A history of refrigeration and ice: How 3 common men, weren't

PP Digital

 

We use it. We love it. But we think very little about surviving summertime without it.

The modern world can barely imagine survival without refrigeration and ice. Who of us in surviving generations can even imagine what it was like to use a cellar?

But something we think of as so “simple” actually isn’t so. It took decades of trial, error, and pure imagination to get machines like the refrigerator and the ice machine to hit mass production. And especially the help of three very common people who refused to be ordinary.

William Cullen

The basis for modern refrigeration is thanks to a demonstration given by William Cullen in 1756 at the University of Glasgow. He operated a medical practice and lectured on chemistry and physiology at the university.

Cullen had curiosity. And curiosity always leads to invention, although it wasn’t until much later that the next curious mind would take his steps in a new direction.

How did he move the gears of invention? The Professor used a pump to cause suction over a container that contained diethyl ether. As the ether was boiled, it absorbed heat and created a small amount of ice.

Impressive as it was, it was not yet useful to anyone.

Michael Faraday

Modern refrigerators took a step forward thanks to techniques presented by Michael Faraday. Faraday was able to change ammonia vapors into a liquid through compression. As it evaporated, the air was cooled.

But Faraday wasn’t a professor. He barely even had earned an education. In fact, at a very early age he apprenticed to bind and sell books. But greatness doesn’t take a back seat to opportunity, and Faraday’s opportunity came in the disguise of a simple trade. Surrounded by books, he spent much time reading through those he bound. He taught himself about all kinds of subjects and discovered a love for science and technology. Eventually, earning his own name in their pages.

Modern historians claim that Albert Einstein kept a photo of Faraday on his wall. And it’s undisputable that Faraday’s experiments had great influence on refrigeration, electrolysis, and electromagnetic induction. Not so common anymore, now is he?

Carlinde

An inventor named Carlinde from Switzerland was the first to make a machine that could actually refrigerate a food item—a drink in fact. In 1874 he found that Faraday’s process could be confined in order to chill his beer.

Who can say Switzerland doesn’t love beer?

The same process was used to later create the freezer which condenses liquid to -18 degrees.

And Then Came Ice

In America, refrigeration became essential for another reason. A condensing system was used by the physician named John Gorrie. He needed ice to keep the room cold where his yellow fever patients slept. In 1851 he patented the ice machine.

Also in the 1800’s, Alexander Twining and James Harrison patented ice making machines although is unclear if they had prior knowledge of Gorrie’s uses.

Andrew Huhl decided to make an ice machine in 1867 specifically for the Texas beef industry. Texas beef production was growing and orders were being shipped further than ever. In 1873, Columbus Iron Works received a contract on that patent and produced ice-makers to sell commercially. Eventually, interest in the company and process ended up in the hands of W.C. Bradley, Co.

Take Not for Granted

Now that you’ve followed along for a crash course in technological history, you’ll know who to thank for the summertime iced drinks you enjoy and the chilled fruit within easy access. In fact, refrigeration and ice is exactly what made it possible to have most of the foods in your refrigerator. Take a look at stickers in the local grocery store. They’ve likely travelled from California, Florida, and South America.

Yes. Tonight as you crack open the fridge, take a moment to thank Cullen, Faraday, and Carlinde for giving you the precious gifts of ice. And the grit to see their ideas through to the end.