1938 Clipper From Hawaii

Most of my cover collecting is non U.S. but there are exceptions..i saw this clipper cover on the internet for 99 cents and said "why not?" On the scan reddish stains appear that do not show on the cover..its actually much cleaner !

I like it!

I like it, too. Ever wonder what the Hilo Gas Co. would have been writing to the Servel Salesman for? Here's a likely answer!



I can't say I've ever heard of a gas powered refrigerator before. According to internet searches, this was popularized in the late 1930's, so it's well before my time (and it fits the date of your cover, too.)

Wt1 thats pretty good...its amazing that someone will show a cover and then someone else will come up with follow up information..i have not seen a forum like this before !!

My folks got married in 1937 and they had a 1937 frigidaire..when we got married in 1966 they gave it to us for a starter fridge..29 years old and still workinng...they made things to last in them days !!

There was an article a few years ago by one of the big refrigerator makers that was looking for the oldest refrigerator that still operates and is currently in use. (I believe the oldest one they found was in a family's basement and basically was assigned the task of keeping canned beverages cold.

Anyway, there was a parallel article that based on the efficiency (or lack thereof) of that old-time refrigerator from the 1920's and/or 1930's compared to today, one would have spent on electricity the equivalent of the purchase price of several NEW refrigerators by continuing to power an inefficient model from yesteryear.

Probably, even electric was cheap in the 60's !!

Compared to today, yes, but not back then. Gas was expensive then too, even at 30 cents a gallon. Its all relative.

Art, I thought gas was cheap when I was 17 four of us would chip in 25 cents each and drive around all night !!

It was cheaper back then, in 1965.

Min. Wage then: $1.25 Gas Price: $0.35 17 minuets of work per gallon
Min. Wage now: $7.25 Gas Price: $3.50 29 minuets of work per gallon

Art

I think some are missing the point that the Servel Refrigerator noted in the above ad (and for which I assume the cover was addressed) was a natural gas and/or propane gas powered refrigerator. I found an old website suggesting that they were popular in their day with the Amish community who did not use electricity. Further, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1998 suggested they are a potential risk for carbon monoxide leakage and have suggested they be destroyed, sweetening that with a $100 rebate incentive to do so.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/...8/98145.html