Primitive Fridge Restoration - Early 1900s Ice Box

In this restoration video, I will bring back to life a vintage ice box produced in the early 1900s in Germany or, as I like to call it, “the father of the fridges.” I bought it from an antiquities website, thinking it would make a great restoration video, and the seller told me that the old ice box was found in a barn. This primitive fridge is a unique piece with many beautiful brass elements. I decided to restore it so it would not lose its antique look. The fridge restoration process took me about 8 days to achieve what you saw in this restoration video. Removing the old paint from the wooden elements and sanding them took most of the time, and of course, cleaning the zinc elements from inside and outside was also pretty tricky because some of them were highly corroded and rusty. Still, the sandblaster and other tools saved me in a way.
I love how this antique ice box turned out and am happy I could save it from decay.
Now it is perfectly functional and will serve in my workshop this summer,
I needed an ice box to keep my food box and some cold drinks inside.
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0:00 Introduction
0:30 Huge restoration project
1:10 Termites attacked this old fellow
1:25 Disassembling the Father of Refrigerators
8:59 Sandblasting the brass parts
11:32 Polishing all the parts
13:59 Removing the rusty hinges
16:02 Sanding the wooden parts
18:12 Removing the zinc corrosion
18:46 Washing with soap and water
23:11 Applying wood varnish with an antique finish
23:40 Sandblasting the water tank
26:39 Dissasemblying the door
27:02 Germany, city of Boizenburg
27:26 Sealing the door with polyester
30:09 Soldering the door frame
32:02 Assembling the Ice Box
36:38 Filling the ice container
38:23 Cheers!

#restoration #restorationvideos #iceboxrestoration

[rustyshadesrestoration]

Hi folks!
This restoration project is for sure one of my favourites till now! I worked many days on it, but the satisfaction that I get at the end is hard to describe in words! I hope you like the video and how “the father of fridges” turned out! If you enjoy my work please consider subscribing for more projects like this! Cheers! 🤘

[darylhudson]

My grandparents were born in the 1800s and used this type of refrigeration where a man in wagon would bring a block of ice. That's why they called it an ice box. And of course she had the cast iron stove. I've drank water out of a well and used an outhouse also. And of course grandmother used a butter churn and a rub board to wash the clothes in a galvanized tub they also took their bath in. I miss my grandmother and will see her one day in Heaven along with the rest. 🕊️😇❤️🙏🇺🇲

[stevefisher]

In college my father delivered 25 pound and 50 pound blocks of ice. While making a 50 pound delivery one day the block slipped out of the tongs and fell, catching the homeowners thumb on the edge of the metal cabinet below. It sheared the man’s thumb off very cleanly. This may have influenced my dad’s choice of career as he went on to become a surgeon in the army!

[jeanrankin]

i remember our ice box on the back porch and when the iceman came he would give us kids chips of ice, this brings back good memories, thank you for them. our icebox had 2 doors and was tall. maybe i was just too small about 4 or 5 years old at the time lol now 81

[norman]

I didn't think you could do it but of course you did! Great job.
My grandparents did not have one but kept their food cool in a bucket down the well. And when i lived on the farm there was an old ice house where the previous owners kept ice .... so much history being lost. Glad youre taking the time to bring it back.

[pocopeloenlacapocha]

Only one critic.... bad choice on the screws. You had the originals to be reused. For the rest is just a matter of personal preferences.. I would have left it without the varnish. Just plain oil on the outside. The wood is really nice. Great job and I enjoy your videos.

[ЛадаЛадушка-мф]

Прекрасная работа! Мужчина, умеющий своими руками делать такую красоту, достоин восхищения! Браво!!! 👏

[Waldo_Ilowiecki]

Genialna robota, jak zwykle. A co !!! Polak potrafi ❤

[chris-qcx]

So happy to see one of these saved and learn Abita more about how they worked

[Валентина-озх]

Дааааа, уникальная вещь, браво изобретателю и вам поклон за то что вы восстановили этот уникум1900года. Этот эксклюзив в ваших руках прослужит тоже очень долго, сейчас в наше время множество химии чтоб победить ржавчину или совсем если плохая деталь можно ее продублировать. Надо было градусник во внутрь повесить для интересу, сколько он градусов сохраняет минусовой . 👏👏👌

[oakdeneemporium]

Love the sound of the owl in the background! Great job too!

[nataliemiller]

I prefer a dark wood stain for a piece of that age, but that is just my preference. That piece is older than I am, makes me feel younger 😊. Nice job

[lottoish]

A great way of saving on electric. A job well done.

[shawnataylor]

Did you check for lead in the paint before you started scraping and sanding? I didn't care much for the red tinted stain or varnish but still liked the fact that you didn't just toss it aside without bringing the oldie back to life...thanks for sharing.

[mwand]

Restoring history is so inspiring! I like the fact that iceboxes were predecessors of the refrigerators, even without electricity.

[MrsIsmena]

What's a restoration! A lot of work. Its looking beautiful, object didnt lose old soul ❤ Amazing!

[mikeb]

There’s something very soothing about restorations Awsome job my mind is blown

[ГретыйТумблерг]

Прекрасная работа. Мне даже захотелось купить маленький абсорбционный аммиачный (бесшумный) холодильник и задекорировать его под тумбочку...
"Морозко" назывался, если память меня не подводит...

[saracaswell]

That was cool. I have never seen an icebox. Put an opener for beer on it.😊

[ladtmafanikio]

Just fabulous!

I really enjoy watching your projects. It’s relaxing and exciting all at the same time to watch it all come together in the end.

I love antiques!

I also enjoy the fact that there is no music 🎶 in your videos. Just the sounds labor of love and of tinkering parts. Very soothing.