'Piston Action Refrigerator with revolving shelves' toy by Exelo
Object No. 85/2577-46
This miniature fridge manufactured by Exelo, Japan, illustrates the fashion for domestic appliances after the second World War, when new consumer markets were being explored. In the 1950s young girls were encouraged to aspire to be the perfect wife, cooking and cleaning and creating an immaculate household. Toys are an important reflection of contemporary society. The refrigerator was a very important invention whose principles were pioneered by a British scientist, Lord Kelvin after whom the Kelvinator brand was named. It superceded the ice box and many other domestic cooling devices. Two Americans, Nathaniel B.Wales and Edmund J.Copeland, were responsible for setting up the manufacture of American domestic electric fridges from 1914 using Lord Kelvin's ideas. In Australia kerosene fridges were manufactured by Edward Halstrom in the 1930s. They resembled a functional flat white box with a handle on the front. During the 1950s demand increased and the need to appeal to the housewife led to designs with round shoulders such as this one. Electrical appliances became important status symbols during the nineteen fifties and were known as 'whitegoods' in UK and Australia.
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Summary
Object Statement
Toy refrigerator and trays (2), part of toy collection, ''Piston Action Refrigerator with revolving shelves', pink, battery operated, tin plate / plastic, made by Exelo, Japan, c. 1955
Physical Description
Toy refrigerator, tin plate, made by Exelo, Japan, c. 1955
DIMENSIONS
Height
250 mm
Width
130 mm
Depth
130 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
Refrigerators Chapter 3 Home, Hearth and Housekeeping Says that 1825-1875 was a time of many patented refrigs designed for industry. By 1880s fridges were common in liners, railroads, breweries, industry. By 1880s. Ice factories were common and folk had ice boxes until 1940s. The compressor small enough to use in a domestic setting wasn't invented until 1914. By late 20's they were safe and reliable. [www.aef.com/pdf/Chapter 3 web.pdf] http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blrefrigerator.htm http://programs.northlandcollege.edu/owl/MLA%20sample%20paper.htm http://www.trivia-library.com/a/history-and-story-behind-inventions-refrigerator.htm http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/refrigerator.htm When the domestic refrigerator first appeared in the US around 1850, it was a slate-lined, well-insulated wooden cabinet for blocks of ice. These had been cut during winter from frozen rivers and stored until needed in summer. Food was laid directly on the ice. But by 1856 it was recognised that some commodities, particularly meat, were discoloured this way, and models with a separate ice compartment were made. The first mechanical domestic refrigerator was developed in 1879 when the German engineer Karl von Linde modified an industrial model he had designed 6 years earlier for the Sedlmayr Brewery in Wiesbaden. The cooling cycle was achieved by repeated compression and evaporation of ammonia, and was powered by a small steam pump. By 1891, Linde had sold 12,000 machines in Germany adn America. "The Inventions the Changed the World" reader's Digest, 1983 609 INV The other factor which, of course, hindered British progress was the lack of a reliable electricity supply until after WWII. Until 1945 it was a privilege of the middle classes to have electricity. The working classes had gas because it was cheaper. There was also an attitude which prevailed among those in authority at the time that working class folk, especially women, were too stupid and irresponsible to be trusted with electricity. Presumably it was OK for them to gas themselves. "The Guiness Book of Innovations: The 20th century from Aeorsol to Zip" Geoff Tibballs, Guinness Publishing, 1994 REF 609 TIB
SOURCE
Acquisition Date
23 December 1985
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