General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

3

Total Parts

8

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Metal wire shelf.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

47.3 cm

Width

40.8 cm

Height

1.9 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Domestic Technology

Category

Food processing

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

IH

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Illinois

City

Chicago

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

1953-2014

Canada

This refrigerator was purchased in Ottawa at the Modern Farm Supplies Limited on May 25, 1953 by Norman and Rebecca McLeod for $305. Modern Farm Supplies Limited was located at 23 Murray St. and operated until the1960s. This distributor provides an interesting link between the farm equipment that was the main product line of International Harvester and domestic technologies manufactured by the company and promoted mostly to farmers. McLeods chose the model based on its price. They considered three IH refrigerators: a high-end L103 for $345, a 10.4 cubic feet model with a U-type freezer, 11 gold-trimmed racks and a thermostat-controlled butter storage; L-84, $335 model with 8.5 cubic feet of storage space, with a full 51-lb freezer, 5 1\2 shelves and gold-trimmed egg rack; and only a slightly smaller, 8.2 cubic feet, L-82 for $305 with 35-lb freezer, 6 shelves, and a simpler interior finish. The couple used the refrigerator in their house at 454 Gladstone Avenue, and 24 Brown Street, in Ottawa. The refrigerator, now in the basement, is still plugged-in, although it has not been used to store food for a while. Mrs. McLeod is moving to a residence, and she decided to donate the fridge to the museum. It comes with trade literature and a sales receipt. (From Acquisitions Worsheet, see Ref. 1)

Function

To support items on the inside of a refrigerator to make the best use of space.

Technical

This fridge is an example of a post World War II horizontal diversification in the International Harvester’s product line. The company, created in 1902, manufactured refrigerators and operated a refrigeration division since Nov. 25, 1945 and produced appliances between 1947 and 1955. In 1955, the division was sold to Whirlpool Corporation. The company produced high quality appliances. Its refrigerators were designed to meet technological, but also fashion requirements of a modern housewife. The IH refrigerators were “femineered” – an expression trademarked by IH – engineered especially for\by women. As Shelley Nickles noted in her excellent article “Preserving women…,” refrigerators underwent an extensively redesign in the late 1930s and the 1940s. Only slightly related to food preservation technologies, the changes reflected the social function of the appliance: its central location in women’s lives. In the 1930s, the “average customer” of the appliance was a prudent, efficient and busy housewife. The aesthetic changes of the 1940s were implemented to attract a post-depression era, modern women who valued function as well as style. The trade literature produced by the International Harvester refers to technical features of the refrigerators and the “fashion-firsts.” The IH 1950s appliances included 7-Climate Refrigeration and Decorator models. The 7-Climate Refrigeration referred to 7 different areas with specific temperature inside the refrigerator. Each temperature area was adapted for specific types of foods from “frozen foods” to “butter easy to spread.” The Decorator models allowed women to drape fabric over their fridges to match décor of any kitchen. Ann McDermit commented that her father would not hear about draping the fridge in a fabric and it remained in its original, yellow finish. The femineered models came in white or yellow exterior and a spring-fresh green interior, unusual for refrigerators. The shadowline styling of the door, the shape of the freezer and the butter compartment, rounded edges of chrome-plated shelves, streamlined handle, and the IH logo reflected modern fashion trends. The fridge featured a built into the door, magnetized bottle opener that prevented caps from falling to the floor. Seven freezer settings included automatic, push-button defrost, vacation setting, warmer than normal position to convert the freezer into another fridge compartment, and summer and winter settings. Interestingly enough, the trade literature also refers to the fact that the motor was oiled for life, a feature that was standard since the 1940s, but obviously was still on the customer’s mind. The refrigerator was endorsed by Irma Harding (IH), a character created by IH in 1947 to promote its refrigerators and freezers. Irma Harding was a perfect farm housewife. She was beautiful, energetic, smart, and often described as “authentic” and “rural.” Irma became a household name among housewives on North American farms. She has been originally created by Haddon Sundblom, who also designed the Coca Cola’s Santa. Ann Pharr posed for the painting. IH hired 5 home economists to answer “Irma’s” mail and test the refrigerators in a model kitchen set up in the plant in Evansville, Indiana. The women worked with engineers to improve the design of appliances and came up with fabric used in advertisements. 70 more home economists traveled across the US and educate home makers on refrigeration. The women acted as spokespeople for the company, but also often worked with salesmen’s wives to train them to promote IH. They were known as Irma Harding girls. Similar campaign was probably conducted in Canada, there is however no research done on this topic. Irma Harding has been trademarked by Case IH and the name has been revitalized in 2013 to promote china and peanuts. [For additional information regarding International Harvester, see Notes tab] (From Acquisitions Worsheet, see Ref. 1)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

None apparent.

Missing

Appears complete

Finish

A shelf made of silver coloured metal wiring or rod. There are also some areas of brown discolouration.

Decoration

N/A