Chrysler Airtemp
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My Aunt Doris and Uncle Joe had Airtemp heating and air conditioning in their second house in west Jackson, MS. The house was built in 1962. It was still in use when they moved in 1991.
My brother had a Plymouth company car from 3M in the early 70's that had stickers on the windows that said it was equipped with Chrysler AirTemp air conditioning. Funny you can recall stupid trivia like that.
cfz2882
Well-known member
I think Chrysler cars had Airtemp up through about 1978 with the iron v-twin compressor.
We used to build things in this country
Great read, but a sad reminder of just how low things have fallen in USA manufacturing wise.
Air conditioners once were a major bit of investment, and if properly maintained lasted decades. Now it's all cheap Chinese/Asian rubbish that is nothing more than bits of thin metal and Styrofoam; you're lucky if they last two seasons of use..
Great read, but a sad reminder of just how low things have fallen in USA manufacturing wise.
Air conditioners once were a major bit of investment, and if properly maintained lasted decades. Now it's all cheap Chinese/Asian rubbish that is nothing more than bits of thin metal and Styrofoam; you're lucky if they last two seasons of use..
I have a Goldstar that has lasted 20 years so far believe it or not. Anything beyond is just luck and borrowed time....but it still works.
reactor
Well-known member
sad demise to a great company
As I have mentioned in past post, I grew and lived in the Dayton, Ohio area. Chrysler was a major employer, both Chrysler automotive and Chrysler Airtemp.
Airtemp home heating and, later, home cooling were the standards in the Dayton Area. My parents house, built in lat '53, early '54 had a Chrysler Airtemp Oil furnace in the basement.
A funny story, shortly after moving in in'54 the furnace developed problems. My dad called Chrysler and the factory sent out two technicians all dressed meticulously in their white uniforms. Dad said they were expecting to just due an adjustment, but ended up having the entire oil burner unit laid out in parts on the basement floor. After several house they left and were no longer wearing white but covered with oil and black soot.
But other than that it was a fine furnace, no major problems even when my parents moved in 1999....still going strong after 45 years. They had added central air to it (Lennox) in 1969.
An especially popular item in the Dayton area were the Chrysler casement window air conditions. I believe Chrysler introduced them or was one of the first. but they were all over town in people's windows.
Dayton was quite a town in the fifties and sixties. The home base for General Motors Frigidaire (my brother-in-law worked in the refrigerator plant). Chrysler Airtemp had it's home base there and NCR (National Cash Register) also.
Charles Kettering, who started Delco, invented the electric car starter there as well as leaded gas (oops). And of course the Wright Brothers perfected their powered flight machines there.
We had Frigidaire appliance dealers everywhere, and Chrysler was the builders standard for HVAC and what store anywhere in the U.S. (until the later sixties) had anything but a NCR cash register.
Now Frigidaire is gone, Chrysler is gone, NCR's home base has moved to Texas and is down to a few buildings, where they previously had manufacturing plant buildings literally covering square blocks.
So sad. Enough reminiscing. But.... I was glad I got to grow up in the heart of Frigidaire, Chrysler and NCR country during their glory days.
As I have mentioned in past post, I grew and lived in the Dayton, Ohio area. Chrysler was a major employer, both Chrysler automotive and Chrysler Airtemp.
Airtemp home heating and, later, home cooling were the standards in the Dayton Area. My parents house, built in lat '53, early '54 had a Chrysler Airtemp Oil furnace in the basement.
A funny story, shortly after moving in in'54 the furnace developed problems. My dad called Chrysler and the factory sent out two technicians all dressed meticulously in their white uniforms. Dad said they were expecting to just due an adjustment, but ended up having the entire oil burner unit laid out in parts on the basement floor. After several house they left and were no longer wearing white but covered with oil and black soot.
But other than that it was a fine furnace, no major problems even when my parents moved in 1999....still going strong after 45 years. They had added central air to it (Lennox) in 1969.
