So here we are in Japan for the next three years, and we can’t get to the plumbing in our duplex to install an icemaker in our fridge. So we are stuck using the dreaded ice cube trays. The only ones I can find here are utter crap. They crack after a few weeks, are hard to get the cubes out of, and if you stack them in a non-alternating pattern they spill water everywhere. So has anyone used these? Do they work? Do they stack well? If not, can you recommend something that does? Thanks!
Wow. They still make those?
I loved them, when I was a kid.
Like 30 years ago.
They work great, if they crack the ice somewhat when you pull that lever to get the ice out.
I grew up with those. They worked fine and lasted forever. I don’t remember how they stack, though. If you have little kids, they’ll find the mechanism fascinating.
My dad was getting all nostalgic about them a while back, and some nice doper pointed me to a website where you can buy them. So I bought the ol’ man a couple.
He then proceeded to tell me that the plastic ones are better. Sigh…old age.
I loved those things! Nothing like that snap when you pull up the handle. Though they can be painful…frozen metal! Just don’t put your tongue on them.
And I wouldn’t stack them. Might get stuck.
Oh boy those bring back memories, and they aren’t good. Those things were very difficult to get the ice out.
When I was very young we had them. They worked very well and apparently were indestructible. I believe my parents had their 3 trays for 15 years. They were fascinating to use. They did stack.
Now can someone tell me where to buy and old fashion Fifties style mechanical Ice crusher? Something like this one. My Parents have one and it is still the best.
Jim
I used them all the time when I was a kid, and it was my job to fix drinks for dinner.
There were two important tricks: One, rinse quickly under running water before attempting to operate the darned thing. Two, make sure your hands aren’t damp when you pull the trays out of the freezer, because your hands will freeze to them; a most unpleasant experience.
We had those things up to my teenage years and maybe longer. They work but they will stick to your skin. Getting the ice cubes out of them was a problem but, if you turn them upside down and run water over the bottom while working the lever, removing the cubes is much easier.
bah! sorry, meant to post this: http://www.fantes.com/ice_utensils.htm#crusher
Dear God, I feel old…
You’ll find one in my parents’ garage. 
I think they might still use it sometimes.
Tupperware ice trays are the best. The lids keep the water from going everywhere, and they are stackable. I remember those aluminum ones sucking rocks - it was always a fight to get the ice out.
I have that very ice crusher. It belonged to my parents. How much is it worth to ya? 
But wait! There’s more! For the right price, I’ll throw in one of those hand-cranked food grinders.
(Just kidding, Mods. I’m not selling anything!)
Erm…I have that particular ice thingie. No, really. I have plastic trays, too. I don’t use the metal thing. the ice lever actually works wonders but my plastic tray has a lid with a hole in it, to be able to fill it up and then close the lid and transport to freezer without spilling. And since I have more trouble not spilling then getting the ice out, I choose to use the spill-free one.
But the metal thing works great!
I used both the aluminum and plastic varieties until . . . very recently. We got a new refrigerator with a functional icemaker about five years ago.
In fact I have a recipe that depends on the old aluminum ones, and I’ve saved the trays for that very purpose. Aluminum had its issues, as mentioned (sticking to your hands, sometimes the cubes are balky) but I had better luck with those than with plastic (you have to twist to get the ice out–but it’s frozen solid!).
Those were the New & Improved kind. Remember their predecessor, the ones that gave you rectangular cubes about 1/3 as thick?
I remember when the plastic, twistable trays came out. We thought it was suuuuuch a brave, new world.
Should have mentioned, they work best when you don’t fill them very full at all. Halfway to the top of the tray at most. So if you need a lot of ice, you need to have a lot of them. But they do stack well.
Perfect, that is it and a reasonable price. I will have to order when I get home. Thank you so much. It looks just like my parent’s one.
Jim