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old ice box

18 years ago

I have my mothers old ice box--this is before fridges- stored in my garage. I would like to do something with it but I'm not sure what--some kind of storage I think. Its the kind that was used to hold a block of ice. Any ideas would be appreciated. Mousey1004

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Comments (7)

wichitarick
18 years ago
hi
wow cool I do know these are quite collectable.
I grew up with my step moms mothers fridge in our house .
it had been converted into a bar.
she had wire shelves in it for storage and a butcher block
top put on it it was a focal pt. in our house .
saw one in a shop this summer that was being used as stereo cabinet with the stereo inside and the speakers placed on top that were painted the same color as the fridge . hope you get to use it . Rick
mousey1004
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you Rick, oh yes I'll use it, even if only to store stuff in the basement: but I would really like to give it a "unique look". Would it look stupid if instead of the old white enamel colour I spray painted it a bright colour or stencilled flowers on it?.
Please anyone, I need ideas, even crazy ones. Mousey
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Ohhhhhh my, you are sooooo lucky to still have the ice box. I agree that it would make a lovely display cabinet for collectables or what have you. Open the doors and tuck in some Christmas greenery with ole' time decorations and Santas and Snowmen, I bet that would look just gorgeous. Are you able to post a pic of it? May I ask, how do you decorate, modern, country? In the family room you could use it for newspapers or magazine storage. The same in your study. If you truly are going to get rid of it, may I suggest you check on eBay or antique sites for a price you could sell it for. If not there, take a pic of it with your digital camera and bring the camera to an antiques store in town to show them the pic and ask if they can give you an idea for a price. Then put an ad in the local paper. Is there a "historical society" in your town, or a group of folks who love this sort of thing. That is truly an antique and I bet you could get a pretty decent price for it. There is an "Antiques" forum on this, the Garden Web forums. Post a pic in that forum and ask if anyone might know anything about it. Sal
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the color comes more from simple age than the finish. It is one of those things that is very difficult to artificially duplicate. If your grandfather refinished it in the 50's, he probably used oil based varnish or possibly shellac. Both add an amber tone to whatever they are applied. To find out which finish it is, try wiping a small area(inconspicuous area) with a rag dampened in alcohol. If any of the finish comes off, it is shellac. You might get some oil/dirt on the first couple of swipes, so be prepared to do a third or fourth. Using paint thinner will not dissolve varnish, so is the alcohol does nothing but clean grime, the only other finish that might have been used back then would be lacquer---and lacquer thinner will dissolve old lacquer. The wood might be maple. By the way, you can buy latches and hinges like those on the piece, and most experienced wood workers/cabinet shops can make a door identical to those to replace the missing one on the bottom right---maybe $100 to $150 total cost. As far as refinishing, lightly sand all the surfaces and use a good oil based non poly varnish---but buy the varnish from a real paint store, not a home improvement store. Don't worry about getting the nooks and crannies, as leaving those as is emphasizes the old furniture look, which is really nice on that piece.
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pattico_gw
18 years ago
I was going to ask....if it was the metal or the old wooden one...

I see it must be a metal on if you spray painted it white enamel.

I'd love to see a before picture...When I was a little girl and my mother was alive we had a white metal non electric on and I remember the ice man coming to the house at least once a week....maybe twice.

It would bring back memories...I haven't seen one of those in many many many moons...

Usually it's the wood ones you see...even though they were the older ones.

patti
wichitarick
18 years ago
hi
well you know this might be one of those things that might be worth checking on more. like the true value of the pc.
because just painting it ruins that right off the bat.
but if not I was qouted as saying you olny live once "paint it pink" so if it feels good do it .
but all b.s aside the one area I do know about use good paint .
and you know they re enamel tubs pretty cheap maybe get it re enameled a good color it would be like new???
think about how mom would like it . oops I know how she liked it ........."electric"...lol. oops just came out . Rick
becky_jean
18 years ago
My mother & a cousin use theirs as a bar; cousin wall papered inside hers. I have used mine as a bar, storage for CD's & movies, in kitchen for casseroles & glasses, & is now in dining room in new house as storage for large platters, silver hollow ware, etc. All of ours are wooden, but don't think that matters as to use. If your's is the metal enameled one, as suggested above, might be worth taking to auto body shop & haveing them enamel paint it for you.
candicorne
18 years ago
I have an old wooden 3-door in my kitchen and use if for phone books, cookbooks and kitchen appliance warrantys. It is GREAT for those kinds of things you want handy in the kitchen.
ribber
18 years ago
We were lucky enough to find two of them. The wife wanted the small one and I wanted the big one. What do you do. We took the small one home and without the wife knowing I told the gentle to not let the big get away I`d be back. A couple weeks later our son came to visit and I loaded him up and we went to get icebox. I hid it out for awile and finally got the nerve to bring it home. That was about 16 years ago and a year ago we moved it to our son`s basement. The small will be here till we are gone then our youngest son gets it. They are both in real good shape.

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