Vintage Ice Cream Freezers Make Sweet Collection

By James N. Boblenz
Published on March 30, 2009
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Jerry Volk with his latest acquisition, a 20-quart Snow Ball freezer, and a working 1-pint White Mountain.
Jerry Volk with his latest acquisition, a 20-quart Snow Ball freezer, and a working 1-pint White Mountain.
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A Husky 1-quart freezer: new old stock, this unit has never been used.
A Husky 1-quart freezer: new old stock, this unit has never been used.
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A White Mountain 2-quart freezer with stamped markings still clearly legible.
A White Mountain 2-quart freezer with stamped markings still clearly legible.
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Stamped markings on White Mountain 2-quart freezer.
Stamped markings on White Mountain 2-quart freezer.
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Top view of the Husky.
Top view of the Husky.
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Part of Jerry's display that covers four tables and the ground below.
Part of Jerry's display that covers four tables and the ground below.
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A White Mountain dasher.
A White Mountain dasher.
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A Snow Ball dasher.
A Snow Ball dasher.
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This cutaway shows the freezer’s inner workings.
This cutaway shows the freezer’s inner workings.
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Two different styles of crank mechanisms. Each manufacturer used a different style of gearing.
Two different styles of crank mechanisms. Each manufacturer used a different style of gearing.
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Lids and dashers also varied by manufacturer.
Lids and dashers also varied by manufacturer.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

That little ditty was certainly appropriate in rural America in the period before rural electrification, especially during the summer. In those days, the family gathered together on a Sunday afternoon. After church and a big dinner, it was time for a softball game for the youngsters and horseshoe pitching for the older set. Then it was time to break out the ice cream freezer and churn up a batch of homemade ice cream. (Try your hand at making ice cream: “Ice Cream Recipes.”)

Many of the ingredients came right from the farm: eggs, milk and rock salt. Vanilla extract came from the Watkins man, sugar from the peddler’s wagon and the iceman delivered ice in block form.

The housewife mixed the ingredients while the man of the house chipped ice and prepared the salt. The kids waited with bated breath until the mixture came out of the house in a shiny freezer bucket. They had been warned that they would get no ice cream unless they helped turn the crank, freezing the mixture.

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