Mathes Cooler!
 

Hey KC Peeps: My wife has an old fan from the 1940's that she saved from her mom and dad's house in Topeka. It's got a wood cabinet. I think it's called a Mathes Cooler. It was designed as a piece of living room furniture. My anniversary is coming up and would like to get this rebuilt and refurbished as a gift. I think my wife would really like that for sentimental value. Know anybody in KC, electrical handy man, garage project guy, who could fix something like this?

http://www.curtismathes.webs.com/mathesfanscoolers.htm

Like a swamp cooler?

sell that thing to Mad Men

Haven't heard that name in a while. We had a Curtis Mathes TV in the 70s. I hated it because I wanted a new TV with a remote. My dad said he already had a remote to change the channels for him--me. "Cool" fan though.

I don't know if a project like that would be in Phobia's wheelhouse or not? He may be worth checking with.

I opened the thread hoping to find some badass way of keeping beer cold. Sorry, no help here.

I like these, bears don't.

http://store.yeticoolers.com/?gclid=...FeFxQgodZVUA2g

http://www.yeticoolers.com/wp-conten...Picture-13.png

they are awesome but so expensive....

Yeah, I own one big one and that's enough. :hmmm:

I think a buddy of mine can fix it. Got to find a similar motor. Should be able to find something from Grainger or similar. This is a purely sentimental thing. My wife's parents are both gone now, and her family home has changed hands several times since it was sold back in 2000. I think it reminds her of when she was a kid.

Just get her a bunch of blow and a couple Chippendale's tickets for her and her devil on the shoulder the friend. She'll be happier.

that's a very cool fan, and a very cool idea.:thumb:
i'm sure she'll love it.
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Or a Dutch oven?

My folks had one just like that. The motor isn't much of a deal, just about anything will turn it.

The boxes were made out of mahogany. They were built like fine furniture. This was before homes had AC, so having a box fan in the living room, it had to look nice. Most of them were built in Ft. Worth, TX.

I took my Mathes Cooler over to my pal Mr. Doggity. He's a lot handier than I am. He took it all apart, took out the motor, cleaned up, and re-oiled it, then cleaned up the rest of the unit, and it fired right up. Says it's running like new and I can come pick it up. Pic of the cleaned up item attached:

Just cost me a case of beer.
Pretty good deal.
Thanks Mr. Doggity!

What are friends for?!!

http://i44.tinypic.com/30mre4i.jpg

nice.
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Doggity did a great job. I would have been considerably more expensive. Consider my offer though.

Us too...forgot all about that name. I think we had a Quasar too.

Very impressive...nice work.

Sweet! It's a pretty thoughtful gift, and I'm sure your wife will love it.

hey...are the sides on that thing open?

In laws had a Curtis Mathes console TV. Weighed liked 900 lbs.

On the back there's a silver aluminum cowling. Doggity had to remove that to get to the fan motor, and he's soaking it in vinegar to clean it up. It wraps around the back side and is held in place with several flat head screws across the top and bottom edge.

Here you go. This is a pretty cool concept (NPI):

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OTDwDc6anyk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

You should buy her childhood home for her instead!

i'd need two of those running to keep me going.
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Thanks me later.

http://www.ricksrestorations.com/

Probably only cost you $7k!

Yeah, that guy is a little out of my price range.
The pop machines and gas pumps are very cool though. Be great toys to have if you were really rich.