Quote Originally Posted by tidefan66 View Post
I have thought about that too. It's just that they would look better with fresh paint. Would they be worth more as-is or repainted? Yes, they are authentic 50's coolers made in the good ole USA. One was made in Arkansas City, Kansas and the other was made in Louisville, Kentucky.
I hear ya, it's a tough quandry. Beauty is usually in the eye of the beholder. To some the old patina with a few nicks & scratches speaks to the history of the piece and the role it's played in the lives of the various owners. It gives it value and to sand it off and paint it shiny new is to wash all that history down the drain. To others, it's just an old relic that needs paint.

Obviously, they are yours so you get the final say in which way you go. Since there are shiny new reproductions of those units available, the authentic old ones are becoming more rare and possibly more valuable. But who knows, maybe you could show them to an antique dealer to get a better idea of the value and whether or not to repaint them.