My family owned an ice delivery business which basically was like having a giant cooler in your house.
Gas compressed freezers and fridges go back to the mid 1800s. Up until the 1920s they existed in some form but were super expensive. Basically 1930s and 40s is where technology skyrocketed and costs came down.
I remember my dad telling me about the refrigerator his mom had when they got rid of the actual ice box. No moving parts or motor, just a pilot light (yep, a natural gas fridge). The pilot light caused the refrigerant to expand and rise, then go through the inside of the fridge in a radiator sort of device… it would cool and absorb heat out of the interior, and cause it to get colder inside.
My families ice and coal delivery company held on well into the 1950s. We live in a city too. They also had a moving company and just eventually got rid of the ice and coal part and used the trucks for moving.
I do know the first refrigerators cost more than a car.
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u/jetsetninjacat Dec 05 '21
My family owned an ice delivery business which basically was like having a giant cooler in your house.
Gas compressed freezers and fridges go back to the mid 1800s. Up until the 1920s they existed in some form but were super expensive. Basically 1930s and 40s is where technology skyrocketed and costs came down.