Home Cold Storage

Ladies' Mirror, Volume V, Issue 2, 2 August 1926, Page 46

Home Cold Storage

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Two students, while still at the University, have invented an apparatus which, it is claimed, is the only known contrivance which will continuously produce cold without the use of any mechanical parts. Unlike many other inventors, they have had their remarkable invention taken up by a wealthy firm, which is about to place it upon the market. Encased in an attractive cabinet this latest invention in refrigerators is operated by the action of water, ammonia, and hydrogen, which, under the influence of heat, supply the motion that is usually provided in other refrigerators by an auxiliary motor. Connected with the ordin-

ary electrical installation, a household cabinet can be run at a daily cost of 4d, and, in addition to preserving as much food as can be packed into ten cubic feet, will supply a valuable quantity of ice for household use. Employed with gas as the agent of heat, the daily cost is only lid. This refrigerator, which is constructed in a variety of sizes, such as are illustrated on this page, and is said to be the nearest approach to perpetual motion in existence. The invention is an alterative to the use of preservatives, and to a great forward step in the preservation of food by cold storage. The refrigerator was not a luxury, as it was within the means of many

householders and all small village shops, provision stores, butchers' shops, and dairies. Experiments were being made with a special apparatus for cooling milk to a temperature of 45 degrees. MANY inventors were handicapped by the lack of financial and other assistance with which to carry out their ideas, but the young men while still at the University not only made the discovery but were able to improve the original idea to its present efficiency. In order to supply the heat there must be electric current, gas, oil, or waste steam, and water was required for cooling.

A small quantity of ice could also be produced for beverages. The ice-safe, as shown in our illustration of the smaller household model, contained three shelves, with different temperatures for different types of goods. The machine was fool-proof; there were no moving" parts to get out of order, there was no noise or vibration, and, even if the heat was left switched on and without water, it could not burst. There was no wear and tear, and the liquid gases lasted for many years. By turning a switch refrigeration could be continually maintained. It would be possible to sell the machine at about half the cost of those at present on the market.

HOUSEKEEPERS nowadays realise what a boon a home icechest is, but the expense of installing one has placed them outside the reach of many. With this new invention, however, the initial cost is very largely reduced, and the expense of installing and running is a mere trifle. The public have been educated to the necessity in these days to improve their methods to secure the utmost cleanliness of food, and its storage under the new conditions that this wonderful invention will go a long way to place an hygienic cool-storage cabinet and

ice-chest within the reach of even humble householders. The British company which will manufacture this refrigerator for the New Zealand market expects to have models available early in the Spring, and judging by the remarkable success the Electrolux people, have already achieved with this new invention in Great Britain, there is certain to be a great demand for the early importations to this country. It is interesting to note in regard

to this invention of the two young students, Messrs. Platen and Munters, that the world's record deal in patent rights has recently been completed by Mr. A. L. Wenner-Gren, a Swedish business man. For 2,500,000 dollars (£500,000) an American combine has secured the American and Canadian rights for the manufacture of a refrigerator. In addition, the combine has to pay 50 per cent, of the profits and a royalty on the sale of each appliance made. Mr. Wenner-Gren, who is still under 50, is president of the Elec-

trolux concern, and spent two months in American carrying out the negotiations which have just been concluded. "Financiers in Wall Street laughed at my terms at first," said Mr. Weimer-Gren, "but I think their very magnitude impressed them, so that they felt obliged to look into the proposition. There were hesitations and half-withdrawals, and I had many anxious moments before the deal was through."