Ice Crushers

Crushed ice became popular for cooling drinks and cocktails in the 1920s and 1930s. Simple ice crushers were usually hinged presses of cast aluminum. The upper handle had a head of spiked teeth that crushed the ice into the lower pan. Another version, popular in the 1950s, had a hopper above a set of hand-cranked teeth with a plastic container for the crushed ice to fall into below. Capable of producing coarse and fine granules, they can crush a quart of ice in two minutes. These models were available in reds and yellows with chromed lids. They are still on sale as retro kitchenware. Electrically operated models are also available.