An early, large, heavy body, adjustable thermostatic expansion by Fedders, marking the entrance of another national supplier to the commercial refrigeration field, during its first period of rapid expansion in the mid 1930\u2019s; fitted with 4 foot remote bulb power element, with brown Bakelite shell and tinned brass body, with severe stress marks indicating something of its difficult life\u2019s journey, Fedders, circa 1934.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Features:<\/strong> Original shop tag telling stories of the life and times of the valve<\/p>\n\n\n\n Technical Significance:<\/strong> This artifact of history tells the many stories of early adoption of this particular refrigerant flow control technology. After a brief flurry of excitement over the use of costly and delicate float operated devices, as a more efficient means of flow control, industry engineers would return to the automatic expansion valve in the early 30\u2019s. But for many medium and larger applications the automatic expansion valve would give way to the more elegant and efficient thermostatic valve for use in a new generation of \u201cdry evaporator\u201d applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Industrial Significance:<\/strong> The valve, heavy and clumsy by comparison with the work of more mature suppliers to the market place of the period, notably Detroit Lubricator [see ID # 186, 201 and 202], would suggest a less well developed engineering and manufacturing capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The heavy stress marks also tell something of the times in which this valve lived out its life. It was a period in which service and installation workers in the refrigeration field were not well trained in this area of speciality, moving into the field from other areas of mechanical work. It was a period too in which few specialized tools where available. The marks on the body suggest the use of brut force without the tools and experience appropriate for the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The original stock tag in Howard Oliver\u2019s hand writing tells much of the life and times in matters of trade practice. In the mid 1930\u2019s parts where not expendable commodities except in rare circumstances. It was a period much more disposed to a \u201crepair and recycle\u201d philosophy, an essential part of the post depression period of \u201cwaste not want not\u201d. New parts were not considered an option, if they could be replaced on an exchange basis, so as to ensure continued operation, at the lesser of costs. This meant that a repaired part was also available for a future, potential user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The frequency of the service and repair rate of the period also reflected the much less sophisticated engineering design, materials and manufacturing methods of the times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a period, too, in which inventorying methods and transportation made new parts much less readily available, which again gave preference to more expedient solutions, when breakdown occurred and perishable foods were likely to be lost.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An early, large, heavy body, adjustable thermostatic expansion by Fedders, marking the entrance of another national supplier to the commercial refrigeration field, during its first period of rapid expansion in the mid 1930\u2019s; fitted with 4 foot remote bulb power element, with brown Bakelite shell and tinned brass body, with severe stress marks indicating something of its difficult life\u2019s journey, Fedders, circa 1934.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20667,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","cpt_portfolio_group":[97,199],"class_list":["post-20666","cpt_portfolio","type-cpt_portfolio","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","cpt_portfolio_group-commercial","cpt_portfolio_group-refrigeration"],"yoast_head":"\n
Heavily stressed body, telling stories of the difficult life\u2019s journey of this valve, its use and abuse in a period of little industry maturity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The valve would stand as a wonderful icon of the early years in TX valve development, as the industry searched for an alternative to the costly and often troublesome, liquid refrigerant, float valve technology of the mid 1920, and 30\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This valve was the work of a relative new comer in the refrigeration field in the mid 1930\u2019s, Fedders. It would prove to be a significant marker of the changing times, with new markets and new suppliers with national aspirations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n