History of the Development of Ice Makers

The development history of ice makers can be traced back to ancient times. Due to the lack of refrigeration technology, people in ancient times stored food in underground cellars during winter, and then transferred ice blocks to the cellar filled with frozen river water to keep the food fresh. However, in the southern subtropical regions where there is no ice and snow all year round, it became more difficult to preserve food for a long time.

The invention of John Gorrie

The true inventor of the ice maker is Dr. John Gorrie from the United States. In 1851, he showcased the ice maker to the world and obtained the corresponding design patent. Although Gorrie never manufactured commercial ice makers, he is recognized as a pioneer in the refrigeration field. In addition, he also invented the air cooling system for hospitals in Florida. However, Gorrie was not the only inventor of the ice maker. In 1853, Donald MacAlexander and James Harrison from Australia also invented ice makers and obtained relevant technology patents. In 1866, Thaddeus Lowe invented the first commercial ice maker, which was used for commercial production.

The birth of household refrigerators

In the mid-19th century, with the development of technology in various countries, household refrigerators began to replace old-fashioned ice chests. However, early household refrigerators did not have a freezer compartment. It wasn't until the 1920s that household refrigerators became widely used in the West and gradually added freezers and ice trays, allowing people to make ice cubes at home.

Popularization of ice makers

In 1953, Servel introduced the first built-in ice maker, bringing ice-making technology from manually filling with water to automatically making ice through a water pipeline connected to the ice maker inside the house. By the late 1960s, built-in ice makers had become very common in refrigerators.

In 1965, Northstar introduced the first indoor refrigerator with a water dispenser, automating the distribution of ice and water without the need for manual operation. By 1985, improved ice makers were able to store up to 12 pounds of ice in refrigerators.

Modern ice makers

Today, people can purchase standalone ice makers and bar ice makers. These ice makers can produce small ice cubes in a short period of time and do not require manual operation, achieving fully automatic ice making.