On this day (November 26) in 1876, Willis H. Carrier, was born into an old New England family. By the turn of the century, he developed a system of conditioning air in a stiflingly hot and humid Brooklyn printing plant. The new environment ensured stability in the paper, perfect alignment of four-color printing, and a more efficient and comfortable work force. It was soon a huge success in several industries. By the 1920s, air conditioning became popular in retail trade and entertainment, especially the movie theater. It was a small jump from commercial systems to home systems and by the 1930s air conditioning began a slow but steady increase in usage until the post World War II era when it boomed.
 |
| Carrier posing with a 1922 model chiller |
Carrier's application would have far reaching impacts on the American experience. Regionally, air conditioning made the South livable during long hot summers. The result was a massive shift in population and jobs from North to South beginning in 1960's. It is a trend that not only continues today but also shows no sign of stopping.
These days we take the comfort of air conditioning for granted across the nation giving it attention only when it's either time to change the filter or repair a compressor.
No comments:
Post a Comment