Metal ice cube trays: The cold, hard truth about old-school ice-making (1950s)

vintage tin ice cube tray on aluminium backdrop

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Before plastic trays made ice-making effortless, metal ice cube trays were the standard — and they weren’t exactly user-friendly. Anyone who’s ever tried to wrestle a cube from one of those old aluminum trays knows the struggle. The ice stuck stubbornly to the metal, requiring a series of tricks to loosen it: running warm water over the tray, smacking it against the sink, or twisting it with enough force to risk bending the whole thing out of shape.

Early metal ice trays were simple aluminum containers divided into sections, but without a quick-release mechanism, getting the cubes out was a challenge. The process often left ice half-melted, stuck together, or scattered across the counter. If you weren’t careful, you’d end up with a puddle instead of a cold drink.

Vintage metal ice cube tray 1955

Then came a game-changer. By the late 1940s, manufacturers introduced aluminum trays with built-in levers. These “Magic Touch” or “Honeycomb” trays allowed users to crack the ice free with a simple pull. No more prying or smashing — just a quick lift of the handle, and out popped perfectly formed cubes. Some brands even started offering trays in colors like blue or gold, adding a bit of flair to the once-drab ice-making process.

Of course, metal trays had their drawbacks. They were cold to the touch, occasionally leaked, and weren’t exactly finger-friendly if you tried to grab ice too soon after freezing. By the 1970s, plastic trays became the norm, offering a more flexible, user-friendly alternative. But for many who grew up with metal trays, the memory of that satisfying click as the lever released the cubes is one of those small, oddly nostalgic details of kitchen life.

Below, we’ve gathered photos and vintage ads showing these metal ice cube trays from back in the day.

No struggling with metal ice cube trays that are easy to operate (1950)

Remember the days when fridges made their debut, and how excited the little housewife would get if you asked to see the ice-making section of the machine? She’d fairly bubble over with enthusiasm, in fact, and would have the fridge’s innards displayed on the table before you could take a firm grip on the back doorknob to make a quick exit.

Out would come the ice tray, first off. In those days, ice cubes were made just as beautiful as now, but to get the little beggars out of their compartments was the ordeal.

I remember watching a friend of mine try to extract a single cube from the jaws of a tray that made tooth-pulling look like kid’s stuff. Smiling all the while… for my benefit… she tugged, soaked the tray, nonchalantly smacked it against a metal portion of the sink before succeeding in loosening the confounded things.

The ice cube in question bounced out, but then the remaining cubes — and there were enough of them to store a moose for the winter — looked very soppish after their warm water treatment, and had to be thrown out… this is not so now!

The new aluminum ice cube trays have introduced a lever system of popping the icy morsels out of their shells.

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Vintage metal ice cube trays: What makes a party delightful in a hurry? (1955)

Inland Magic Touch vintage metal ice cube tray from 1955


Cold drinks now… for eager thirsts! (1949)

Ice cubes instantly! Just lift the “Magic Touch” lever!

Children’s thirst is impatient! It seems to take forever to get ice cubes from ordinary trays. The splashing at the sink… handling a frigid block of ice… getting too few half-melted ice cubes after all!

vintage Magic Touch honeycomb ice trays


Ice cubes! Easier! Faster! And gay colors in Inland trays! (1953)

There’s nothing like it, really! There’s no other way to get ice cubes… one, two or a trayful… with the instant convenience of the Inland “Magic Touch” ice tray!

Lift! Tilt! And there you are… all the ice cubes you need, each one dry, free, supported by the grid. Slip two or more out… and leave the rest for later. It’s actually that easy… that convenient.

Inland Magic Touch ice trays are made in alluring colors now… blue or gold, as well as aluminum, to suit your fancy. Get them at your dealer’s, to replace the outmoded trays in your present refrigerator.

Magic touch ice cube trays from 1953


Vintage metal ice trays: Stop blasting out ice cubes (1955)

The new “Magic Touch” honeycomb ice cube trays turn the trick. Just flip the “Magic Touch” lever and a trayful of full-size cubes pops free instantly! Dry, decorative, ready to use. No running water over them… no hammering or smashing.

