When the “icy ball” was put on the market, around 1930, by the CROSLEY
CORP., it was the first time that a mechanical refrigerator was available to
anyone who had a source of hot water, heated by kerosene, wood stove or
wash pot. It had a hot ball and a cold ball, and the refrigerant was ammonia
gas. The hot ball was placed in hot water, forcing the gas into the cold ball
where it condensed into a liquid. By removing the heat source, the liquid would
then “boil” away, moving into the outside ball, and making the cold ball frost
over. It would freeze about a pint of water, or ice cream, depending on
conditions. There were no moving parts, and could be recycled every day, or
every other day.