An especially popular item in the Dayton area were the Chrysler casement window air conditions. I believe Chrysler introduced them or was one of the first. but they were all over town in people's windows.
Dayton was quite a town in the fifties and sixties. The home base for General Motors Frigidaire (my brother-in-law worked in the refrigerator plant). Chrysler Airtemp had it's home base there and NCR (National Cash Register) also.
Charles Kettering, who started Delco, invented the electric car starter there as well as leaded gas (oops). And of course the Wright Brothers perfected their powered flight machines there.
We had Frigidaire appliance dealers everywhere, and Chrysler was the builders standard for HVAC and what store anywhere in the U.S. (until the later sixties) had anything but a NCR cash register.
Now Frigidaire is gone, Chrysler is gone, NCR's home base has moved to Texas and is down to a few buildings, where they previously had manufacturing plant buildings literally covering square blocks.
So sad. Enough reminiscing. But.... I was glad I got to grow up in the heart of Frigidaire, Chrysler and NCR country during their glory days.
Though I don't live that far from Dayton, I don't know anyone in my area that had Airtemp equipment. I don't think they had any dealers nearby. The popular brands here have been Carrier, Bryant, Trane, and Lennox. Williamson was very popular in the 60's, as they were located in Oakley, and several people from this area worked there.
Barry, what part of the Dayton area are you from? I have friends in the Centerville, Bellbrook, Spring Valley and Xenia areas. I used to go to the gym (Bally's) near Dayton Mall fairly often.
Barry, what part of the Dayton area are you from? I have friends in the Centerville, Bellbrook, Spring Valley and Xenia areas. I used to go to the gym (Bally's) near Dayton Mall fairly often.
reactor
Well-known member
Dayton area
Hello Tom,
Probably much of the popularity of Chrysler in the Dayton area was due to home town pride (and low to no shipping costs) since the plant was right there.
Cincinnati was/is so populous, and an hour away, that I doubt if Chrysler had any more influence than any other brand.
I was actually born IN Dayton and when young we moved to a suburb, halfway between Dayton and Xenia, called Beavercreek. At the time, Beavercreek was composed primarily of engineers and other professionals who worked at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB). It was only about a 12 minute commute from Beavercreek to WPAFB so it grew quickly as the base's aeronautical research and involvement with NASA grew in the fifties and sixties. Yes, I have relatives in Xenia (land of the tornadoes.)
Did you grow up in one of the suburbs of Cincinnati such as Evendale, Madeira, Montgomery???
I loved going through Evandale just to see the gigantic General Electric Aircraft engine facility.
Did you find much community pride/support for General Electric products similar to what we had for Frigidaire/Chrysler??
By the way, you mentioned Bally's. My Aunt owned a chain of health spas. They started out as "Martin-Cline" but she later changed them to "Vita-Life" Health Spas. She had one in Dayton, one in Kettering and I think the other was in North Dayton, but not sure. Do you remember them, or ever go there? [this post was last edited: 11/6/2020-13:01]
Hello Tom,
Probably much of the popularity of Chrysler in the Dayton area was due to home town pride (and low to no shipping costs) since the plant was right there.
Cincinnati was/is so populous, and an hour away, that I doubt if Chrysler had any more influence than any other brand.
I was actually born IN Dayton and when young we moved to a suburb, halfway between Dayton and Xenia, called Beavercreek. At the time, Beavercreek was composed primarily of engineers and other professionals who worked at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB). It was only about a 12 minute commute from Beavercreek to WPAFB so it grew quickly as the base's aeronautical research and involvement with NASA grew in the fifties and sixties. Yes, I have relatives in Xenia (land of the tornadoes.)
Did you grow up in one of the suburbs of Cincinnati such as Evendale, Madeira, Montgomery???
I loved going through Evandale just to see the gigantic General Electric Aircraft engine facility.
Did you find much community pride/support for General Electric products similar to what we had for Frigidaire/Chrysler??
