Need advice about vintage ice crushers, please!

[kittyglitter]

Hello, all!  I am a mostly lurker/sometimes poster with a (kind of) strange question.  I am looking for a vintage ice crusher for my use (LOVE small pieces of ice in a drink!), and know that I have seen some discussion about these here.  Any suggestions?  It would be great if it's pretty or at least interesting looking, but asthetics are not much of an issue.  Rabbit ice is.  <<<----That would be ice that is roughly the size and shape of rabbit poop, for those who have not heard that back-woods, down-home expression!     Seriously, though, I would appreciate any advice about what to look for and what to avoid before I start the "hunt" at the thrift stores!  Thanks!     

[Jay2TheRescue]

Are you looking for electric or manual ice crushers? 

For a hand crank, nothing beats an Ice-O-Mat  They are available in many various designs and colors.  For convenience I like the "Bucketeer" model.  Once the ice is crushed, it falls into a small, detatchable ice bucket. 

If its an electric you are looking for, Panasonic had a line of home appliances in the 60's and 70's that can't be beat.  The Panasonic ice crusher does a fantastic job, is suprisingly quiet, and does a nice job.

-Jay

[kittyglitter]

Hadn't even thought about electric--I didn't even know that would be an option!  (New to this ice-crusher thing, I am.)  Thank you so much for the fantastic advice--you rock!   

[Big Daddy Audio]

I know that there were at least a few electric can openers that also had ice crushers or blade sharpeners on the back - you could check those out, too.

SYNT
BFN

[Jay2TheRescue]

Also note that there are ice crusher attachments for blenders too.  I know I have ice crusher attachments for vintage Oster and Waring blenders.  My mother had a Waring blender when I was a kid, and I remember we used to make syurp with Kool Aid mix and sugar, and mom would crush ice in the Waring "Ice-Jet" attachment for her blender, and we had homemade sno-kones for the whole neighborhood for a few cents. 

I like using the ice crusher attachment on my 1,200 watt Oster blender  It pulverizes the ice.

For best results get a stainless steel bowl and keep it in the freezer.  Also freeze your crusher before use as well - You'll have less melting going on as once the ice is crushed it will melt rather quickly.

[Big Daddy Audio]

Saw two of these at the 67th and Peoria Goodwill yesterday - a manually operated Swing-A-Way and an electric Westinghouse (about the size of a counter-top electric can opener).  Each was less than $5.00.

So they're our there.

SYNT
BFN

[kittyglitter]

Jay and BDA--thanks for the mention about the can opener and blender with the ice crushers, but I think I prefer a "just an ice crusher" model!

BDA--Two?  I just went searching yesterday, and didn't see anything even resembleing an ice crusher.  It's going to be one of those things that I just happen to come upon when I've forgotten that I am looking for one!

Thanks again!