Toss old worn-out trays. Buy several “Magic Touch” honeycomb ice cube trays — and be sure they are in your new refrigerator.

Vintage metal ice cube tray 1955

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Retro metal ice cube trays - retro honeycomb kitchen freezer accessories


Magic-Touch for ice cubes fast! (1965)

Pull exclusive “Magic Touch” lever. Presto! Instant ice cubes! No prying! No thawing! All-aluminum Honeycomb trays for faster freezing. Stackable. Fit all refrigerators. Buy several at your favorite store… insist on them in your next refrigerator! Aluminum makes ice cubes faster!

Magic-Touch for ice cubes fast viuntage ad from 1965

Metal ice cube trays you can buy today

SaleBestseller No. 1
RSVP International Endurance® Vintage Inspired Ice Cube Tray, 11" | Retro Design for Bars &...
  • DURABILITY: 18/8 stainless steel will not absorb odors and will keeps ice tasting fresh and clean
  • KEEP DRINKS COLDER: Designed to keep drinks chilled longer without over diluting
  • SIZE: Ice cube tray measures 11.25 x 4.75 x 1.25"
SaleBestseller No. 2
Vintage Inspired Ice Cube Tray | 18/8 Stainless Steel | 18 Slot Ice Cube Tray | Easy Release Handle,...
  • Premium Material: Our stainless steel ice tray is made of high-quality 304 stainless steel, which is more durable and sanitary than plastic or silicone ice trays. At the same time, it is made of...
  • Multi-purpose use: The metal ice tray can not only make scotch and whiskey ice cubes, but also very suitable for making vanilla ice cubes, frozen ketchup and other pastes to avoid food waste. You can...
  • Combination of retro and modern design: Our ice tray combines retro 1950s stainless steel design with modern technology, with a size of 11.25 x 4.75 inches and a 3-row system to make more ice cubes...
Bestseller No. 3
Peosaard Metal Ice Cube Trays, Stainless Steel Ice Cube Trays, 18-Slot Ice Cube Tray with Easy...
  • 18 compartment design: The ice cube tray measures 10.9x4.4x2.2 inches and features a separate 18-compartment design, which not only has a large capacity, but also protects against dust and odors,...
  • Easy release handle: The lever handle design about Stainless Steel Ice Cube Trays makes releasing ice cubes easy. Simply lift the handle and the ice pops out effortlessly. No more struggling or...
  • Removable and easy to clean: Ice Cube Tray features a removable design for easy filling, freezing and dishwasher safe. It's perfect for making ice for drinks, smoothies and more, whether at home, in...
Bestseller No. 4
18 Cube Vintage Kitchen Ice Cube Tray
  • Vintage Kitchen Ice Cube Tray for making 18 ice cubes
  • Lever-style handle allows ample leverage to crack the ice and release the cubes in a single action; no more struggling to twist ice trays
  • Combines full functionality with a touch of nostalgia from the vintage kitchen
SaleBestseller No. 5
Metal Ice Cube Trays, Stainless Steel Ice Cube Trays, 18-Slot Ice Cube Tray with Easy Release...
  • 18 compartment design: The ice cube tray measures 10.9x4.4x2.2 inches and features a separate 18-compartment design, which not only has a large capacity, but also protects against dust and odors,...
  • Easy release handle: The lever handle design about Stainless Steel Ice Cube Trays makes releasing ice cubes easy. Simply lift the handle and the ice pops out effortlessly. No more struggling or...
  • Removable and easy to clean: Ice Cube Tray features a removable design for easy filling, freezing and dishwasher safe. It's perfect for making ice for drinks, smoothies and more, whether at home, in...

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Comments on this story

5 Responses

  1. The levers were never as easy to pull as the ads here suggest. Unlike the dainty fingers pictured here, the levers took real muscle to crack the ice.

  2. These were very easy to use. I miss them. It seems some claim to have a problem with them. But I used these as a young girl and I never had any problem. Thanks for this article. Since everything old becomes new again, I am going to see if there is someone who sells them online.

  3. Great to see these classic items how they worked, simple and yet very durable! Wish things were like that today.

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