Electric Refrigerators

One of the successful "specialty industries" of this year has been that devoted to the manufacture and sale of electric refrigerators. Already about 200,000 of these are employed in this country, and the old-fashioned iceman is preparing to follow the cab-driver and sperm whaler into oblivion. Most electric refrigerators still are located in ice-cream plants; not until quite recently have the smaller sizes suited for household use been extensively made or sold. The "ice interests," if such there be, have not yet expressed an opinion upon this new and formidable electrical rival. But the National Electric Light Association estimated that (ice costing 60c. per 100 Ib. and electricity 5.3c. per kilowatt hour) in a temperature of 70DEG the electric refrigerator would consume 2.62 kilowatt hours per day and the icebox would consume 40 Ibs. of ice. Thus, for such a day, the cost of the electric refrigerator would be 13.89c., against 24c. for the icebox; on an annual basis these figures would be $50.67 and $86.40 respectively. The charge for maintenance on the electric refrigerator is estimated at $15 annually, although depreciation on it is held to be less than on the icebox.

Many electric refrigerator companies are already in the field. In addition to the independents -- Frigidaire, Nizer, Serv-el and Kelvinator, the Delco Light (General Motors subsidiary), the Savage Arms (makers of rifles and electric washing machines) and the General Electric Co. are also manufacturing the new electric refrigerators. That there is room for all seems likely, since there are 14,000,000 homes in this country wired for electricity, with 5,000 a year additional being wired each year.