Posted 12 years ago
StevDeb
(2 items)
Hi All
I'm working on this ice chest. ( not electric, ice only ) There are no tags , plates, numbers ect. With my limited knowledge I think it is a Kelvinator,
and I only say that because of the shape of the bottle opener bezel opening and the fact that I'm in Canada. ( Kelvinator produced a bunch at it's Toronto plant ) It has this very odd embossed design on the front, under the drink coca cola ? I can not find this design on any other chest or anything coke, and I have looked everywhere . I'm trying to get a model number for replacement parts doors , bezel , tub and to try and put a date to her. I have tried all the normal websites but without a model number I'm finding it very tricky. I have seen the fe- 51's and 52'' but they do not have this logo , and my chest shows no signs of ever having the fancy chrome bumpers . So , long story long , if anyone has ran into this chest or has knowledge of it or knows what this odd logo is could you please post and let me know.
Any help would be awesome !
Thanks
Steve
Very nice cooler, I would have guessed it to be a Westinghouse "junior", but only a guess, I have'nt seen that logo on one either. Parts and more info would be available at http://www.fun-tronicsllc.com/
hope this helps.
It could be that the odd embossed design is a guide for hand application of the chrome bumpers during the manufacturing process. Position looks right. In other words, the worker would use center circle as starting point for the front chrome medallion and then align the chrome bumper pieces based on the embossed lines, working their way around the base. Maybe no indication of bumpers being applied because they are secured with sticky tape or glue, not screws. Check out this link, touch on the image to access some back and forth amongs collectors about the piece, might help.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.collectorsweekly.com/assets/stories/oiliZoDl2QkcswvLkFXuRw.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/29866-help-with-vintage-coca-cola-cooler&h=900&w=1200&sz=381&tbnid=hIE6u3qFaOWtWM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=125&zoom=1&usg=__rezy_booSxhRjXAEybj2vnjFUjQ=&docid=438rpEQsXK_RWM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CXs6Ud2MJsTD0gGsv4GwBg&ved=0CD0Q9QEwBA&dur=1086
Picked up the wrong link, try this one:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76940
Hi All
Thanks for the input so far. In response to TGBWC's question. Yes I have just started to work on the chest, it had to be taken down to the metal and re sprayed. The lettering will be getting done in white soon. One of the things delaying that, was what to do with that lower design. Paint it white or just leave it the way it is.
In response to pickrknows comment, thanks , I did kinda look at the Westinghouse at first but found that they all seem to have ICE COLD embossed on them some ware and mine does not. Also none seem to match the hole for the small door nob or the strange shape of the bottle opener. I have checked out the fun- tronicsllc site but nothing comes up that matches, with the exception of the fe51's Thanks for the post. She will look herself again :-)
In response to Daddy_Nobucks Thanks, I had not thought of it possibly being something to center a chrome bumper with. The fact that it was right ware the chrome would go was one of the reasons that I thought it never had chrome. Thought it would be in the way of it. Very interesting point. Now the thing is this is not electric no motor or compressor and the tub, is all rusted out but shows no signs of ever holding any type of coils. It may be that someone before me had modified it. Not sure. Thanks for the link and the post. It looks like I need to get a look at one of the fe - 51's up close and personal.
Thanks for all the help.
Cheers !
Steve
Any sheet-metal shop can fab-up a new galv. tub for a few$$.
Hey pickrknows
Ya, that is defiantly an option. I do still have the old rusted out one for the specs .
It's really just wanting to get the history of it and try and make her look as original as possible .Door handles,bottle opener, that type of stuff. In the end it's just going to be a glorified beer chiller. BUT ! The best looking glorified beer chiller on the street ! :-)
Antique Vending says they have replacement doors and tub.
Oh, here is the link.
http://gallery.antiquevending.com/ingolds.htm
Hey Ssmoothie1 thanks for the link.
It's funny, I sent them a few pics and a parts request earlier today but have not heard back yet. It's Sunday so they may be closed. Hope to hear back sometime soon. I do have the doors being fabed up for me but could use original handles, knob, opener and bottle bezel.
Thanks again Ssmoothie1 !
Steve
Steve, No problem, let me know if they get back to you and what they have available. I have never order from them but I am curious if they have handles and other parts.
Clay
UPDATE.
Just to follow up a bit on what I have found on my quest to identify this ice chest. Over the weekend. I contacted a restorer with two Kelvinators Fe - 51s in my area, so ROAD TRIP ! went to take a look. They are the ones with the chrome around them. They are much larger than the one that I am restoring. Length alone by about two feet. As far as being able to salvage any parts other than the bezel would not have worked, and would have made no sence for him to take it off and sell.
He did give us some good info. and not so good info. Good first, it is defiantly a Kelvinator, and has never been electric, and as far as a size category it would be considered a Juinior Ice Chest. The bad news getting parts is going to be a nightmare. As he deals in restoration, his experience has been that because this was produced in Canada parts are scarce. Not a wasted trip, managed to get an up close look at the chrome, it is attached with screws and no sign of an emboss design on this model. Nice guy and does really nice work so a little shout out for him, this is a link to his website http://vintagegaspumpsontario.weebly.com
Any how, the search goes on. SSmoothie1 I have not herd back yet about replacement parts from antiquevending but I will post it if and when I do.
Well the beat goes on.
Cheers
Steve
Just wanted to post a pick of the chest completed in this post. Still a big mystery but I'm finding that that is half the fun.
Cheers !
I just picked up the exact machine in northern Ontario. Have been trying to find an example everywhere until I saw yours. Mine needs the bezel around the bottle opener. Where did you find your replacement? Great restoration, by the way.
Hey Rjtao
Thanks. First, to answer your question we had to make a bezel for ours. We modled it off of pictures of the Kelvinator FE 51. This is the only other chest out there ( that we could find ) that had the same shaped bezel and screw hole placement. I could not find any replacement parts for the 51 either. We did go and see a couple of 51's that were for sale in the Niagera region but the bezel and opener would have been the only part usable. The FE 51 is a much larger machine. Made it too costly.
Question for ya Rjtao, Is there any type of manufacturing ID tag or serial number on the chest you are working on ? If there is could you send a pic of it or just send me the numbers. I have been trying to identify this one to try and date it. Any info. would be great ! Also send some , or post some pics of yours if you get a chance so I can see what you are working with, I'd love to see another one in its original state.
Thanks again RJ
Cheers !
hey i have just picked up a ice chest like the one u restored great job by the way and i was just wondering if you found out anymore about yours?
Hi generalleeo1
Congrats on your new chest, and thanks for the comment. We have still not been able to find another one like it or any info. Without the manufacturing tag it makes it kind of difficult to research. It's more of a visual search. We still believe its a Kelvinator because of the shape of the bezel. From our search they are the only company who produced them with the teardrop shape.
Are you restoring yours ? Or keeping it origonal ? Would like to see some pics.
Thanks again
Cheers !
ya i am planning on restoring it cant wait to have it looking like yours i only got the one pic of it will take more later sorry for the late response has been busy i you give me your email i will send you pictures of my cooler in its current condition
I think I have a color picture of it in a brochure called, “ Know your Kalvinator equipped cooler for Coca-Cola” 1938-39. As another person says, the strange embossing is for the chrome bumper. This was called a Beverage Cooler . And yes, made by Kelvinator