This is COOL!...wait...but it is!

I know, I know...lame lol~  But, this is pretty cool...no really it's well, I don't know what it is..SWELL!  It's SWELL! That's what it is! :)

This is an ice chest from the 1930's I believe.  If you have more information, I would truly appreciate you sharing it with me!  The original brass tag is still intact on the front and graces the name "WARD".  Yes, there is a tag on the back too, but I forgot to take a quick pic!  I'll have to get back to ya on that one!

I picked this HEAVY, but very cool, swell freezer from a tag sale this weekend.  The paint may be worn, the insides dusty, and the copper pipes a little corroded, but it is just a piece of history and nostalgia I can't seem to stop ooooohhh-ing and aaaahhh-ing over!

The closures and hinges are in amazing condition!  They probably weigh 3 lbs each!  Which only adds to the charm of the piece to me.  And yes, again with that original tag!  Not to sound like my grandparents..but they really don't make things like they used to!

Oh! And when was the last time you cautiously popped your discerning nose in a used freezer/refrigerator and were pleasantly surprised to find...NO SMELL?!!  Yep!  Not even a note of must...Dust on the other hand...plenty of that!  Good ol soap and water took care of that though.

To my surprise, it even has the original shelves!  2 of them!  Not quite sure about the top compartment where the ice would sit.  But it's still a very swell piece.  From what Mr. Cottage and I gathered, the ice block would sit in the top compartment on a rack system.  Below the rack is a drain pipe (as seen in the back of the bottom compartment).  As the ice would melt, the water would flow down the pipe and out of the ice chest.  Simple engineering that still works today. :)

Mr. Cottage doesn't get into the whole "antique" idea very often...but even he is loving this one!

It's temporary home is in the shop so stop by and come take a peak!  Over the last few days, I picked up 3 truck loads of new treasures!  Several of my finds are making their way into the shop piece by piece for our Grand Opening this weekend!  Stop by and say hello!  I would love to meet ya!
Until next time~
Christie

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