By the way, you mentioned Bally's. My Aunt owned a chain of health spas. They started out as "Martin-Cline" but she later changed them to "Vita-Life" Health Spas. She had one in Dayton, one in Kettering and I think the other was in North Dayton, but not sure. Do you remember them, or ever go there? [this post was last edited: 11/6/2020-13:01]
Hey Barry,
Thanks for your response. I'm very familiar with Beavercreek, as my friend Lisa lived there for a couple years when she was in elementary school, around '64-'65. Her dad was at WPAFB, where he continued to work after they moved here. Also, a former neighbor lived there for several years. Her ex-husband Gary Nuhn was the head sportswriter at DDN for years. My friend Karen has lived in Xenia several years.
Seems like I remember seeing a Vita-Life facility somewhere in Kettering - was it around Dorothy Lane? It must have been back in the 70's.
GE Evendale sure is a big place! I did a temp job there back in the 80's for a couple months. I know a number of people who have worked there. GE products - especially appliances - were always very popular throughout the Cincinnati area. Nearly all the model homes at Homerama were GE equipped for many years. The GE dealer in this town always outsold the Frigidaire dealer - especially for built-ins.
I've lived within a three block area my whole life, in a small town on the far East side of the Cincinnati area. You may have heard of Blanchester, as it was the site of the Carrie Culberson abduction and murder over 20 years ago. I'm frequently in the Evendale, Maderia and Montgomery areas, as I have friends and relatives there.
If you get back up this way it would be fun to meet sometime!
Thanks for your response. I'm very familiar with Beavercreek, as my friend Lisa lived there for a couple years when she was in elementary school, around '64-'65. Her dad was at WPAFB, where he continued to work after they moved here. Also, a former neighbor lived there for several years. Her ex-husband Gary Nuhn was the head sportswriter at DDN for years. My friend Karen has lived in Xenia several years.
Seems like I remember seeing a Vita-Life facility somewhere in Kettering - was it around Dorothy Lane? It must have been back in the 70's.
GE Evendale sure is a big place! I did a temp job there back in the 80's for a couple months. I know a number of people who have worked there. GE products - especially appliances - were always very popular throughout the Cincinnati area. Nearly all the model homes at Homerama were GE equipped for many years. The GE dealer in this town always outsold the Frigidaire dealer - especially for built-ins.
I've lived within a three block area my whole life, in a small town on the far East side of the Cincinnati area. You may have heard of Blanchester, as it was the site of the Carrie Culberson abduction and murder over 20 years ago. I'm frequently in the Evendale, Maderia and Montgomery areas, as I have friends and relatives there.
If you get back up this way it would be fun to meet sometime!
reactor
Well-known member
working for GE/demise of Chrysler Airtemp
That is so cool, Tom that you got to work for General Electric! Even if temporarily. We're you able to use the GE employee store? I always wanted to go into a GE employee store.
I figured GE products/appliances would be popular in Cincinnati. You probably had many homes equipped with GE HVAC in the Cincinnati area.
Frigidaire and GE both had much airtime with ads in Cincinnati. Did you watch the locally produced daytime show called, "Ruth Lyon's 50-50 Club." which emanated from Cincinnati? I am sure you must have as it had gigantic viewership in the entire tri-state region. I remember Ruth had Frigidaire as her sponsor for years and years.
When she retired from the show, her successor Bob Braun had General Electric Appliances as the sponsor....which made sense since they were made in Louisville, KY, not all that far away.
In the summer, when I was off from school, I watched the show everyday just to see the GE ads. Do you remember every June General Electric had the "GE Convoy Sale" on their home appliances and Bob would have the ad on the air showing the big GE semi's running in a convoy down the interstate loaded with GE appliances.
After the demise of Chrysler Airtemp, which was about the time heat pumps were gaining big popularity, General Electric had all but taken over the HVAC (especially the heat pump facet of it) in the Dayton area. Many of the former Chrysler dealers had converted to GE. Back then GE made gas and oil fired furnaces as well as heat pumps. They were builder's favorites in the area as were GE appliances in the kitchens.
