MCM West Bend Penguin Hot and Cold Server

Who can resist this chubby little guy's rotund shape and penguin-like "flipper" handles? If the penguin shape wasn't clear enough, the manufacturer embossed a line of penguins marching around the belly! Perhaps no piece reflects the mid-century's post-war production boom better than this iconic Penguin Server! No doubt manufactured in a retooled factory left idle after the war, these sturdy metal buckets represented the American ideal of bringing form and function together. While designated a "hot or cold server" by name, I think most of these were employed by the mid-centuries cocktail culture as ice buckets, adorning bar carts across the country! It's in excellent condition with no scratches or dents. This one was loved SO much by someone in the 1970's that they etched their ID number onto the bottom of the bucket and the lid with one of those pens they sold "As Seen on TV" due to the mid 70's anxiety about burglaries. It looks like in might be an Illinois DL #, so perhaps this piece hail from the Lincoln State? Ships free in continental US!