Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Condensing Units – Commercial
An innovative adaptation of an air-cooled refrigeration machine of the mid 1930’s, attempting to make it more user friendly, less machine like, by fully enclosing it in its own ventilated cabinet. The identification plate carries the name “Frigidaire Electric Refrigerator, Product of General Motors”, marking a significant, somewhat ominous step, in the maturation and pre WWII restructuring of the North American refrigeration industry. The plate also carries the corporate address of Toronto, clearly establishing the company’s residency in Canada, Frigidaire, 1937.
Industrial Significance:
The restructuring of the North American refrigeration industry prior to WWII, was a sign of the times, as markets mushroomed, market competition ballooned and the costs of engineering, development, production and marketing increased many fold. The result was the need for increased capital and stable operating funding for research and development, which were seen as available from big business. Big business was also getting bigger and where anxious to move into developing markets and defining new profit centres for themselves.