I remember in the '70's, in Beavercreek, some of the new homes for sale had gigantic banners attached by the builder to the outside of the house saying, "Equipped with General Electric Energy Saving Heat Pump." that was a big selling point, Beavercreek didn't have gas then, and oil heat was losing popularity. The heat pump just took over the HVAC market in Beavercreek until the early and mid 80's when gas came in.
I wonder if most Chrysler Airtemp dealers around the country also converted to GE. By the time Jack Welch sold GE HVAC to Trane in 1980, GE had the lion's share of residential HVAC in the country.
Tom, I saw on your profile that Westinghouse is your favorite vintage appliances. (One of my favorites as well) but we had no Westinghouse dealers in Beavercreek that I can remember and I don't recall seeing them (appliances nor electronics) at the large department stores such as Rike's.
GE and Whirlpool seemed to be the dominate in our area. I wish we had a Westinghouse dealer. We did have a GE Appliance store in Xenia that for many years was exclusively General Electric appliance and electronics. I would go in and drool over the GE stereo's, ha. My dad bought my mom her filter-flo set there.
BTW, I remember a huge, huge appliance and electronics store out of Cincinnati that was almost elusively General Electric products. It was two names, hyphenated, but just can't recall it.
BTW--(Yes, you are correct. My Aunt had her Kettering health spa location right off of Dorothy Lane. She had the spas from the mid sixties (she started about 64 or 65) until about 1972 when she sold the chain to Vic Tanny and retired to Florida. I do pass through Cincinnati when I go home and would love to meet! It's been years since I've gone back to Ohio so I am overdue for a trip. I have always loved Cincinnati and went there whenever I could.--liked everything but the traffic, ha Went to Mt. Adams and the old closed off section of Delhi Pike, on field trips, to study the extensive landslide damage.)
That is so cool, Tom that you got to work for General Electric! Even if temporarily. We're you able to use the GE employee store? I always wanted to go into a GE employee store.
I figured GE products/appliances would be popular in Cincinnati. You probably had many homes equipped with GE HVAC in the Cincinnati area.
Frigidaire and GE both had much airtime with ads in Cincinnati. Did you watch the locally produced daytime show called, "Ruth Lyon's 50-50 Club." which emanated from Cincinnati? I am sure you must have as it had gigantic viewership in the entire tri-state region. I remember Ruth had Frigidaire as her sponsor for years and years.
When she retired from the show, her successor Bob Braun had General Electric Appliances as the sponsor....which made sense since they were made in Louisville, KY, not all that far away.
In the summer, when I was off from school, I watched the show everyday just to see the GE ads. Do you remember every June General Electric had the "GE Convoy Sale" on their home appliances and Bob would have the ad on the air showing the big GE semi's running in a convoy down the interstate loaded with GE appliances.
After the demise of Chrysler Airtemp, which was about the time heat pumps were gaining big popularity, General Electric had all but taken over the HVAC (especially the heat pump facet of it) in the Dayton area. Many of the former Chrysler dealers had converted to GE. Back then GE made gas and oil fired furnaces as well as heat pumps. They were builder's favorites in the area as were GE appliances in the kitchens.
I remember in the '70's, in Beavercreek, some of the new homes for sale had gigantic banners attached by the builder to the outside of the house saying, "Equipped with General Electric Energy Saving Heat Pump." that was a big selling point, Beavercreek didn't have gas then, and oil heat was losing popularity. The heat pump just took over the HVAC market in Beavercreek until the early and mid 80's when gas came in.
I wonder if most Chrysler Airtemp dealers around the country also converted to GE. By the time Jack Welch sold GE HVAC to Trane in 1980, GE had the lion's share of residential HVAC in the country.
Tom, I saw on your profile that Westinghouse is your favorite vintage appliances. (One of my favorites as well) but we had no Westinghouse dealers in Beavercreek that I can remember and I don't recall seeing them (appliances nor electronics) at the large department stores such as Rike's.
