Got an airline cooler

[90grad]

All,

Kind of excited about this, as I always wanted one.  I managed to get an "airline" cooler in really decent shape off of eBay.  It needs two new clasps, which are easily obtained.  I paid $73, which I thought wasn't bad.  If it was bad, I'm still happy about it.  The question I have is this:  I am probably going to get it repainted, so I'll need the lettering on the front done.  Funtronics doesn't have a decal for this listed in their catalog.  Does anyone know if there is a matching one for something else?

Thanks.

Oh yeah, the eBay # was 7159187494.  Here's the link:

Airline cooler

[halehouse]

Isn't the lettering embossed?

[90grad]

Not sure.  But, I do know Funtronics sells the decals for embossed letters, like the ones on Standard coolers.  I spoke with Steve Ebner and he said the decals are so much easier (and cheaper) than airbrushing, but still look great.

[halehouse]

:'>

Oh, I see.

[joesquid]

I have a buddy of mine that regularly restores these coolers.  I've seen several that were very similar (if not identical) to the one you just purchased (great job by the way!!) and none of them were embossed.  He just used the standard water-release decals from Fun-tronics and they looked gorgeous!!

[Eric]

Yeah they're embossed... Why not try a sign painter and have them hand lettered......

I got one about 11 years ago from an answer to a ad.... this lady called and said she
was going to have a yard sale in the morning and that she a had a cooler.... I drove
right over she still had it in the attic above the garage.... she handed it down to me
it was the airline cooler! I asked how much she said I'm putting a $25 price tag on it!
I said SOLD!
$73 is a steel for this model..... Great Score!

Eric

[joesquid]

Oh yeah and as for paying $73, my buddy regularly sells these coolers in his coca-cola shop for several hundred dollars each.  It's truly amazing what walking into a coke memorabilia shop does to the common sense of some people!

[90grad]

Thanks guys!  I will see if it's embossed when it arrives (can't wait).  Then I'll decide how I'll proceed.  Has anyone ever used these water-release decals?  Are they tough to get on straight and flat (I am a novice's novice)?

I used these decals on my Vendo 39s. And they are great!!! :'>

[sodaworks]

What a steal for 73.00 '>

[Bob K]

I'm using the Funtronics decals for my Vendo Standard Spin-Top.  Thank goodness because there is a BOATLOAD of embossing.

And thanks to Terry (sodaworks) for his offer to help me out on the coin tower lettering (no decals available for that!).  It will be in the mail tomorrow. :'>

Bob

[johnieG]

Quote (90grad @ June 03 2005,7:05)

All, Kind of excited about this, as I always wanted one.  I managed to get an "airline" cooler in really decent shape off of eBay.  It needs two new clasps, which are easily obtained.  I paid $73, which I thought wasn't bad.  If it was bad, I'm still happy about it.  The question I have is this:  I am probably going to get it repainted, so I'll need the lettering on the front done.  Funtronics doesn't have a decal for this listed in their catalog.  Does anyone know if there is a matching one for something else? Thanks. Oh yeah, the eBay # was 7159187494.  Here's the link: Airline cooler

Nice score! I've always wanted an Airline cooler, but there way pricey up here in the Detroit area...so I stick to the standard size..mostly actons & progress's even got a double:dot Pepsi & a two-tone "Squirt"... again Very nice score! '>

[glassbottlesrule]

Johnie,  I seen a nice Embossed Vernor's a couple weeks ago at a shop in Monroe.  Nice shape wanted a $100 for it which I thought was a little high but I know nothing about them.

[90grad]

The cooler arrived on Friday.  It has two very small (less than a dime) dents in the top, but otherwise looks great!  I will definitely be restoring this one.  The tank looks perfect.  I still can't believe I got this for $73.

It is embossed, which also looks cool.

Any suggestions on dent removal?  I seem to recall another thread on here about using air and maybe those dent puller kits from the local store.  Has anyone had any luck with those kits?  The only issue I see about using one is the top of the cooler has three or four "ribs" running lengthwise, so the kit may not get a good flat seal over the dent.

[joesquid]

For something that small, I just use a little bondo to fill the dent, sand smooth, prime, then paint.  Nothing difficult about it and it's not like you're trying to hide rust or rot.

[Creighton]

Great score Wayne!!
The air pressure trick was on my Acton aluminum cooler lid that was just popped in. Doubt it would work on dent that small.

I've used dry ice to get shallow hail dents out of cars. Is the lid steel or aluminum? Post some closeups and let's see what everybody thinks.
Thanks,
Creighton

[johnieG]

Quote (glassbottlesrule @ June 03 2005,9:50)

Johnie,  I seen a nice Embossed Vernor's a couple weeks ago at a shop in Monroe.  Nice shape wanted a $100 for it which I thought was a little high but I know nothing about them.

Thanks for the tip, it's probably a Green Constrom's, #12 or its bigger cousin the Aluminum style with the padded top,,which are about the only Embossed (debossed) Vernors picnic coolers around, all the others I've seen have silkscreened graphics or decals on them. (or were bogus/fabrications) I'd say $100.00 is a little high, but it depends on how bad you want one..seems like they go between $85-175.00 around town...hmmm now I want a "Boston cooler" ( Vernors Ginger-Ale & French vanilla icecream float..it's been way too hot & humid around here lately for June in Michigan!  '>

[MoonDawg]

Quote (Creighton @ June 13 2005,10:57)

I've used dry ice to get shallow hail dents out of cars.

Please explain ?     '>

Interesting... using ice to remove damage caused by ice. Kinda like fighting fire with fire. '>

[Creighton]

Finding dry ice may be the hard part. Use tongs and insulated gloves don't EVER touch the stuff bare handed.

Just hold the ice to the metal and start a inch or so around the dent, work in circles. If the gods are smiling it will pop out with no paint damage. Theory is the extreme cold contracts the metal enough to "pull" the dent out.

I learned trick this from a KS. Ford dealer. Doubt it will work on very thick metal and could cause paint damage.
Creighton

[90grad]

Dry ice...interesting.  I will try to take some photos today and let you guys see the thing.  One of the dents is along one of the ribs on top, so I don't know how effective bondo will be.  But, I'm no expert.

[Ltransam]

If you have a Mejier store close Check them for dry ice .The one In my neck of town sells it !! '>


                                                Leonard

[MoonDawg]

Wow. Dry ice. Can't wait to experiment. Thanks   If successful, a compressor could be used, and the cooling coil could be bent into a small circle, like a branding iron.
      Imagine using this tool to fix door dings in cars. '>