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Description: Cooler, for milk, ceramic; shaped like a large milk bottle, with the 'bottom' open; unglazed; 'neck' is closed to underside but has hole at top Object is at the back of the photograph.

Object History: Evaporative coolers take advantage of the fact that when water evaporates, it cools the surrounding air. First, the cooler is soaked in water. The water permeates the unglazed clay. Water is also poured into a holding area at the top of the container, so that as the water evaporates and the clay dries, the water in the holding area can be absorbed into the clay to keep it wet. The wet cooler is placed over a perishable bottle of liquid (usually milk). As the water evaporates, the air trapped inside the container is cooled. This object came from the Wilbert Deacon Farm on Mayne Island, B.C.

Classification: Food Processing & Preparation T&E - - Food Storage Equipment