GE and Whirlpool seemed to be the dominate in our area. I wish we had a Westinghouse dealer. We did have a GE Appliance store in Xenia that for many years was exclusively General Electric appliance and electronics. I would go in and drool over the GE stereo's, ha. My dad bought my mom her filter-flo set there.
BTW, I remember a huge, huge appliance and electronics store out of Cincinnati that was almost elusively General Electric products. It was two names, hyphenated, but just can't recall it.
BTW--(Yes, you are correct. My Aunt had her Kettering health spa location right off of Dorothy Lane. She had the spas from the mid sixties (she started about 64 or 65) until about 1972 when she sold the chain to Vic Tanny and retired to Florida. I do pass through Cincinnati when I go home and would love to meet! It's been years since I've gone back to Ohio so I am overdue for a trip. I have always loved Cincinnati and went there whenever I could.--liked everything but the traffic, ha Went to Mt. Adams and the old closed off section of Delhi Pike, on field trips, to study the extensive landslide damage.)
Hey Barry, since I wasn't an employee, I didn't get to go to their store. I was there about six weeks doing inventory in the tool area.
GE HVAC was very common in new construction around Cincinnati, though in my immediate area it wasn't often seen. Their Weathermaker heat pump was seen in many model homes throughout the late 60's and 70's.
I remember Ruth Lyons very well! My mom was a faithful viewer everyday she was on. My sister and I knew not to bother her for that hour unless we were sick, or the house was on fire or something. Mom went to see the show in person at least twice.
I recall the GE "convoy sale" ads, and the local dealer participating, with a banner over the doors.
I don't know who would have sold Westinghouse products in the Dayton area. I'd imagine you remember BHA (especially if you watched "Uncle Orrie"), but I associate them with Frigidaire; don't know what other brands they sold. Do you remember the BHA song? There was also a furniture store - Barnett's in Bellbrook - that advertised frequently. I seem to recall appliances were sold there, but don't know what makes.
I'm trying to think of what large GE dealer that would have been in Cincinnati. Recker & Boerger has sold GE for many years. Do you recall the location of the store you're thinking of?
The Bally's on 725, and on Wilmington Pike, had originally been Vic Tanny. I think they were built late 70's or so. Do you happen to know what's now located where the Kettering spa your aunt owned was?
You mentioned Mt. Adams. I occasionally go walking there, as the hills are good exercise. I remember several years ago when the big concrete posts and wall were built to stop the sliding.
Let me know when you will be up this way again.
GE HVAC was very common in new construction around Cincinnati, though in my immediate area it wasn't often seen. Their Weathermaker heat pump was seen in many model homes throughout the late 60's and 70's.
I remember Ruth Lyons very well! My mom was a faithful viewer everyday she was on. My sister and I knew not to bother her for that hour unless we were sick, or the house was on fire or something. Mom went to see the show in person at least twice.
I recall the GE "convoy sale" ads, and the local dealer participating, with a banner over the doors.
I don't know who would have sold Westinghouse products in the Dayton area. I'd imagine you remember BHA (especially if you watched "Uncle Orrie"), but I associate them with Frigidaire; don't know what other brands they sold. Do you remember the BHA song? There was also a furniture store - Barnett's in Bellbrook - that advertised frequently. I seem to recall appliances were sold there, but don't know what makes.
I'm trying to think of what large GE dealer that would have been in Cincinnati. Recker & Boerger has sold GE for many years. Do you recall the location of the store you're thinking of?
The Bally's on 725, and on Wilmington Pike, had originally been Vic Tanny. I think they were built late 70's or so. Do you happen to know what's now located where the Kettering spa your aunt owned was?
You mentioned Mt. Adams. I occasionally go walking there, as the hills are good exercise. I remember several years ago when the big concrete posts and wall were built to stop the sliding.
Let me know when you will be up this way again.
reactor
Well-known member
GE Appliance Store
Yes, Recker & Boerger is the name I was trying to think of! I was never at one of their stores, but wanted to go. One of my former students drove to Cincinnati to buy a GE VCR back about '85 or '86 when VCR's were becoming popular. He was telling me what a nice store and what good selection they had. I also remember their radio ads for GE appliances. I assumed they were one of GE's premier dealers. Were they exclusively General Electric?? I got that impression.
