Posted 14 years ago
jeanworth7
(1 item)
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS SEEN ONE OF THESE BIG OLD WOODEN COCA-COLA ICE BOX CHESTS. I HAVE SEEN ONLY REPLICAS SOLD ON EBAY BUT NEVER AN ORIGINAL. I BOUGHT THIS FROM A GENTLEMAN WHO HAD TRIED TO HAVE IT APPRAISED BUT HE SAID BECAUSE IT WAS SO RARE, HE WAS UNABLE TO GET AN APPRAISAL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY COKE COLLECTORS THAT IT IS PROBABLY FROM THE 1940'S AND POSSIBLY FROM OUT WEST. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED, INCLUDING HISTORY AND ESTIMATED VALUE. THANKS!
Coca Cola didn't use the swoosh logo until the early 1970's. I think you may have a fantasy piece.
Yep looks like someone took apart coca-cola trays and pieced it together.
The cooler itself may very well be old, but the logo was definitely applied post 1970, probably around 1985-90 to be more exact, due to the silver bar with the stripe, and the design of the word coke. Disfruta is spanish for enjoy, and enjoy wasnt ised until 1970 either. Sorry jeanworth7 your cooler isnt worth anything as an original coca-cola collectible.
Ray, no.... I didn't... and to Lowspeed, Oilman & Earlycoke, thank you for your kind, professional and informative information.
Does anyone know if there are real coolers that look like this one but without the swoosh or the "enjoy"?
I think so, but Im not sure. Ray? Earlycoke?
My wife brought one home the other day just like yours except it does not have the shwoosh coca cola and the letters MR are included just after coca cola which is the Mexican equivalent of registerd trademark, so I think theu must be from Mexico. Yours is in a lot better shape than the one I am trying to restore.
Now that I have looked at yours closer I see that it also has the MR on it and the word disfrute, which is spanish for enjoy which means it is Mexican probably and who knows when they came up with their designs for the logo.
Ours does not have the swoosh or the enjoy or coke on it and it is a lot more faded than yours. I'll try to put a picture of it on this site.
Thanks Woody. I was bombarded by collectors and dealers who wanted to buy it. It's a really neat old piece and a lot bigger than it appears in these photos. I eventually sold it to an antique dealer who wanted it for their personal collection. They were actually going to use it filled with ice to hold drinks when they entertain. The size of this box was aprox 30" from floor to top 34" wide and 24" front to back. Much too large to be made from crates, as suggested by one of the above comments. It looked to be an original old rare piece to me. I feel that you are correct in saying it is Mexican in origin. It was/is a very neat old piece and the new owner was thrilled to get it! Good luck with yours.
i got mine from an uncle in mexico he had 2 boy working for the pepsi company they discontinued those type of iceboxes years ago he had his in hes corral for many years collecting dust until i ask for it we have had it for over 25 years and its a well insulated icebox.
Hey Jean. I know you sold this piece to antique dealer. Can you give me a ballpark figure on how much you sold it for. I just purchased one like this and curious about the history of it and the value of it.
Joe, I was asking $900 and was told $500 or $600 would probably be a fair price in this economy but was offered $300 and I took it. I've been told that was way too low, but I didn't have a place for it so I'm ok with that. Truth is, I imagine that dealer will make a good profit if they sell it. I know they were thrilled to get it for that price. Since no one seems to really know what value to place on them, it seems to be one of those items that's up to the seller & purchaser.
Thanks to all of you who contributed here.
Thanks for the information Jean. I really appreaciate it.
i haver the same coller and i also need iformatio ig you want to see it is here http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/45318-coca-cola-wood-cooler-antique-rare-and
Wooden coke ice chests are still handmade in mexico, i live on tx border and just bought one.
I would like to know when this was made and how much one would be worth today. I have access to one of these.