Posted 10 years ago
shellski1
(1 item)
I would love to start renovating this Coca Cola Cooler that a friend passed down to us a few years ago. I've been scouring the internet to find one like it - the closest thing is the Westinghouse Giant. The marking inside says W-RIS - I believe that means it was made in January of 1940. I have seen just a few pics of the Giants - but none with the hole in the middle. It looks like something big is missing. The lid I do have has the cool deco handles - I'm wondering how hard it will be to find another lid the same size. Parts for this puppy seem hard to come by! Any clues or info are much appreciated!
Thats cool! Maybe thats why its called a "cooler"!
You may well have a Westinghouse Giant but may want to consider that it is a WD-22. The notch in the top, middle of the longer side would be a covered channel for refrigeration and electrical lines.
You cooler has the rectangular outline of a WD-22. The Giant (from the illustration I saw) as more of a trapezoid shape.
It could be misleading that the lid you have looks like those of the Giant. Those lids might have the same dimensions as one from the WD-22.
Certainly the WD-22 is the more common of the two. It would be great if you have the rare Westinghouse Giant!!
Here is a link to the Westinghouse coolers. See what you think!
http://soda-machines.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=3&id=69&Itemid=14
Check on eBay and local antique shops for the lids. The tougher part to find will be the cap catchers!!
Thanks for posting!
I would say it is a giant but a wet style. Check out funtronics.com for parts.
Thanks Dave and Tommy- I took a look at the WD-22, but I think this pre-dates that style. Mine has straight sides, while the WD -22 is beveled on top. Can it be a "wet style" and electric? Thanks for the comments!
Thanks for the Fun-tronics tip too - great site!
It is, indeed, the rare Westinghouse Giant! That's the good news.
Now for the bad news: This was probably the giant electric, but it appears to me that the compressor has been removed from the bottom.
Also, the cooling mechanism and the water-circulating device which goes in the hole in the middle is definitely missing, as are the two cap catchers which are located on both the left and the right side of this majestic machine - one of the most beautiful of all of the Westinghouse coolers, in my humble opinion.
My best of luck to you in finding the necessary parts to restore this incredible machine back to its original function and beauty.
You will be richly rewarded with a great soda and beer cooler if you do so!
It is, indeed, the rare Westinghouse Giant! That's the good news.
Now for the bad news: This was probably the giant electric, but it appears to me that the compressor has been removed from the bottom.
Also, the cooling mechanism and the water-circulating device which goes in the hole in the middle is definitely missing, as are the two cap catchers which are located on both the left and the right side of this majestic machine - one of the most beautiful of all of the Westinghouse coolers, in my humble opinion.
My best of luck to you in finding the necessary parts to restore this incredible machine back to its original function and beauty.
You will be richly rewarded with a great soda and beer cooler if you do so!
Thanks for the help "cokestuff" - now I know what I'm hunting for!