will have to do some research. 5 8 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,271 #3 Posted July 2, 2020 Super cool piece. You may want to experiment with the orange to see if it will come off with chemical and save the red. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,022 #4 Posted July 2, 2020 That had a refrigerated unit on the bottom I believe. A cold plate against the bottom of the bin kept the water cold. The gas station across the street growing up had one of those out front. I'd buy a bottle on a hot day and bring a cup with me. I would scoop a cup of water out and pour it over my head! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 8,593 #5 Posted July 2, 2020 I did a little research on it last night. I guess it is a Westinghouse Standard Ice Cooler. The early ones like this one didnt have an ID tag on them. Some of the later ones had a stamp on the lid. Mine has no stamp. The later ones 1939 and after had the word " drink" higher above the words Coca Cola. 1935-1938 had the word "Drink" even with the top of the letter, as mine does. So this makes mine a 1935 to 1938 Westinghouse Standard Ice Cooler. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 8,593 #6 Posted July 2, 2020 5 minutes ago, squonk said: That had a refrigerated unit on the bottom I believe. A cold plate against the bottom of the bin kept the water cold. The gas station across the street growing up had one of those out front. I'd buy a bottle on a hot day and bring a cup with me. I would scoop a cup of water out and pour it over my head! They made the Water cooled ones and the Ice ones. Mine is an Ice cooled. Going to go out there soon and see what I can do to mess it up. I will try my hardest !!! I even have some old wooden Coca Cola crates to go on the shelves under it when I am done. Dont know where I am going to put it but lets worry about that later. I have had a few other Coke coolers in the past. Heres a few. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,022 #7 Posted July 2, 2020 The one I grew up with was just like yours but it was plugged in. No ice. I'm sure it was a much later version. It had the 2 door lid and nothing but water inside. I know it was electric because the fan always rattled. I'm thinking maybe it was built in the 50's. It looked the one pictured on the left. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,776 #8 Posted July 2, 2020 You guys probably already know this but collecting vintage Coke stuff is big business. They got their own clubs, forums, secret hand shakes you name it, the whole nine yards. The way they go at it makes us red collectors look like a bunch of pansies. Once at a tractor show flea market I saw two guys almost going to fisticuffs over a piece I woulda passed on as junk. Course a couple a rows down a guy had some horse stuff.... 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,022 #9 Posted July 2, 2020 The IH collectors seem to have a "tude" around my neck of the woods! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,271 #10 Posted July 2, 2020 20 minutes ago, squonk said: The IH collectors seem to have a "tude" around my neck of the woods! That and silly pricing is what got me into Wheelhorse in the first place and I haven't looked back since. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 8,593 #11 Posted July 2, 2020 Im not a Coke collector, I just collect neat old stuff. Plus I will buy anything that I think is a good deal. That explains why I have no more room for anything. I am going to try and rush to get this done. Its my mothers 80th birthday coming up. Even though her Bday isnt until the end of the month, we are having a picnic for her on Monday. Her sister is here from out of state so we are having it early. I would like to have this done by Monday. See if I can make it happen. I just finished sanding it I am off to the hardware store for paint and supplies. Going to get it in primer today. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bc.gold 3,403 #12 Posted July 2, 2020 (edited) This old pop cooler is less than 3 minutes from my home, old farm house is surrounded by caraganna a very invasive species brought over with the homesteaders used as a wind break. Refrigeration unit would more than likely had an induction repulsion motor and used sulphur dioxide as the refrigerant.. Edited July 3, 2020 by bcgold 5 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 8,593 #13 Posted July 2, 2020 Got it in primer and started brushing on some paint on the bottom. Way to hot out. Sweat pouring down my face burning my eyes had to call it quits for a little while. 