Gary's Icy O countertop cooler lives on

[sc1101]

I thought I would share this story because I'm sure many of you may remember the previous owner Garry and his Icy-O. For those that don't I put a link below. It is a touching story. I feel like this story should be shared because I'm sure we all wonder what will happen to our prize possesions when we pass on. I wanted to share some pictures of the Icy-O countertop coolers new home as well as this story.
I was surfing on SMC almost one year ago and saw a posting of an ICY-O cooler and was immediately interested. I contacted Glenn (Moondawg) about the Icy-O Cooler he had in his possesion. He explained to me the owner of the cooler was Garry a friend of his who had passed on and his wife was interested in possibly selling it. I wanted to do my research on the piece because I had never seen anything like it before. I started right here on this site and came across a 6 year old post that got my attention. That is the post listed below. It read as if Glenn and Garry had unknowingly written a little line of history about the cooler that day. It's almost a frozen in time outline of this Icy-O's journey from a rusty broken Cooler to a magnificent prized possesion in Garry's collection. This made me want this amazingly rare piece even more. I found it awesome that SMC had preserved the history of this cooler and the story of a man with a pasion for collecting. I then contacted Glenn again and told him I would buy it. I received the Icy-O about 6 months ago and finally took this beauty out of the crate yesterday. I felt like a little kid at Christmas opening that baby. The cooler is just amazing. It was everything I expected and then some. I'm so proud to be the new owner of this piece and will display it in Garry's honor. This also gives me faith that when my day comes my family or a fellow collector will enjoy these great pieces of history as I have. Thanks for making this happen Glenn. This cokes for you Garry!


http://soda-machines.com/discussions/index.php/topic,6683.0.html

http://soda-machines.com/discussions/index.php/topic,6330.0.html

[CocaMan]

I love that cooler, it looks amazing!  Great story as well.

[Jim]

Awesome story!

Not to be critical Seth, you're killin' us with the beautiful piece and you place a "new wave" coke crate in it ! ! !

[sc1101]

Haha. I realized that this morning when I looked at the picture again. Cut me a little break it was 1:00AM. Lol. I think I was just a little excited and overlooked that major detail. Looks like I need to buy an age appropriate one. 

[mznb1u]

Outstanding cooler and a great story!

Not that I am going anywhere but I occasionally worry about what would happen to some of my prized machines if something happened to me.  I need to have a serious talk with my wife--if I can get her to listen--about relative values of the machines in my collection.  Can't tell her exactly because I may have exaggerated the value of a few to get her to settle down after a new machine showed up!    It does make sense; however, to make sure she has an idea and a couple of trusted fellow collectors to call should something happen.  SMC Estate Planning I guess!

In any event, love the Icy-O and glad to hear it ended up somewhere will it will be appreciated and well cared for.  Love the penny scale in the background.  I have the same scale but mine gives "Charachter Readings".  We had the "fortune" one in my dad's drugstore for years and I am still disappointed that we did not keep it when we sold the place.  That is why I bought the one that I have.  We used to empty the one at my dad's store every year and my sister and I rolled the pennies.  Typically about $75 per year.  My dad made us go through all of the pennies to look for the wheat back or older pennies because he was a collector.  Then he showed us the trick of using a candy scale to weigh the pennies instead of counting out 50 at a time for the rolls!

  Tim

[SIGNGUY]

Outstanding story and great cooler..
what I can't figure out is how you went 6 MONTHS to wait to open it.. holy cow you have some patience.... it would have been opened day one with me!.. but I understand you probably didn't have space for it then.. wow..

That will fit in great with your awesome collection of the unique items in your collection..

sorry we won't see you at the bar in Chicago tomorrow night!

[sc1101]

I figured I wasn't the only one that thought of that Tim. I like your idea of the SMC Estate Planning. I agree it is a double edge sword when it comes to letting the wife in on what I spent on each of these. My idea is to leave a note on the inside of each with an approximate value and what I paid for them. I will let a third party know about the notes. That way I can keep telling her they are only $300.00 every time I come home with a new one. LOL. The penny fortune teller scale is pretty cool I got it as a package deal with my back bar. Sounds like you had some good memories of that old scale. Cool story. John, OK I did take the lid off and peek inside I couldn't resist. I was so afraid of damage so I left it in the crate until the space was ready. I'm not really sure how I held out that long. Wish I could make it to Chicago but I'm sure I'll see you at the fall show.

