Those types of boxes were commonly sold by ice dealers from the mid thirties into the early fifties -- they were designed to look as much like possible like an electric refrigerator, and even the advertising played it cagey about the source of the cold. "Air conditioned cold" was a common marketing phrase used to sell ice boxes during these years, which meant, of course, that the air was "conditioned" by passing across the surfaces of a melting block of ice.
That said, these late iceboxes were extremely well made. As long as the door gaskets are good, they're very usable. Get a few 25 pound blocks of ice at your grocery store, slide them in, and see for yourself. Just don't forget the drip pan underneath.
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