Every technological shift or innovation is less like a brick being hurled through the canvas of society, but more like a rock dropped on the surface of the pond. First, there is the impact of the event—the motor car, the telephone or the hoop skirt, but from that surge thousands of ripples in ever-widening circles that echo throughout society. First, we had car phones—now, the pockets on Lululemon leggings change shape and size to accommodate the latest smartphone models. We once had mail-order catalogs with orders that took weeks to arrive; now, you can pay for groceries on Amazon Prime using your palm print (creepy, I know!) and have them delivered by drone in just a few hours. Well, the introduction of refrigerators to homes across America revolutionized dish cabinets virtually overnight.
While the basis of refrigerator technology was introduced in the mid-18th century, the cooling chemicals were extremely unstable. Early fridges coexisted with ice boxes beginning at the turn of the 20th century; however, it was not until the discovery of Freon in 1928 that fridges became more reliable, affordable and widely adopted, replacing the ice box—and eventually, the ice man.
While ice boxes had been for short-term food storage, and the ice had to be replaced every day or so, the advent of modern refrigeration meant food could be kept at consistent temperatures, and for longer periods of time. Early fridges only had freezers big enough for 2 ice cube trays, and were essentially a cabinet with two wire shelves. All the storage features we automatically assume in even the most basic fridge model—door storage, drawers for produce and dairy or containers like Tupperware ham keepers, salad keepers and meal-prep sets were non-existent. While money was tight during the Great Depression, as fridges entered the market, their ability to keep food for longer made refrigeration both a luxury and a money saver.
During the Depression, leftovers were not something to be wasted, and tips to reimagine leftovers began littering home magazines. Glass makers also responded to the market and the lack of built-in fridge storage by quickly developing “refrigerators ware” (along with oven-to-table lines). These dishes are characterized by long, slim, rectangular-shaped boxes with lids, all designed to maximize storage space. Some companies, like McKee Glass Company or Jeannette Glass Company expanded their lines to include kitchen canisters for pantry staples like flour and sugar, and mixing bowls, while US Glass Company expanded their purview to pantry storage. Similarly, butter dishes and pitchers for milk (if it was delivered straight from the farm in a pail) entered the market.
Fridges also meant drinks could be cooled and ice made to have on hand at any time, hence the explosion of charming but cheaply produced tumbler and pitcher sets, water carafes and ice buckets of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The advent of widespread refrigeration also revolutionized food transportation. Fruit, including citrus from Florida, grapes from California and bananas from farther south could be added to menus for larger parts of the year, spurring glass companies to produce reamers for juicing and the advent of fresh-squeezed orange juice as part of a “balanced breakfast”.
All good things must come to an end, even if temporarily. With the advent of mass-produced plastics and Tupperware in the 1940s and higher availability of convenience foods, glass containers fell out of favor for something less fragile and with a tighter seal. However, recent rising concerns about microplastics and BPA leaching into food has marked a return to glass fridge containers, bringing fridge storage full circle. As Trudy used to say, “What comes around, goes around…”
Xoxo,
Kaitlyn
PS If you’d like to see more antique fridges and vintage fridge ads, here’s a great blog post!
I’m Loving
While summer might be winding down, the Virginia humidity won’t be subsiding for a while. My favorite weapon for beating the heat is a paper hand fan (and I also like to think it makes me look elegant, haha!). I love the classic blue and white striped design from Tarpley, Thompson & Company in Colonial Williamsburg (sadly, only available in person), but there are lots of options online (just look for solid paper—the sandalwood versions do not move enough air!).
I’m Watching
On the Basis of Sex, a biopic about Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Her story of tenacity, fortitude, love for her family and championing laws she believed were unjust in the face of sexism, her husband’s health crises and trying to find her place in the world during the 50s, 60s and 70s was inspiring. Also, the clothing was fantastic—always a plus! Available on Netflix, Amazon Prime or Apple TV.
I’m Reading
The Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka. The pictures are a little dated, but the concepts are not. “Architecture always wins”, and this book examines how to pair life design with home design. I might not be busting down walls after reading this, but it’s made me more thoughtful about storage and furniture placement/purchasing as were in the middle of home refresh.
About me
Kaitlyn Townsend is a third generation vintage reseller. Her shop, is inspired by her maternal grandparents, Homer and Trudy. When she's not at auctions, Kaitlyn is pursuing a career as a professional singer. You can follow her music account on Instagram @kaitlyn.townsend.sings and her vintage account @homerandtrudy. Shop Homer + Trudy on Etsy.
Sources
https://familytreemagazine.com/history/history-matters-refrigerator/
The collectors guide to depression glass by Klamkin, Marian