Freezer Alarm?

[batterymaker]

I build replica batteries for old portable radios, and while scanning through a 1946 Philco battery catalog, I found this item.

Freezers had built-in power-outage alarms back then?

Bill

 

[Unimatic1140]

Never heard of that before, but I do know that Philco originally stood for the "Philadelphia Battery Company".

 

[wiskybill]

I remember that. My parents had a big International Harvester chest freezer put in the basement in 1951 that had an alarm.
Bells, like a doorbell, that rang if the power went off or it somehow came unplugged. It would ring until you turned it off manually or power was restored. I think it was powered by "D" cell batteries, but my memory is a little fuzzy about that.

 

[bundtboy]

I have seen that

I saw that on a Philco deep freezer once. The battery was right behind the front kick panel and would sound if the temperature began to rise for any reason, such as a power outtage or a door left open.

I also saw a Norge deep freezer, come to think of it, which was the longest, biggest deep freezer I ever saw, and it too had the alarm system powered by a battery.

I think both of those units were made between '47 to 51 or so.

They must be rare though.

B

 

[MrX]

We'd a bosch with one!

Our 1980s Bosch fridge-freezer has an alarm on the 4-Star freezer unit. It sounds and flashes if the door's been left open, or if the temp rises above a certain pre-set. E.g. if someone puts in hot food..

Really only useful for preventing accidental door jams e.g. where someone pushes in an over-sized pizza box.