Here is a picture of a nice assortment of picnic coolers we had restored. Starting from the front we have an Acton Low Boy, Acton Junior and a Cavalier Airline cooler. Also on the floor is a Progress A1 in Squirt and Dr. Pepper and two Hemp coolers—the 9022 “tool box” and the 925.
Lined up behind on reproduction coolerette stands are Progress A1’s in 7UP, Royal Crown Cola, Pepsi Cola, Grapette and a custom Chevrolet. There is also an Acton Coca-Cola cooler.
Picnic coolers are fun to collect. Whether you collect them in original condition or buy them to restore there are hundreds of brands and models to be had so you can always be on the hunt for the next great find.
20 responses so far ↓
1 Lisa // Aug 29, 2009 at 10:40 pm
has anyone seen a cooler that looks like a coca cola can and on the top it looks like a pull tab and if you open it up it will hold 6 cans and i think its a place for ice. it is metal. I can’t find it anywhere on the internet.
2 Alle Kee // May 5, 2010 at 11:56 am
Needing some information. I came across an old picnic cooler at a garage sale this past weekend and can’t seem to find anthing out about it. It is round bucket shaped red metal cooler.
It is called a “Blizzard Bucket” Picnic Cooler.
Built by Sterling MFG. CO. Inc out of Wichita, Kansas. This is all I have to identify it. Don’t know how old it is or anything.
3 vintagevending // May 5, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Alle,
It looks like your cooler was made in the 50s. I will email you a link to one that sold in 2008.
4 Robin Laird // May 12, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Vintagevending & Alle Kee,
We just found a “Blizzard Bucket” Picnic Cooler built by Sterling MFG. Co. INC out of Wichita Ks also… I was wanting info also on this find… My late father in law never threw out anything and we are going through all his old things. Any info you can give us would be helpful.
Thanks So much!
Robin Laird
5 vintagevending // May 14, 2010 at 10:44 am
Robin,
This is the only info I could find, and here is the link to one that sold in 2008. http://www.purplewave.com/cgi-bin/mnlist.cgi?080325A/1019
6 Ro // Jun 6, 2010 at 12:19 am
Anyone ever seen a vintage Pepsi cooler (similar to the one on the back row) that is a lighter blue w/ red single dot logo? My mom left me one when she passed away, and I can’t find a similar one online anywhere. It’s closest to this one (same logo) but the top is blue not white. Just trying to figure out when it’s from. Thanks!
http://cgi.ebay.com/Retro-Baby-Blue-Pepsi-Cola-Cooler-BIG-Vintage-Soda-/190399900248?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c54b7ea58.
7 Jennifer // Jun 21, 2010 at 2:31 pm
We stumbled across a turquoise blue Dr. Pepper cooler in remarkably good condition in an attic. It is identical to the restored one in your group photo. Any idea of it’s value as it is, left untouched? No dents…no rust inside or out !
8 Jennifer // Jun 22, 2010 at 9:59 am
Hi there again… while waiting for a word back from you, (your website says “your comment is awaiting moderation-not sure what that means)
I also have a picnic cooler I’ve never heard of-
the only information I can get off of it is the name
“JC Higgins” in small raised lettering in cursive.
Do you have any information on this one ?
Jennifer
9 vintagevending // Jun 23, 2010 at 8:36 am
Jennifer,
We are not appraisers, so we can’t give you a value on your cooler. Your best bet is to check ebay or Craig’s List, most likely there are items listed there that are similar to yours.
10 vintagevending // Jun 23, 2010 at 8:47 am
Jennifer,
J.C. Higgins was a brand name representing sporting equipment sold by Sears. The name was replaced in 1961, so I’m guessing your cooler is from the 1950s. There is lots of info out there, just google the name JC Higgins.
11 William // Jul 30, 2010 at 2:44 am
Have you ever seen a slant top cooler. It stands 34″ in the rear and 28″ in the front, 29″ wide, and 19″ deep. The inside is 14″ deep.
It has a recess in the front with a bottle opener and a trap door a the bottom to remove the bottle caps, has a built in drain on the inside
It has little legs about 3″ long, do not see any name on it anywhere. It appears to be maybe from the 60’s or 70’s. Thanks William
12 Carey // Sep 26, 2010 at 11:14 am
I have a Pepsi cooler shaped like a big can. If you open it up it holds 6 cans plus a place for ice or sandwiches. I cannot find anything online about them. Can anyone help?
13 corey toner // Feb 20, 2011 at 5:46 pm
you definitely got a nice collection of coolers in the pic above. i collect them as well. but not in the same condition your are in. i got 3 coke ones,2-7up and an orange crush one. my oldest is a coke one. think its from 1940. but still on a look out for more.
14 Ralph // Apr 12, 2011 at 9:46 am
I’m looking for a drain tube assembly for my Acton picnic cooler. Any Ideas where I can get one? Thanks,
Ralph
15 Peggy // May 11, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Need info on a Pleasure Chest “Pal”. This one is 2-tone green, possibly an airline model (?), with a bottle opener on the front. The only others I’ve found are red like the Coca-Cola ones. Can’t find info on this one anywhere.
16 Sandra Wagner // Jul 29, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Have an old coleman cooler that has a white plastic bottom and a handle that lefts the lid up and a larger handle that clicks into the small handle. Do you know anything about this?
17 tonya // Aug 18, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Awesome job! Your stuff looks great! Where did you find caps for exterior drains on picnic coolers? Also, The clasp/latches on side, was there a specific company you found replacements through? Thanks so much!
18 Robin Crouch // Aug 24, 2011 at 4:46 pm
I am looking for an vintage Dr. Pepper picnic cooler, either in original shape or restored. I would appreciate any help you could give me. Thankd you very much.
e-mail address harley02c@aol.com
19 Dunigan // Sep 1, 2011 at 7:31 pm
Hi,
I found a old cooler at garage sale and purchased it, i am not looking for the value of it. just what model it is. it is similar to the pepsi cooler in the back row in the pic… but it has the pepsi logo that they introduced in 1962 (PEPSI written over a pop bottle) and it has a white lid. Do you happen to know what model this would be called? and also it is somewhat rusted out so do you think it would be worth it to restore it or would that reduce the value?
Thanks
20 germanwerks81 // Nov 24, 2011 at 11:51 am
looking for crappy old coolers not to restore but keep rusty and enjoy as is. i prefer a few that do not function,some rust holes wanted. so if you have something rusty sittin around and would like to get rid of it,please let me know and put old and rusty in the subject please,thank you
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