Just the Tip of the Iceberg-The Complex History of Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is taken for granted by most of us in the 21st century. The history of air conditioning has a very long, complicated and interesting back-story. A-1 American Services, the leader in HVAC Virginia Beach, knows air conditioning like the back of our hand, so allow us to introduce a brief history of this luxury we tend to take for granted, air conditioning. The Romans may have been the pioneers of air conditioning, like many other things, and used hollowed-out walls that circulated cool air through a particular room to keep it cool. In this article we discuss the two most important and interesting periods in air conditioning history: the harvesting of ice from lakes, ponds, and icebergs to be distributed among the meat-packing and other industries (and to individuals who could afford it); and the advent of modern air conditioning through William Carrier’s “air chiller” device.
The ice trade, or frozen water trade was a booming, multi-million dollar-a-year industry in the 1800’s. It centered on the retrieval of ice from frozen ponds and streams in the Eastern United States and Norway. After being cut from a frozen lake or pond, and in rare cases even icebergs, it was hauled by boat to land, where it was stored in an “ice house.” From here the ice traveled by barge or train to its intended destination.
Frederic Tudor, New England businessman, is credited with founding the industry in 1806. It turns out he made a smart investment. In only a few short years the industry spread to as for off as India and Australia, gaining him unimagined wealth. Ice houses were built in the Caribbean and other places in hopes that the wealthy European elite living there would enjoy the luxury of ice, to use in a variety of applications. Among other things, the ice trade was a boon to meat-packing industry, among others. The meat, preserved through in the ice, could now be sent internationally and sold there. Of course, even domestically, meat and other perishable foods were now able to last longer and fresher. The ice industry, despite its reach and popularity, would soon fall off the map almost overnight with the advent of William Carrier’s “air chiller” machine. Even in its infancy, his “air chiller” machine had the fundamental components of modern air conditioning Virginia Beach systems.
In 1925 Willis Carrier convinced paramount pictures that his “air chiller” invention would increase summertime attendance in their cinemas. After their Times Square flagship theater installed his invention, ticket sales rose dramatically as audience members enthusiastically proved that Carrier was right. More sales meant huge profits which in turn brought more films, ushering in the Golden Age of Cinema, all thanks to Willis Carrier’s wild idea. The story of the history of modern air conditioning ended with Carrier’s invention, but the future may hold different and more effective heating and air conditioning Virginia Beach systems.
The moral of Carrier’s story is not just that the success of inventions is intimately related with their ability to create corporate profit, but also that the determination of people with great ideas to promote and market their ideas is as important as the ideas themselves, much akin to the saying “a gold mine unharvested may as well be just another cave.”
A-1Â American Services is proud to say that we have the most knowledgeable air conditioning Virginia Beach technicians of any HVAC company in the area. And while the history of air conditioning may be interesting, when your air conditioning breaks on the hottest day of summer…you just don’t care how it works or about its history, you just want it fixed! A-1 American Services understands this, which is why we offer 24/7, 365 emergency services WITHOUT charging any overtime! So when your A/C breaks, make the smart call and call the A-1 American Services at 757-425-2400.
A-1 American Services provides air conditioning, heating and plumbing services, like drain cleaning services to homes and businesses in the Hampton Roads Virginia cities of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News and Hampton and north into Williamsburg. A-1 American provides emergency service and repair, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. A-1 American charges by the job, not by the hour. A-1 American prides itself on immediate response, punctuality, courtesy and customer satisfaction. Call today 757-425-2400