5 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 8,593 #14 Posted July 3, 2020 Well upon further investigation it appears it is not a Westinghouse. It is a 1937 Cavalier. I saw the stamp on the inside of the chest. You can see it on the photo above. Bottom right corner.... T-37-6. T = Cavalier. 37 = 1937. 6 = June. Got it all painted today except for the lettering. See how steady my hand is tomorrow. 5 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,776 #15 Posted July 3, 2020 Check out that compressor in BC's pic Mike @squonk How'd you like to have to resto that! R-12 I bet! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,022 #16 Posted July 3, 2020 12 minutes ago, WHX24 said: Check out that compressor in BC's pic Mike @squonk How'd you like to have to resto that! R-12 I bet! 12 or 502! We had a big ol wooden freezer in our barn when I was a kid. Hadn’t run in years. I was about 10 when I tore into that compressor. Boy did it stink! Sulphur Dioxide! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 8,593 #18 Posted July 3, 2020 Well, let me just say it hasnt been the best weather to be painting on the driveway with no shade. I got it done though. I learned that I dont have a steady hand or very good eyesight to be trying to paint the lettering by hand. It looks good at 10 feet but looks a mess close up. The more I try and fix it the worse it gets. The added bonus was there is lettering on all 4 sides !! Going to get some weather stripping to put under the lid and need to replace the bottle opener yet. Much harder then it looks trying to paint the lettering. I wont ever try that again. Next time I will look for vinyl lettering. So hot out there .... I need a Pepsi 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 8,593 #19 Posted July 4, 2020 Tomorrow I will spray it with clear, inside and out. I need to look for some weather stripping for under the lids. I found a Coca Cola bottle opener I had and put that on. Needs the cap catcher, there is one on Ebay for 220 bucks !!! I am thinking I am just going to use a tin can. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 9,681 #20 Posted July 4, 2020 Well @D_Mac I have one just like it. This one was in my Dads Airport Hanger when he started the LaGrange Airport on our farm in 1949. It's original with just a buff and wax of the red. I did clean and clear coat the inside of the cooler. This is the bottomside of the lid, still in amazing color/shape. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 8,593 #21 Posted July 4, 2020 @oliver2-44 Pretty cool, they have the same stamp on the inside T-37-6. My lid is different, I dont have lettering on mine. We both are missing the cup to catch the bottle caps. Yours looks great, keep it original. Someone painted mine orange so I had to paint it., otherwise I love the old original look. Does yours have a rubber seal around the lid? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 9,681 #22 Posted July 4, 2020 (edited) @D_Mac Yes, mine has a rubber seal around the lid. Amazing that they were made in the same year and month, what the odds. Edited July 4, 2020 by oliver2-44 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bc.gold 3,403 #23 Posted July 4, 2020 (edited) 12 hours ago, D_Mac said: @oliver2-44 Pretty cool, they have the same stamp on the inside T-37-6. My lid is different, I dont have lettering on mine. We both are missing the cup to catch the bottle caps. Yours looks great, keep it original. Someone painted mine orange so I had to paint it., otherwise I love the old original look. Does yours have a rubber seal around the lid? The gasket profiles below are most commonly used to refurbish the seal on the ice box used on vintage sail boats and for this reason is still available. Your Coka Cola ice box cooler probably used one of these styles which are available here. Edited July 4, 2020 by bcgold Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 8,593 #24 Posted July 4, 2020 (edited) Well I went to the hardware store this AM to try and find some sort of rubber seal for the lid. I picked up some window seal. Not the best but it will do for now and it was cheap. Going to bring the cooler to my mothers picnic on Monday. After the picnic I will look for something better.The holes were already there to screw it down. I put a new bottle opener I had on it as the one it came with was broken and I made a cap catcher out of a plastic paint tray and painted it " chrome ". Works for now. Now I am going to get a few cases of Coke to put it in. Came out OK. I wish it was all original like yours @oliver2-44 . @bcgold I will look for better gasket after the party. I needed it done in a hurry so this works for now. Edited July 4, 2020 by D_Mac 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 8,593 #25 Posted July 4, 2020 (edited) Edited July 4, 2020 by D_Mac Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
