4.02-7: Frigidaire 1935 Condensing Unit

Description:

The Frigidaire’s ‘H’ series condensing unit for small commercial applications was an essential part of the industry’s ‘golden years’ of early innovative refrigeration engineering. With a new series of compact compressors; a high tech, fully integrated condenser receiver assembly; a floating motor mount and automatic belt tightener, it was a truly innovative contribution to a new generation of quiet, more maintenance free and more user friendly refrigeration machines for the mid 1930’s, letting loose a new wave of consumer expectations of what their local grocer or dairy bar might have in store for them, Frigidaire, Circa 1935

Group:

4.02 Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Condensing Units - Commercial

Make:

Frigidaire

Manufacturer:

Frigidaire Corporation, Dayton Ohio

Model:

H203

Serial No.:

351354-H-203

Size:

18x 16x 13’h

Weight:

65 lbs less motor

Circa:

1935

Rating:

Exhibit, education, and research quality demonstrating the innovation characteristic of the mid 1930’s as the industry moved towards a quieter, more maintenance free and more user friendly refrigeration machine for small commercial applications, including reach-in refrigerators and display cases. Motor not included.

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Provenance:

From York County (York Region) Ontario, once a rich agricultural hinterlands, attracting early settlement in the last years of the 18th century. Located on the north slopes of the Oak Ridges Moraine, within 20 miles of Toronto, the County would also attract early ex-urban development, to be come a wealthy market place for the emerging household and consumer technologies of the early and mid 20th century.

This artifact was discovered in the 1950’s in the used stock of T. H. Oliver, Refrigeration and Electric Sales and Service, Aurora, Ontario, an early worker in the field of agricultural, industrial and consumer technology.

Type and Design:

Somewhat paradoxically, with all its user friendly engineering design features, Frigidaire adhered to the use of noxious SO2 refrigerant.

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Donor:

G. Leslie Oliver, The T. H. Oliver HVACR Collection

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Bibliographic References:

Frigidaire Manual, SER405, products mfd prior to 1937

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Related Reports: