Well Readers, this is the weekend Score! Now before hoards of you leave me comments saying
"Its a hot and cold server you twit, not a cookie jar" let me just say I am aware! Haha. Michael over at Cul-de-Sac Shack first showed me one of these on our trip to Missouri last June. If I recall correctly he got his for $10.00 and I was sooooo envious. I nearly bought one while in Kansas during Christmas for $25.00 but I'm glad I held out, because the Thrift Gods sent this gem my way for the hefty price or
$2.42 !!!
("The Penguin Hot and Cold Server" named for its decorative design)
Let me tell you when I dived for this Patricia thought I was crazy, but I knew what it was. As soon as I laid eyes on it at Value Village I knew it was coming home with me, the price was just an added bonus! I don't knwo much about them, but i know they are a product of the 1950's and came in chrome and copper/bronze. At first it looked a little grungy, but as I found out while cleaning it was just a thin layer of hardened dirt. With a little scrubbing this thing almost looks brand new,
ITS SO SHINY the chrome plate doesn't have any pitting or rust marks and the Bakelite handles and knob aren't chipped. There are a few minor scratches, but other than that its perfect!
Aside from the last name "Owens" scrawled across the bottom, it says-
West Bend Penguin Hot & Cold Server
A Product of
West Bend Aluminum Co.
West bend, WIS U.S.A.
Patent No.
2,349,099
DES, 127,279
I read somewhere that this promises to keep ice cold for up to five house, and food warm for up to two hours.
So now my question to you Readers is, do you think this should be the "Ice Bucket" for the Bar? Or should it become the new "Cookie Jar" in the kitchen, replacing a ceramic "San Francisco" house cookie jar that my mother made long ago (that we religiously forget we have cookies in.) I'm pretty sure We'd never forget about the cookies if they were left in here! Either way it will provably end up on top of the Pyrex Cabinet on display with my other hot and cold warmer and "I Love Lucy" coffee percolator for a while...
Well What do you think?!
-Mick-
17 comments:
Mick I think you just found an awesome ice bucket/cookie jar and what a price. I would dive for this if seen in a thrift also!! Either way you use it, fabulous is all I can say! hugs, Lind
You got a STEAL of a deal. We just sold one on Etsy for $25. My vote is for cookie jar! I have a Hellerware ice bucket on my bar, so I use my West Bend Penguin on my kitchen counter to hold breakfast bars. Wow, I'm still blown away that you got one in such good shape for pennies! Way to go, Mick!
I vote Ice Bucket!
Whatever you use it for, it is beautiful. So shiny!
HILARIOUS. I have one with wooden handles and the tale begins in a Goodwill probably 8 years ago. I saw one for $5, couldn't think what to do with it, left it behind and ALWAYS regretted it. Didn't come across one again for a few years till I saw it in antique stores for $45...then at the flea market for $25. By this time I had decided I *needed* one...but $25 was steep. So July 2 or 3 years ago, my friend and I were on our way to a car show, I saw garage sale signs and made her go to it. We pulled up across the road and I scanned the tables while in the car...saw what looked like...a penguin bucket!! I booted it out of the car (in my big poofy crinolione and curls), flew up the lawn and scooped the ice bucket right up with a shout. The people thought I was absolutely BONKERS. But....I got the bucket for $5 after all!
awesome score Mick!! I've bought and sold a few of these, they go for about $125 here in EC. I'd definitely keep it as an ice bucket :)
I've got 2 1/2 of those... I gave $6 for the copper color one at an auction. I think I gave $4 for my chrome one, and the 1/2 is a base that I picked up at a junk store for $1. Since it has no lid, I think it will probably end up with a flower pot in it!
That ice bucket brings back memories. When I was a kid everyone's parents had one of these. In fact, I think that we have one sitting at home under the bar right now! Love the those little penguins.
That's funny that you have one of these! I have one and so do several friends. Now I see them everywhere! Who knew there were so many penguin buckets made?!
This is the second time in the past couple of weeks that I've seen a penguin bucket in a blog. Pam featured a kitchen that has one sitting on top of the fridge:
http://retrorenovation.com/2012/01/17/jon-trixi-create-a-1970s-avocado-kitchen-with-rust-oleum-cabinet-transformations/
The shape and the black accents make them look like fat little penguins. I saw one recently at an antique mall but barely gave it a glance because it was in the $30 range. As far as its use, what do you use more of, ice or cookies?
I just like the word cookies. But, that is a great find, so whatever is practical for you. I put cookies in everything...
Great blog, by the way!
Tracie
crackyouwhip.blogspot.com
I'm liking it as an ice bucket personally, but the cookies could work too!
Amazing deal for Value Village! Mine barely has anything priced under five bucks these days.
These are all over Wisconsin rummage sales for 75 cents or so. There are others that look almost exactly the same that are bun holders.
Suhweet!! Does anyone (besides retro and vintage enthusiasts) use them anymore? I always put one out at any party or function I host. Superb find!!
What a cool find!!!! Everytime I find some pyrex now-I think of you!
I have one of these, it belonged to my grandparents. I thought it was lost to the winds of time until yesterday when my new fridge was delivered, I had the opportunity to clean out the stupid cabinet above the fridge (can't get to it with a fridge in there!). Someone put it up in that cabinet 14 yrs ago when we moved in! Interestingly, they work great for hot and cold uses, Gram used it for both! She also used it for chocolate sauce, and a for a lemon curd for parties, kept the choco warm and flowing, and the curd nice and cold. I think it would also make a great cookie jar! Enjoy it - I have enjoyed this one my entire life, save for the last 14 years it's been on hiatus!
Use it for the purpose it was originally made......and put it on your bar as an ice bucket. It's vintage and could become the center piece of a new theme for your entire bar
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