My furnace is an AIR EASE (and OLD Air Ease) and it somehow didn't make that list...
-- Dave
-- Dave
HVAC Brands of the Past. Where are they now?
- Thread starter a440
- Start date
Help Support :
Lennox
Does anyone else remember the huge Lennox A/C Condenser's that were installed in Schools,Churches and business? They were about 6' tall and the fan was huge! Like the size of an air-plane propeller. I can remember being fascinated with them as a kid. And they were so loud! The compressors were huge. They compressors looked like an engine from a car.
I always wondered how many tons these units were. They were hooked up to Gas Lennox Furnaces that were about 150,000 Btu's. Years ago I went by a church in New Orleans that had these units. I was surprised to see that quite a few were left. The units that were replaced had regular Trane units. I know of one church in the Atlanta area that still has them, and one Gay bar that has one. Still going strong. I can't even imagine the power these beast require.
Does anyone else remember the huge Lennox A/C Condenser's that were installed in Schools,Churches and business? They were about 6' tall and the fan was huge! Like the size of an air-plane propeller. I can remember being fascinated with them as a kid. And they were so loud! The compressors were huge. They compressors looked like an engine from a car.
I always wondered how many tons these units were. They were hooked up to Gas Lennox Furnaces that were about 150,000 Btu's. Years ago I went by a church in New Orleans that had these units. I was surprised to see that quite a few were left. The units that were replaced had regular Trane units. I know of one church in the Atlanta area that still has them, and one Gay bar that has one. Still going strong. I can't even imagine the power these beast require.
Thne there's also "Night And Day"... (or is it "Day And Night"?)
-- Dave
-- Dave
ovrphil
Well-known member
I grew up in a two family Dutch Colonial, ca. 1925. It had two gas furnaces that "talked". The valves opened and closed(?)making an alternating high/low pitch whispering sound. It was eery, being in the basement, hearing that sound as a kid. I hope to find a photo of these dual furnaces - and I can't recall the brand, despite looking at the flames and pipes so many times for so many years. They were very similar to this furnace in the photo with air/heat pipes that were round, coming out/into the units. My dad eventually replaced these monstrosities with smaller, more efficient units, but I can't remember the brand. I never saw the name Luxaire on the original units.
That's a big list - this thread might go on for a couple years. lol.
That's a big list - this thread might go on for a couple years. lol.
Phil,
I know the exact sound you are talking about. It is a very unique sound. It is neat to imagine two furnaces side by side making the sounds.
The Williamson Temp-O-Matic gas valve made this distinct sound. It had lot's of harmonics to it when it lit the burner that you could actually hear throughout the house.
I know the exact sound you are talking about. It is a very unique sound. It is neat to imagine two furnaces side by side making the sounds.
The Williamson Temp-O-Matic gas valve made this distinct sound. It had lot's of harmonics to it when it lit the burner that you could actually hear throughout the house.
philr
Well-known member
Frigidaire did outsource it's window air conditioner production for the Canadian market during the 1960s. Many were made by Heat Controller.
Last summer, I was surprised to find locally a US-built Frigidaire Prestige air conditioner from 1966. They weren't sold here but apparently, the original owner studied in Boston and often purchased stuff in the US.
This one has a Frigidaire 2 cyl. compressor. Other US-built GM Frigidaire air conditioners I have either have Copeland or Tecumseh compressors.
For those who like window air conditioners who haven't already seen it, there's this interesting blog about window units, Ken posted here recently.
Last summer, I was surprised to find locally a US-built Frigidaire Prestige air conditioner from 1966. They weren't sold here but apparently, the original owner studied in Boston and often purchased stuff in the US.
This one has a Frigidaire 2 cyl. compressor. Other US-built GM Frigidaire air conditioners I have either have Copeland or Tecumseh compressors.
For those who like window air conditioners who haven't already seen it, there's this interesting blog about window units, Ken posted here recently.
glomain
Well-known member
western auto citation a/c
who made them ? best a/c ive ever owned. it was 22,700 btu, I got it used in 1989,just died last summer. when I tore it apart it was made in 1977.it was one hell of an a/c window unit ! couldn't find any info for parts so I had to scrap it & got almost 40.00,would of liked to fix it.
who made them ? best a/c ive ever owned. it was 22,700 btu, I got it used in 1989,just died last summer. when I tore it apart it was made in 1977.it was one hell of an a/c window unit ! couldn't find any info for parts so I had to scrap it & got almost 40.00,would of liked to fix it.
