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Ice Inc.: 1939

February 1939. "Ice for sale. Harlingen, Texas." Pointy pick? Check. Telephone? Yes. Cash register? Yew betcha. Ginormous ball of twine? Natch. Big block of you-know-what? Right here. Snazzy socks to seal the deal? Done and done. Looks like we are in the ice business! Photo by Russell Lee. View full size.

February 1939. "Ice for sale. Harlingen, Texas." Pointy pick? Check. Telephone? Yes. Cash register? Yew betcha. Ginormous ball of twine? Natch. Big block of you-know-what? Right here. Snazzy socks to seal the deal? Done and done. Looks like we are in the ice business! Photo by Russell Lee. View full size.

 

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You forgot to mention one thing, Dave.

The local ice house usually had THE coldest beer in the neighborhood!

I used to buy a case of Bud Heavy every Friday at the old City Ice Co. when it was technically called Burge Ice, 23rd & Campbell, KC MO.

Beer so cold it would make your teeth hurt!

50 lbs of Ice

As a teenager I worked in a large bait shop in south Florida near the keys. We had a very large walk in freezer.

We kept thousands of lbs of ice (and Beer) in there. The blocks we received were 6 sections high and 2 wide. We'd use a pick to split them into 25 lb blocks right along the seams.

You could further split the 25 lb block in half as well as another seam (which can't be seen in the photo) exists across the top of the 25 lb blocks.

The ice tongs that are hanging on the shoot door make it easy to move the ice in the freezer by sliding the large uncut blocks, as well as carry the cut block to the customer.
You can see where the tongs were used to pick up those blocks if you look carefully.

You've outdone yourself, Dave

While I often chuckle at your humorous captions (at least, I hope they're meant to be humorous), this one made me laugh out loud...which needless to say amused my co-workers no end.

Low Register

I think I have the real explanation. The midget traffic cop pictured below moonlights as a cashier at the ice house.

We do NOT

deliver. If this photo was taken in Moose Jaw that man is identical to my Father, even the hat is the same.

Shaved ice?

Is he holding a straight razor as well?
Also: why is the cash register so low to ground?

[I'd say he stands in the well to do the transaction, including loading (minimizes bending) and payment. - tterrace]

The ice man

...sitteth.

Cost of living...

Last sale was $.35. Wonder if that was part of or a whole cake (not block) of ice.

[Note the different color of the tag and lack of decimal point; I think the register records the product as well as the price, in this case a 25-pound block for 10¢. - tterrace]

Employees Only

What is that "Employees Only" sign for? The porch? The chair? The chute?

Killer Door

Look at the spring on that thing! It looks like it could cut you in half if you got stuck in it! Having worked in a freezer, though, I know how important it is to keep the door shut.

Why the Twine?

I believe when you got your ice at a place like this you could have it wrapped in brown paper, tied with twine. I suppose the paper is just out of sight, else why the twine?

[Wrapped would be nice, but I'd especially like something to lift and haul it around by. - tterrace]

I thought this was a rerun but...no

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