Before electric refrigeration became common in American homes, keeping food cold during the sweltering summer months was a constant struggle. Families depended on ice deliveries, carefully packed ice chests, and whatever clever household tricks they could devise to make their precious blocks of ice last as long as possible.
In many towns, especially where there was little competition among ice companies, the summer ice bill could become a serious household expense.
The following article offered readers a practical and inexpensive solution. Using little more than thick felt and coarse wire, the writer claimed that an ordinary ice chest could be made dramatically colder while reducing ice consumption by as much as one-third.
Keeping Down the Ice Bill
Homemade Refrigerator Will Reduce Expense of That Summer Necessity at Least a Third
Now that summer is here, all who are not fortunate enough to have an ice house of their own, but must depend on the ice company for it, with no competition to keep prices down, will be glad to know of a way to lessen consumption of this most necessary article.
The plan proposed is really a money saver. While a refrigerator and ice chest are not built the same, the “wrinkle” works in both. Procure a piece of thick felt, such as harness makers use. You can get it in white, gray or other colors, and it should be one-half inch thick.
Buy also a piece of coarse wire, such as ash-sieves are made of, about one yard wide, or according to the length of your ice box. Measure the bottom of the box and cut the wire and felt about one inch smaller all around, leaving that distance between box and pad so that the air will have free circulation. Have two pieces of wire and one piece of felt, the same size.
Soak the felt thoroughly, place it between the wires, place it in the chest, put the ice on top of it, and in fifteen minutes you will have one of the coldest ice chests imaginable; that is, you will if the plan works the same for you as for me. It cuts the ice bill at least one-third.
Source: Vilas County News. Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis. August 13, 1913.
