When did the refrigerator replace the icebox?

The more traditional icebox dates back to the days of ice harvesting, which had hit an industrial high that ran from the mid-19th century until the 1930s, when the refrigerator was introduced into the home.

Where did ice for ice boxes come from?

Ice was cut from the surface of ponds and streams, then stored in ice houses, before being sent on by ship, barge or railroad to its final destination around the world. Networks of ice wagons were typically used to distribute the product to the final domestic and smaller commercial customers.

When was the first icebox made?

1840s
1840s. The first iceboxes were made by carpenters, designed to take advantage of the regular household delivery of large blocks of ice. They were insulated wooden boxes lined with tin or zinc and used to hold blocks of ice to keep the food cool.

What was used before fridges?

It may seem obvious to us, but such techniques were a matter of life or death. In other areas other methods of drying were used, like wind drying and even specialist kiln houses were built where fires did the job if the weather couldn’t. Hey presto! Dried herbs, vegetables and fruits produced and stored.

When did people stop saying ice box?

Based on my research, the ice box essentially disappeared during the 1950s as electric household refrigerators became so cheap and the country so prosperous that basically anybody could afford them. When that happened, the use of the word “ice box” declined with the appliance that it represented.

When were ice boxes discontinued?

By the late 1930s, iceboxes were being replaced with electric refrigerators.

How do ice boxes work?

An ice box, or cooler, is a simple, portable device for keeping food and drinks cold. A block or bag of ice is kept in the cooler, along with food. The ice box is kept closed except for when something is needed from inside of it. After that, the water needs to be drained out and the ice needs to be changed.

How long does ice last in an ice box?

Block ice will last far longer than cubes, although cubes will chill things faster. For food storage, get block ice when you can — block ice will last 5 to 7 days in a well-insulated ice box even in 90-plus-degree weather (and longer if it’s cooler). Cube ice will only last one to two days.

How did ice boxes work?

Iceboxes had hollow walls that were lined with tin or zinc and packed with various insulating materials such as cork, sawdust, straw or seaweed. A large block of ice was held in a tray or compartment near the top of the box. Cold air circulated down and around storage compartments in the lower section.

How do you use an ice box?

Put the ice under the racks and the food in the bins on the racks. If the ice box has a drain, leave it closed except when you need to drain water out. It’s not a bad thing to have some water around the ice as it’s colder than the air. Leaving the drain open will just let hot air into the ice box.

How was ice made in the olden days?

Ice was methodically harvested from lakes and ponds and cut into bricks for transportation. The process of ice harvesting looked somewhat similar to crop harvesting, with horses pulling plow-like ice cutters across frozen lakes and ponds. Before ice could be cut, snow had to be cleared from the surface.

How long did ice last in an ice house?

He noted in his diary “snow gives the most delicate flavor to creams; but ice is the most powerful congealer, and lasts longest.” His ice-house, filled in December, held sixty wagonloads of ice in the sixteen-foot deep pit and would typically last till sometime between early September and October 15 depending on the …