VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Swamp lCooler Questions

I've been thinking about getting a swamp cooler. Accordingly, I have some questions"

a. What is the best brand?

b. With a full tank of water, how long do they last in giving off cooler air?

c. Back in the day, did filling stations replenish the water? Did you have to ask. Did you have to do it yourself.

d. How welll did they work?

f. Ddid they affect the handling of the car.

g. How did you fill in the space for and aft of the cooler. The space that the window glass didn't seal off.

;h. Did any of you actually use one?

I Did it make any difference if the water you put in them was already cold. Ice water?

j. Were they more effective in the spring and fall as opposed to mid-summer?

k. What was that string and knob coming out of them for?

l. (Last question) Were they annoying to the missus sitting in the right seat?

I'd appreciate any help you can provide.

Charlie

I'll answer (b). Living in an area where swamp cooler are used on homes, they work best if the humidity is 16% or less. Where you live I doubt you ever see that low of humidity. The window units are seen on virtually every low rider here. At the swap meet people make a joke of them by putting a mail box on the ground stuffed with straw & call it the economy model...Joe

a. all work on the same principal so I don't think it makes much diff.
b. don't know that. I do remember my mother saying it they filled it to top and then go around bend it would sometimes spill over onto her shoulder
c. I guess you just got water wherever you could. I doubt stations filled them for you
d. according to my parents it made a diff when they were using it out west where humidity was low
e. can't answer that one Charlie
f. I can tell no adverse handling issues
g. I used a thick piece of plastic that would fit snuggly in the top window channel.
h. yes. I have the one my parents bought in 1953.
I. not sure about that
j. Depends on the humidity at the time
k. there is a drum inside mine covered with some kind of material. When you pulled the string the drum rolled thru the water soaking the material. Let the string back and the wet portion of the drum is on top where the air intake passed through it causing evaporation which makes the air cooler coming into the car.
l. My wife did not care for it on the few times I tried it. My mother said it was a life saver out west in 53.

dick

My Dad had one with his 1941 Mercury when we went out west in August 1946. Mom & Dad thought it helped.

One of the major truck manufacturers that we represented at our dealership put similar devices on their trucks. Their intent I believe was to lower the overall truck cost. We replaced all that we sold with AC units as we had many unhappy customers.

I don't think they were designed to cool the complete pass compartment. Just blew cooler air across the area from whatever window the unit was in.

dick

Thanks for all the replies so far.

I guess that the coolers function was not all that great even back then.

Nowadays, it seems their desireability is merely as a novelty. And, not a factory accessory anyway.

At the cost of ones that have been restored and the ones that are in nice shape, I think i'll pass. There are just too many 41 accessories that I don't have yet. Such as:

a. A reel antenna

b. A through the trunk air hose to the spare.

c. A whistle for the gas tube. I'm not sure that is a GM accessory.

d. Hill holder for the parking brake.

e. An umbrella

f. A center arm rest

g. A German woman, Olympic pole vaulter

h. A compas

I. A set of wheel discs (Got the shark teeth)

j. An electric winding clock

I think I have about every thing else. Well, that I can think of right now.

Thanks again,

Charlie

BTW: Skip item "g" above. That was to see if you were paying attention.

Too bad your 41 is not a 4 dr Sportmaster Fleetline (sometimes referred to as a German Helmet). Your chances of acquiring a German woman pole vaulter would greatly improve.

dick

Well, there is that.

Charlie

I still have that gag cooler Joe....

LOL. That's the one...Joe

I've heard of these being referred as a "swamp water cooler".
I guess that could answer "c" up above.

Charlie: Two swamp cooler on e-bay now. One for $385. Item 322325144487. Missing the arm that helps to support it.
Another one for $540. Item 201712652747. Never saw this style before and took me a while to figure out how it mounts. I may be wrong but looks like it hangs from the rain gutter vs the window mount. Both a little pricy in my opinion but either one would make a nice addition to your accessory collection.

dick

Thanks,

I'll consider these coolers on down the line. Not that important now.

Best,
Charlie

I was curious to see what these on-line models looked like as I have an original Sear's. I thought you could buy a good one for $100.00 or so. The first one, 322xxxx, is a mess, been repainted and is missing the support arm. Couldn't find the second one. Mine was originally my father-in-laws and it was purchased in Texas and then they moved to California. All I remember about it was that my mother-in-law didn't like it at all as it blew water into the car while supposedly cooling. I keep it just for show. Beamer

It depends on the relative humidity of the air and dew point. For example, if humidity is more than 75% you'll not feel the desired coolness. But if the sun is on its zenith and the temperature is high, then the relative humidity can drop to 50-60% and a swamp cooler will effectively cool your room or car. Still, in areas with high humidity, you'll not be able to use an evaporative (swamp) cooler at night.

I think the best coolers on the market are Evapolar, Hessaire, COMFYHOME and COSTWAY.
www.evapolar.com/blog/best-portable-air-cooler/

I use evaporative coolers not only to cool my room or RV but also to purify the air from dust and hair.

The water consumption depends on the outside/inside temperature, a device model, and its functions. The average water consumption of a small and portable swamp cooler is around 0,26 gallons per hour. Large devices (that cool an entire house) can consume up to 8 g/h.