[Larry]

I told my wife to give the kids what they want, sell the rest.  I'm dead, I know I wouldn't care what happened to anything I owned at that point.

The cooler is nice. 

[Ltransam]

Hello, Seth

Great cooler I remember it like yesterday .i was one of the people trying to get it .but like today I didn't have the big $$ .to buy it or restore it .Im sure Garry happy it's in a good home !!


Leonard

[Creighton]

Hey Seth,
Glad that cooler has found a good home. Outstanding rare piece!

Since one never knows, Linda has this login info.
If a post shows that Creighton is dead. What do I do with all this stuff?
Help her out please. Yes Leonard you get the Canteen :-) For a price...
Creighton

[SIGNGUY]

I created a Letter to my wife in a sealed envelope that says.. IF I DIE< PLEASE READ...

in it I disclose a lot of stuff... including bank info, insurance, blah blah blah..

but then I also include a few names of some soda machines buddies and other collectors I know and trust and who I would think would help her out liquidating my stuff.

I also keep a running inventory of all my stuff in my collection, every machine, sign, lightup , clock, trinket..

if it has "Collectable" Value.. it's on my list..  I've detailed where to find this list on my computer in my untimely demise as well.

and I have prepped her to know there is value in the stuff in the basement.. and I think she knows this but doesnt' need to know how much yet.. as I don't want her offing me to collect !

but I think it's a good system...

[HowDueYouDue]

First, very cool story and great looking machine.

Second, I hadn't really thought about my collection's fate after mine was determined until I read this.

If any one has even seen the movie Second Hand Lions, I think I'm leaving a note that says "the kid gets it all". What my son does with them from there is his business.

[sc1101]

Thanks Leonard!
Creighton, No need to worry I will be the SMC executor of your soda machine will. I've got your back. Just send me your wish's. I'll charge just a small fee of just one machine.  

[sc1101]

John, I like your idea it's almost genius. That way she has no idea what I spent but she will know the value at the time I pass. Then she can't even get mad at me when she finds out what I really spent on them. Sounds like we have a winner. I'm going with your plan from now on.

[mygoose101]

Wow, I didn't know the cooler was sold. I haven't been to Glen's shop for about a month. I have seen the cooler there for years, will see a void next time I'm there.

Gary was a great man. He loved Coca Cola. He just loved collecting, never selling. He only sold because his health was going. I'm sure he's happy his cooler went to a fellow collector for sure.

When something comes up that reminds me of him, it's still hard to believe he's gone. I'm sure Glen feels the same.

[MoonDawg]

What started him in collecting back in the 1970's, was finding an 1896 Coca Cola ceramic urn in a soon to be demolished Coca Cola plant in Arkansas. This was N.O.S. and still in the original box. Being a new to collecting, he brought it home, set it on the mantle above the fireplace
and threw the box away.   

         He always paid top dollar, but for only quality items. His wife knew nothing about what he really paid (and she grew to HATE the whole collection). He joked with her that if anything happened to him, he wanted his ashes to be placed inside his Coca Cola urn. She joked with him, telling him that if anything ever happened ......all his Coca Cola crap would be sold at a garage sale that he would go with it.   

         He had liquidated most of the collection before his passing, but at his memorial.....................you guessed it,
that urn sat displayed proudly in front of everybody and he now rests in the only collectible left in the house, above the fireplace.

         Even though that piece could bring up to $20K, it will stay where it is until her passing. She said the kids can decide what to do with it then.

[davethebirdman]

that's a lovely story.. I know my kids would empty me out into the garden and sell the urn as soon as they had the chance.

[sc1101]

Wish I had met him before. Seemed like a funny guy from what I read. I would have loved to see his collection.

[coke_and_stuff]

Do you know where at in Arkansas Glen?

[MoonDawg]

      He is from LittleRock I believe.

[Larry]

that's a lovely story.. I know my kids would empty me out into the garden and sell the urn as soon as they had the chance.

That's funny.   

[CocaMan]

Going back to the wife subject and not knowing about how much things cost.  Well my wife knows and always says first, where are we going to put that, and then she ask what I am going to sell, to which the answer is nothing.  I buy it and have an attachment to it so I don't like to sell much.  The funny thing is she got on me for buying a Williams 1958 Shortstop pitch and bat and then once it arrived, guess who plays it more than anyone.  So all in all she likes it and lets me display stuff throughout most of the house as long as it fits in with her decor.  So if I died I think that she would know how to reach out about selling it.  

[Jared]

awesome cooler and story lifetime keeper