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Do you remember the metal ice trays with the handles?

This Seniors' section got me to reminiscing about "the old days," and I happened to think about the old types of metal ice trays that had a handle to pull to get the ice out. I remember that you had to run water over the bottom to loosen the ice before you pulled the handle; else the ice would come out in cracks and pieces.

I did a search on the Web and came across these items for sale in ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/LOT-OF-6-VINTAGE-METAL-ICE-TRA...

These are what I remember having. (I won't place a bid, though, because the site says it will cost $10.00 to ship them -- and the opening bid is only $0.99! Duh!)

I had thought about trying to find some, as it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to twist those plastic trays to pop out the ice -- and THEY also seem to break the ice lately. Maybe my water is too hard?

Has anybody seen any vintage ice trays around?

24 Answers

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  • Gladys
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Remember them, my heavens, all I need to do is open my freezer and there they are. I still use mine. My darn ice-maker never has worked right. Always making loud noises and ice never the right size. The ones I have are made of a heavy duty metal tray that's ice blue in color and has a metal grate that has "Coldspot" written on the handle. That was the name of the refrigerator we had back in the 60's. They make the perfect sized BIG ice cubes, not those half-moon shape ones that melt in minutes after putting them into your drink. Couldn't live without them!

  • Anonymous
    4 years ago

    Old Metal Ice Trays

  • 1 decade ago

    All the metal ice trays I ever used ended up having bent handles. We not only ran water over the bottom but over the top also. That seemed to help make the ice to come out without breaking up so bad.

    If you will use that same old trick with the warm water you will find that it makes the plastic tray soften a little and loosens the cubes making it easier to twist the tray.

  • Moe
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Yes, I remember the metal ice cube trays. They got the water pretty cold fast. Then they went to the plastic kind, I never did like them. You kind of had to bend them to get the ice out, then they would crack. Or you had to run it under water, then the ice would start melting.

    Now they have the ice making machines right in the freezer, what a God send. As I do love my ice cold drinks.Soda, not alcoholic I do not know what I would do without an ice maker.

    Boy you must have a older refrigerator if you are still using ice trays.

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  • 1 decade ago

    I remember these trays. My earliest memories were of an ice box with the water drip tray which sat on the floor underneath and had to be emptied all the time. When we got our first refrigerator, the metal ice trays were wonderful. Frost free didn't come along until much later. The good old days!

  • 1 decade ago

    The old cabin I lived in in 92 and 93 still had them and a shelf full. Had to laugh about your plastic tray trick. I was having the same problem and bought some new blue ones 2 for a dollar. They spit the cubes right out the others were spendy white plastic ones and the cubes always stuck.I had a good laugh today, went to get some cubes out and cracked the last two cubes off the end of one tray. She who has to use nut crackers and jar openers to get lids off. Feeling lean n mean. ha! check in the Goodwill store or a youth ranch store and you will probably find some of the metal ones. ;0)

  • 1 decade ago

    i remember them well - wish i still had them

    go back to ebay and check - there are 35 listings for vintage ice cube trays - prices vary as does shipping and handling

    just have to compare

    as far as ice sticking in the plastic ones - may be time to replace them - you do get hard water deposits in them after a while which makes the cubes stick - just look at walmart or dollar store usually get them real inexpensive there

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I havent seen any around lately. But if you go back to ebay and type vintage ice cube trays-- there are several for sale and not all the people charge 10.00 for shipping and handling.

  • 1 decade ago

    I remember them very well. That was all we had until the plastic ones came out. We still have them here some where, lol.

    About a week ago, a friend and I went shopping at Bed Bath & Beyond. I saw them there in that store. Don't recall how much they were.

  • 1 decade ago

    I had a couple of them up until recently. Found them at a garage sale and thought it would be fun but found with my arthritis it is just too hard to pull the lever. I ended up getting those ones that are sealed in plastic and you use and wash and refreeze and reuse. no more trays at all.

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