Another "what is this?" question.

[Cambearing]

Hi everyone.  This is my first post here, so I offer any apologies if I am overstepping any forum etiquette here. 

A good friend of mine found this in his attic and we cannot figure out what it is.  It is obvious a cooling device of some sort, but what is was exactly used for, when and how is beyond us.  I've googled the names on the thing until I was googledy-eyed, but cannot come up with anything.

The device is drum shaped,double-walled, made from metal, sits on a four-legged brass or brass-covered stand. Inside, as the following pictures will show, are two porcelain/ceramic containers, each with a tube running to a push spigot on the outside of the drum.  The drum itself has a what appears to be a drain plug situated between the two spigots.  There is also a lid with three holes, two of which match up with the porcelain/ceramic containers. The drum is 18" diameter and is 18" tall (stand and all).

On the drum the name is:     Deeth Mfg. Co. "Portino" Memphis, TN
On the porcelain/ceramic containers: Perfection Cooler Co., Michigan City, Ind.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

The pictures:

[antiqueguy11]

i would be taking that to a specialist. That is the way to go.

[Cambearing]

* big badda BUMP *

On the three year anniversary of first posting this, we still have not found out what, when or where this thing was.  I was hoping that maybe someone here now can help. 

Sorry for bumping such an old thread, but the pics are already there and it was easier to bump than repost.  Please don't ban me!

[Dean Perdue]

  Please don't ban me!

LOL. Hope the bump will yield you some results this time around my patient friend.

[hosman321]

If you go to the google patent site and type in "portino cooler memphis" or "Portino cooler Deeth" there are just tons of similar items. Gonna have to try it a few different ways but it may be there. It's just going to take some time to find exactly your model. Hope it's in here!

http://www.google.com/patents?hl=en

[fancypants]

Sure looks like a multi-beverage cooler to me (perhaps dispensed ice water from central tap) .

[OLDZ06]

I dont know what this is but I like it for some odd reason;D Modern booze maker, Ice cream maker, Redneck cooking pot,End table/Coffer table for your rec room. The possibilities are endless,LOL.

[KC]

Portino means the third person in Italian.  Thus - the third tap.

I do believe that you have a rather rustic dispenser for the bubbly!!!!!

I had heard of crude coolers being manufactured that would use cylinders that would hold ice  to "instantly" cool!  If there are not signs of at the tops of the ceramic cylinders that would show they would screw on or firmly attach to anything....and the top goes over/around the cylinders so they are exposed....I believe that is what you possess!  (Heard they used dry ice but dry ice was discovered and used until 1925!)

[KC]

Okay, I am rethinking what this was intitally used for.....

Found information on the Perfection Cooler company - as you can see from this it was originally the Mountain Springs-Perfection Cooler Company and was put out of business with it's successor being Perfections Cooler Company.  This was in 1902 when they were having to find ways to have hygenic water (inverted water cooler) for the health of the public!!!!!!!!
http://books.google.com/books?id=vPHNAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA87&lpg=RA2-PA87&dq=Perfection+cooler+company&source=bl&ots=8YwgCAoTS0&sig=XBrds-iI-Frk7c78Ej-9O7rVQoY&hl=en&ei=mDmZS4KqGs-Wtgfnko2xCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Perfection%20cooler%20company&f=false



Cambearing.....can you tell ALL of the information on the porcelain piece - there seems to be more than you have printed out.

More I found out.  Nobscot Mountain Spring Perfection Water Coolers were recommended & noted in the 1907 Fannie Farmer "Food For The Sick Convalescent" cookbook.  The company that filed suit against Nobscot M S P W Co was Messr, Cordley & Hayes who made the "XXth Century" water cooling units for hospitals!!!!

Apparantly Messr was a big competitor http://books.google.com/books?id=q_LNAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61&dq=Messrs+Cordley+%26+Hayes+coolers&source=bl&ots=rFJqGcQoa5&sig=hTnMb5N8Wev-5XL0FVZ5ON_dPIk&hl=en&ei=006ZS5rlE86QtgfA_fWwCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CBsQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Messrs%20Cordley%20%26%20Hayes%20coolers&f=false

Here is a Perfection Water cooler of a different kind
http://www.lazydogantiques.net/servlet/the-30/Antique-Water-Cooler/Detail


So dear friend yours must have been a very old one late 1800's from what I can gather so far!  I am finding this fascinating!  Something we here in the general US take for granted these days!

[Cambearing]

Thanks for all the responses.  It seems we are narrowing it down quite a bit.  Where were you all three years ago?!!

Hosman, thanks for the link to Google patents.  Never thought about that route.  I have a feeling I will be frequent visitor to that site for more than just this item.

KC, on the porcelain/ceramic pieces, the only other lettering is the large "20" with "patented" just below as shown in the photo and "Stoughton, Mass." below "Michigan City, Ind."   So the water cooler you linked to is definitely made by the same company. 
I think you are onto something with the inverted water bottle cooler idea.  In my original thinking that it had to be a cooling device of some sort, I also wondered why the porcelain pieces were not closer to center in the drum to allow the ice to surround them better. But if you picture two inverted bottles on top they would have to be further apart to allow for the room. Also the bottles would fit nicely in the indented holes on the lid. 
You've given alot of information to digest and research further on.  Appreciate a bunch.  Alas, as I said in the original post, the device belongs to a friend of mine, so I am just helping him out.  (of course if it turns out to be valuable, well............... I know where it is!!!)

Thanks again for all the help!  If I find anything more out I will let you all know.  Cheers!

[sapphire]

A small bio on the owner of Perfection Cooler......

http://www.stoughtonhistory.com/1918-boggs.htm


Perfection purchased by G.H. Wood & Co. in 1926....

http://perkspub.com/content/view/300/

"In 1926, Wood purchased the Perfection Water Cooler Company and one year later, he signed on with the Scott Paper Company in Chester, PA, and Interlake Tissue Mills in Canada. Now equipped with disposable paper towels and liquid soap, Wood helped push dirty cloth towels and grimy soap bars out of restrooms. To further compliment his lines, Wood soon added towel and tissue dispensers, waste receptacles and deodorant blocks."


In reference to KC's link to the Perfection Water Cooler (this doesn't appear on the first page.....see Detailed Description)

"This water cooler was made by the Perfection Cooler Company of Michigan City, Indiana and Stoughton, Mass. in 1908. The "new" glass bottle is dated 1934, so it is not original, but they've been together long enough to be considered a good marriage."



http://www.stoughtonhistory.com/chronology.htm

"1911   Perfection Cooler Co. established.  Manufacturer of water beverage coolers."



 

[KC]

Great information sapphire!

I just find this fascinating.