Here's a little factoid for automotive buffs, or just to dazzle your friends.
The four Goldberg brothers, Lowell, Norman, Hiram, and Max, invented and developed the first automobile air-conditioner.
On July 17, 1946, the temperature in Detroit was 97 degrees. The four brothers walked into old man Henry Ford's office and sweet-talked his secretary into telling him that four gentlemen were there with the most exciting innovation in the auto industry since the electric starter.
Henry was curious and invited them into his office. They politely refused, but instead asked that he come out to the parking lot. They persuaded him to get into their car, which by that time was about 130 degrees; they turned on the air conditioner, and began cooling the interior very quickly.
The old man got very excited and invited them back to the office, where he offered them $3 million for the patent.
The brothers refused, saying they would settle for $2 million, but they wanted the recognition by having a label, 'The Goldberg Air Conditioner,' on the dashboard of each car in which it was installed.
Now old man Ford was more than just a little anti-Semitic, and there was no way he was going to put the Goldberg's names on two million Fords. They haggled back and forth for about two hours and finally agreed on $4 million, but in exchange agreed that only their first names would be shown.
And so to this day, all Ford air conditioners show Lo, Norm, Hi, and Max on the controls.
The four Goldberg brothers, Lowell, Norman, Hiram, and Max, invented and developed the first automobile air-conditioner.
On July 17, 1946, the temperature in Detroit was 97 degrees. The four brothers walked into old man Henry Ford's office and sweet-talked his secretary into telling him that four gentlemen were there with the most exciting innovation in the auto industry since the electric starter.
Henry was curious and invited them into his office. They politely refused, but instead asked that he come out to the parking lot. They persuaded him to get into their car, which by that time was about 130 degrees; they turned on the air conditioner, and began cooling the interior very quickly.
The old man got very excited and invited them back to the office, where he offered them $3 million for the patent.
The brothers refused, saying they would settle for $2 million, but they wanted the recognition by having a label, 'The Goldberg Air Conditioner,' on the dashboard of each car in which it was installed.
Now old man Ford was more than just a little anti-Semitic, and there was no way he was going to put the Goldberg's names on two million Fords. They haggled back and forth for about two hours and finally agreed on $4 million, but in exchange agreed that only their first names would be shown.
And so to this day, all Ford air conditioners show Lo, Norm, Hi, and Max on the controls.
I can hear your groans from here. I don't invent these stories, people; I merely repeat them.
Have a great day!
1 comment:
GROOOAAAAAANNNNN!
Post a Comment