Greg,
Interesting about your Western Auto A/C. My Grandparents had one that was so powerful. It was a "Citation". To stand in front of it was brutal. Theirs had the discharge of the air on the right of the unit. They had this A/C for at least 30 years until they installed A/C to their Furnace.
I heard somewhere years ago that they were built by Norge. Some expert may know.
I just remember when this unit was running it was fun to go look at the Electric Meter run! That booger would be spinning like a top!!!
Interesting about your Western Auto A/C. My Grandparents had one that was so powerful. It was a "Citation". To stand in front of it was brutal. Theirs had the discharge of the air on the right of the unit. They had this A/C for at least 30 years until they installed A/C to their Furnace.
I heard somewhere years ago that they were built by Norge. Some expert may know.
I just remember when this unit was running it was fun to go look at the Electric Meter run! That booger would be spinning like a top!!!
glomain
Well-known member
brent
yes mine had the rightside discharge & when the compressor kicked on ya thought the wheel was going to spin out of the meter box ! it was a power house. shame no one makes anything worth a dang anymore(just toss away junk !)
yes mine had the rightside discharge & when the compressor kicked on ya thought the wheel was going to spin out of the meter box ! it was a power house. shame no one makes anything worth a dang anymore(just toss away junk !)
glomain
Well-known member
brent
that makes sence it came from family in w.va. & almost all my family in the hills had norge or western auto appliances.not many stores where im from in the hills, thank ya,greg
that makes sence it came from family in w.va. & almost all my family in the hills had norge or western auto appliances.not many stores where im from in the hills, thank ya,greg
tennblondie78
Well-known member
Actually, the Corvette Assembly plant in Bowling Green, KY is an old Chrysler Air Temp plant. The building actually looks like an old Chrysler plant because GM never removed the large blue trim band that runs around the top of the building. You still see a lot of old Chrysler Air-Temp units around here still chugging away. Years ago I lived in a house built in the early 70's that had a Chrysler unit in it. Worked well.
glomain
Well-known member
brent
I did find a picture of it.we only took it out 1 time(until it died)
I did find a picture of it.we only took it out 1 time(until it died)
Neat info about the Corvette plant
I assumed it was all new.
When I was going to the University of Tennessee in the 1980s, many of the older buildings had Chrysler Airtemp window units. They were had the name lettered on them so large you could read it a couple of blocks away -- with teenage vision, that is.
I assumed it was all new.
When I was going to the University of Tennessee in the 1980s, many of the older buildings had Chrysler Airtemp window units. They were had the name lettered on them so large you could read it a couple of blocks away -- with teenage vision, that is.
The house my Aunt Doris lived in from '63 until '91 had the original Chrysler AirTemp central air that was installed when the house was built in '62. It kept the house cold as a freezer - as they liked it.
Tom
Your memory of your Aunts home with the Chrysler Air-Temp is great! I remember these units (Window and Central) having much colder air than the units of today. Bone Chilling air!
I have been in many homes for sale in the Atlanta area that still have the original Chrysler Condensers and Furnaces still running with a clean inspection for running!
One house that we were very interested in had an original Chrysler Gas Furnace that was paired to a Singer Condenser. It was during July when we looked at the home. The home was bone dry cold! It was a great feeling! I knew before investigating the HAVC unit that it had to be vintage. It was.
Sadly they declined our offer on the house.
Your memory of your Aunts home with the Chrysler Air-Temp is great! I remember these units (Window and Central) having much colder air than the units of today. Bone Chilling air!
I have been in many homes for sale in the Atlanta area that still have the original Chrysler Condensers and Furnaces still running with a clean inspection for running!
One house that we were very interested in had an original Chrysler Gas Furnace that was paired to a Singer Condenser. It was during July when we looked at the home. The home was bone dry cold! It was a great feeling! I knew before investigating the HAVC unit that it had to be vintage. It was.
Sadly they declined our offer on the house.
