Food Cooler Appraisal

Vintage Red 'Pleasure Chest' Cooler

This item is a vintage rectangular cooler, predominantly red in color with white lettering. The cooler is constructed from metal, likely steel, with a painted red exterior finish. It features a hinged lid with a black rubber or plastic gasket visible around the rim, suggesting a seal for insulation. A single, chromed metal bail-style handle with a dark-colored grip (possibly plastic or wood) is centrally located on the lid for carrying. The front of the cooler is adorned with the words 'Pleasure Chest' in stylized white script, where 'Pleasure' is in aflowing cursive font and 'CHEST' is in a smaller, bolded, sans-serif capital letters directly beneath it. The cooler is supported by a wire bail handle that extends around its base, acting as both a carrying mechanism and stable feet when the cooler is set down. A small, circular drain plug or spigot is visible near the bottom center of the front panel. The cooler exhibits significant signs of age and use, consistent with a vintage item. The red paint shows numerous scratches, scuffs, and areas of paint loss, particularly along edges and corners, revealing the metal underneath. There are also several visible dents and dings on the surface, indicating past impact. The white 'Pleasure Chest' lettering, while mostly intact, shows some wear and fading. The chrome on the lid handle and the wire bail handle appears tarnished and possibly pitted in areas. The black gasket on the lid shows some wear and compression. Despite the cosmetic wear, the overall structure of the cooler appears solid, suggesting decent craftsmanship for its intended purpose. This style of cooler was popular from the mid-20th century, likely dating from the 1950s to 1970s, indicating an estimated age of 50-70 years.