DOMELRE
DOMELRE (abbreviation of DOMestic ELectric REfrigerator) was the the first mass-produced, small electric refrigeration system, invented and patented by Frederick William Wolf Jr. (1879-1954) in 1913 and produced starting in 1914 by Wolf's Mechanical Refrigerator Company in Chicago (several hundred units were made).[1][2][3][4] Fred Heideman was also involved in the unit's design and patents.[4] The unit replaced the block of ice in the icebox with the electrical-powered cooling device[4] and was completely automatic.[1]
Labelled as the "first electrical refrigerator",[2] It has been described as "revolutionary" in the history of domestic refrigeration.[5]
History
DOLMERE was invented and patented by Frederick William Wolf Jr. (American engineer also known as Fred W. Wolf Jr.,1879-1954), a charter member of the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers, in 1913. It was produced starting in 1914 by his Mechanical Refrigerator Company in Chicago (several hundred units or thousands[1] units - estimates vary - were made).[1][2][3][4] Fred Heideman was also invented in the unit's design.[4] In 1916 Wolf sold the rights to the invention to Henry Joy, president of Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit, which released an upgraded version under the name ISKO.[1][2][4] Having sold about a thousand more models, Joy's company nonetheless went bankrupt in 1922.[4]
Commercially, DOLMERE was described as "a quick hit".[3] The unit was considered relatively inexpensive for its time.[2] The original model was sold for $900;[3] the 1916 model was priced at $385 in 1916, later dropping to $275.[4]
Significance
DOLMERE has been described as "revolutionary" in the history of domestic refrigeration.[5] It has been described as the "first electrical refrigerator" and well as the "first successful, mass marketed package automatic electric refrigeration unit",[2] "the first plug-in refrigeration unit", "the first mass-produced small refrigeration system".[1]
DOMELRE contained a number of innovations not found in prior domestic refrigerators, such as offering automatic temperature control by thermostat, an air cooled condenser that did not require water, and not the least, it also introduced a freezing tray for ice cubes.[2][5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Nagengast, Bernard (2007). "Re-Inventing the Wheel in HVAC&R Technology: History Does Repeat!". ASHRAE Transactions. 113 (1): 186–191.
- ^ a b c d e f g "DOMELRE First Electric Refrigerator | ashrae.org". www.ashrae.org. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ a b c d "Air Conditioning and Refrigeration History - part 3 - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century". www.greatachievements.org. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Nagengast, Bernard (2004). "Electric refrigerators vital contribution to households". ASHRAE Journal. 46 (11): 11–16.
- ^ a b c Nagengast, Bernard (2000-05-01). "It's a Cool Story". Mechanical Engineering. 122 (05): 56–63. doi:10.1115/1.2000-MAY-3. ISSN 0025-6501.