That's Not An Icebox!

I was cleaning my fridge today and recalled a time when my grandson asked me where his soda was and I responded, "In the icebox." He looked puzzled, turned and went into the kitchen. He just stood there looking around so I inquired again, “what are you looking for?”

He said, “The icebox.” I laughed and replied, “Honey, its right behind you.” With that, he turned, looked at the fridge and pointed asking, “You mean in here Grammy?” I nodded and went back to what I was doing.

He grabbed his soda and walked back across the room to where I was sitting. As he peered down at me, I raised my head and looked into his face. He politely informed me that where he found his soda was not an icebox, it was a refrigerator. I smiled and explained that I grew up hearing my grandparents refer to it as an icebox. “Oh, I see” he replied, “but now we call it a refrigerator so don’t forget Grammy.”

With that, he ran off to play with his brother. Quite proud of his self, I would imagine, since he just moved Grammy out of a time warp and into the 21st Century. Kid’s, they are the greatest!

Thinking of this today made me wonder when the concept of “iceboxes” first evolved and who the genius was that developed this marvelous idea. So, I went to my trusted source---Google, and there I found the following facts.

From 1000 BC until 1871, numerous compatriots from around the globe designed ingenious ways to cool and store perishables.

In 1871, Carl von Linde of Munich, Germany, published and essay on improved refrigeration techniques.

In 1873, he constructed his first practical and portable compressor refrigerator.

In 1876, he altered his earlier models (which used methyl ether) to function on an ammonia cycle.

In 1877, he obtained his first patent through the German Imperial Patent office.

Amazing how far we have come since 1000 BC in keeping our perishables cool, and improving the ever-changing aesthetic appearance of the re.frig.er.a.tor…Without this marvelous invention, we would face a daily task of fighting destructive bacteria, mold and yeast that would gather on our food.

"A boy is truth with dirt on its face, beauty with a cut on its finger, wisdom with bubble gun in its hair, and the hope of the future with a frog in its pocket." ~~Author: unknown