Wow you brought back memories with BHA and Barnett's! Yes..ha..I remember the BHA jingle. My dad did a lot of business there. He bought and organ, a piano and many General Electric appliances. They carried Kitchen-Aid, as well. But I am not sure of other brands.
I remember going to Barnett's when my dad was looking to buy our first color TV in 1964. Barnett's carried Motorola electronics. I don't recall what else they had I was only about ten year old.
No, I don't know what is at my Aunt's three former health spa locations. Since Vic Tanny sold many of their outlets to Bally's, when they went out of business, I assume all three are now Bally's. Haven't been that way in well over ten years.
"Uncle Orrie's" TV show. I was on that when I was nine years old. My cub scout troop went. I remember being nervous because I was on TV. I was afraid Uncle Orie might choose me to be one of those he selected to come out of the audience and be featured on camera. (Thankfully--I wasn't.)
I remember a Cincinnati kids show I watched with Captain Windy, who wore a cape and I think she appeared on the show with her husband. I think it might have been "Uncle Al" but can't remember.
Well...enough reminiscing ha.
Back to appliances.
It is sad we no longer have stores dedicated to specific brand appliances like the GE Appliance Center in Xenia. I remember going there and they had rows and rows of washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, console TV sets, etc. lined up by model from the cheapest to the most expensive. It was easy to compare.
Same with new home construction. Often builder's would use one brand for the entire kitchen and sometimes the same brand for the HVAC as well. GE used to have signs that realtors would put in the yard saying, "This home is equipped with a GE kitchen" General Electric even made intercoms for a short while and central vacuums (although I think Beam made the vacuums and put GE's name on them) duct mounted electronic air cleaners as well as oil, gas, electric furnaces and A/C. So in many cases you could have.literally, an entire General Electric home.
The world has changed...no Chrysler Airtemp, GE HVAC gone, thanks to Neutron Jack. (Thankfully Trane kept their Weathertron design going). Frigidaire is only a name, GE Appliances is now owned by the communist Chinese, Norge, Blackstone, Kelvinator are all entities of the past. Westinghouse is nothing but a name and logo to be be stuck of any product---if the manufacturer pays the licensing fee.
Few, if any, appliance brand Premier Stores that proudly carried only one brand still exist. Most people don't care now days what brand appliances they have, as long as they are cheap, let alone care if they have mixed appliances in their kitchen.
Oh well....thankfully we have people on this site who care and appreciate the appliances of the past, that were built with quality, and are preserving them.
Yes, Recker & Boerger is the name I was trying to think of! I was never at one of their stores, but wanted to go. One of my former students drove to Cincinnati to buy a GE VCR back about '85 or '86 when VCR's were becoming popular. He was telling me what a nice store and what good selection they had. I also remember their radio ads for GE appliances. I assumed they were one of GE's premier dealers. Were they exclusively General Electric?? I got that impression.
Wow you brought back memories with BHA and Barnett's! Yes..ha..I remember the BHA jingle. My dad did a lot of business there. He bought and organ, a piano and many General Electric appliances. They carried Kitchen-Aid, as well. But I am not sure of other brands.
I remember going to Barnett's when my dad was looking to buy our first color TV in 1964. Barnett's carried Motorola electronics. I don't recall what else they had I was only about ten year old.
No, I don't know what is at my Aunt's three former health spa locations. Since Vic Tanny sold many of their outlets to Bally's, when they went out of business, I assume all three are now Bally's. Haven't been that way in well over ten years.
"Uncle Orrie's" TV show. I was on that when I was nine years old. My cub scout troop went. I remember being nervous because I was on TV. I was afraid Uncle Orie might choose me to be one of those he selected to come out of the audience and be featured on camera. (Thankfully--I wasn't.)
