2 Gallon Water Cooler with Lid & Bung Hole Sublimat

2 Gallon Water Cooler with Lid & Bung Hole Sublimat. 1-5000
Had this for a long time.
Was told it came over on the boat to Ellis Island.
I do not know if it is stoneware or porcelain ? But this cooler is really heavy.
Any info on this would be appreciated?
Value ?
Age ?
thanks

 

I don't think it's a water cooler, remembering my chemistry. Sublimate refers to sublimated phenol, I think, a very strong disinfectant.


I think it's a steriliser. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3404718?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

 

Hi owned,
It was not a sterilzer which boils to steam to kill germs. Back then gloves were natural rubber and would burn and stick together if sterlized with heat. The gloves only were soaked in these crocks until rinsed with sterile water to be reused. After several days the solution was so watered down to make it unreliable and the cork was opened to drain. Put it back in and the crock refilled.
greg

 

Ah, see we call them sterilisers even if they don't boil!

 

Hi Owned,
Over here we call them disinfection crocks since they do not sterilze (which means germ and spore free) but disinfectives which means prohibits germ growth. It is like the stupid alcohol wipe before an injection. People think it sterilizes the skin when it is just to remove oil and dirt. Things have to soak in alcohol for 20 mins to START killing germs and that is only the common everyday germs NOT the nasty ones and does not kill spores.
greg

 

Hi CPK,
Your crock is wonderful and collectable. It is stoneware not porcelain, that is why it is so heavy.
greg

 

I cannot fathom my Italian Grandpa (of course he was a young man then) or anyone, humping this to America but...who knows...

 

I strongly doubt it "came over on the boat" if by that you mean some boat from Europe.
It may well have come over to Ellis Island on some small boat from the mainland (New York?) for use on the island. Just like every thing else on the island.

 

Indeed. With that provenance, such as it is, it is more likely this was actually in use in the medical facilities on the island. This I could buy.

 

Hi Milt,
I guess I have to hide my Ellis Island collection when you are around. I have a medical examintion chair and a inkstand from there. 40 years ago some friends were on a boat motoring around NY harbor, we were going by Ellis before they started renovation. There were 15 or 20 men tossing stuff into barges. There all sorts of trash, being thrown away. We pulled along side the area were the guys were working. I asked them if I could pull something out of the barge, they said yes since the barges were being towed out to sea to be dumped the next day. I pulled a metal exam chair and a glass ink desk set. My friends were saying " What in the hell are you going to do with that s***?"
greg

 

You probably should but...good job!!! Too bad that kind of stuff wasn't saved for raising $. Have pics to post?

 

Hi Milt,
Here are some quick pics of the ink stand and the chair. I'll post better ones later.
greg

 

Hi,
It was a shame I could not find the pole with the adjustable headrest. The bottom of the chair is stamped D.P.H. E.I. I offered it at one sale with the sign "Did your grandmother sit on this chair? at Ellis Island" A few people checked it out, only one guy was interested but he only wanted to pay 10 bucks for it. I was asking 30 dollars.
greg

 

NICE! Thank you!!!

 

My Danish paternal Grandmother may have sat on that chair when she came to Ellis Island from Denmark.

 

Greg....You pulled that glass off of a garbage scow ???

SWEETNESS !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

She wrote you a letter, to eventually be read by family, using that inkwell set. Where is it?

 

LOL, I am still waiting for it to arrive.

 

Hi,
The ink stand came from one of the offices, it must have been on the barge for a long time since it is sun purpled. Before I cleaned it you could see one ink was red and one black. There was so much stuff that you could not reach from a bobbing boat. I wanted to tie up but that was illegal. The boat was too small to take on a huge two man/woman high desk. I really wanted to climb in the barge, there were stacks of leather ledgers and a gorgeous rosewood bookcase.
greg