I remember a Cincinnati kids show I watched with Captain Windy, who wore a cape and I think she appeared on the show with her husband. I think it might have been "Uncle Al" but can't remember.
Well...enough reminiscing ha.
Back to appliances.
It is sad we no longer have stores dedicated to specific brand appliances like the GE Appliance Center in Xenia. I remember going there and they had rows and rows of washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, console TV sets, etc. lined up by model from the cheapest to the most expensive. It was easy to compare.
Same with new home construction. Often builder's would use one brand for the entire kitchen and sometimes the same brand for the HVAC as well. GE used to have signs that realtors would put in the yard saying, "This home is equipped with a GE kitchen" General Electric even made intercoms for a short while and central vacuums (although I think Beam made the vacuums and put GE's name on them) duct mounted electronic air cleaners as well as oil, gas, electric furnaces and A/C. So in many cases you could have.literally, an entire General Electric home.
The world has changed...no Chrysler Airtemp, GE HVAC gone, thanks to Neutron Jack. (Thankfully Trane kept their Weathertron design going). Frigidaire is only a name, GE Appliances is now owned by the communist Chinese, Norge, Blackstone, Kelvinator are all entities of the past. Westinghouse is nothing but a name and logo to be be stuck of any product---if the manufacturer pays the licensing fee.
Few, if any, appliance brand Premier Stores that proudly carried only one brand still exist. Most people don't care now days what brand appliances they have, as long as they are cheap, let alone care if they have mixed appliances in their kitchen.
Oh well....thankfully we have people on this site who care and appreciate the appliances of the past, that were built with quality, and are preserving them.
Barry, I think R&B has sold other brands over the years. They have Maytag, and I seem to remember seeing Whirlpool there a few years ago.
I figured you'd remember the BHA jingle. I never went to see "Uncle Orrie", even though my dad's Aunt and Uncle from Hillsboro knew him (Joe Rockhold) well. He also did the "Urban & Suburban" show. You are right about "Uncle Al", whose wife Wanda was Captain Windy. I went to the show for my 7th birthday.
Even though I live somewhat closer to Cincinnati, I'm pretty familiar with the south Dayton area. We had friends of the family in Bellbrook, and dad had relatives that lived off Watervliet Ave., so was over there occasionally.
I remember the yard signs for homes with GE kitchens. The ones I saw usually mentioned it being a "Gold Medallion Home". My friend Sam and his family just moved into a house built in 1966, and it has the Gold Medallion plaque by the doorbell.
Exclusive brand stores weren't too common in the Cincinnati area, though I recall a couple Maytag stores. The largest appliance store was Swallen's, which closed in 1995. They sold many brands, but didn't have GE until about 5 years before they closed, as they were a big Hotpoint dealer since their early days.
Appliances today are so generic; guess they've gone the way of cars. Hard to tell them apart. Old ones are much more interesting.
I figured you'd remember the BHA jingle. I never went to see "Uncle Orrie", even though my dad's Aunt and Uncle from Hillsboro knew him (Joe Rockhold) well. He also did the "Urban & Suburban" show. You are right about "Uncle Al", whose wife Wanda was Captain Windy. I went to the show for my 7th birthday.
Even though I live somewhat closer to Cincinnati, I'm pretty familiar with the south Dayton area. We had friends of the family in Bellbrook, and dad had relatives that lived off Watervliet Ave., so was over there occasionally.
I remember the yard signs for homes with GE kitchens. The ones I saw usually mentioned it being a "Gold Medallion Home". My friend Sam and his family just moved into a house built in 1966, and it has the Gold Medallion plaque by the doorbell.
Exclusive brand stores weren't too common in the Cincinnati area, though I recall a couple Maytag stores. The largest appliance store was Swallen's, which closed in 1995. They sold many brands, but didn't have GE until about 5 years before they closed, as they were a big Hotpoint dealer since their early days.
Appliances today are so generic; guess they've gone the way of cars. Hard to tell them apart. Old ones are much more interesting.
