CHAPTER III
PORCH EQUIPMENT
ICELESS REFRIGERATOR NO. 1
Country homes without ice houses and too far from town to have access to manufactured ice may have an iceless refrigerator as a good substitute. This convenience comprises a simple wooden frame with a covering of canton flannel, burlap, Indian-head cloth or linen crash made to fit so that little air is admitted into it. Wicks made of the same material as the cover are tacked on top of each side of the cover and extend over into the pan of water sitting on top of the frame. This water is taken up by the wicks and carried down on the sides of the cover by capillary attraction when evaporation takes place, drawing the heat from the inside and lowering the temperature. The more rapid the evaporation, the lower the temperature. Tests have shown that if the refrigerator is kept in a place where the air circulates around it freely, a temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit may be obtained.
Materials:
- 40’ of white pine.
- 1 pair of 1½” (butt) hinges to fasten the door.
- 1 2” gate hook to close screen door.
- ½ lb. 5-penny nails to build frame.
- 3½ yds. wire screening to cover frame.
- 4 sq. ft. sheet zinc to make shelves.
- 1 pt. white paint.
- 1 can white enamel.
- 1 square pan for top of refrigerator.
- 1 large pan for bottom.
- Sandpaper.
- 2 cards of snap hooks and eyes to put on cover.
- 5 yds. white canton flannel.
Dimensions:
- Frame: 4 pieces ½” thick × 3” wide × 48” long, for upright pieces.
- 16 pieces 1” thick × 1” wide × 16” long, to be used as crosspieces for top, bottom, and shelves.
- Door: 2 pieces ½” thick × 3” wide × 39” long, for upright pieces.
- 2 pieces 1” thick × 1” wide × 16” long, for crosspieces.
Directions:
Make the frame 3½’ high with twelve crosspieces tacked to the four posts, nailing the first 4 strips 9” from the bottom of the frame, and the remaining 8 strips about 11” apart. An 18½” square frame is made of wood and nailed on top of the posts. The corners of this square are mitered or lapped over and tacked together. Use a biscuit pan to fit in top of the square to hold the water. The whole refrigerator should stand in a larger pan which catches the drippings from the cover and keeps away the insects. The screen door is made 39” long × 16” wide, which is joined to the frame with hinges and fastens with a hook. Three movable shelves with perforations in them are made of zinc. Cover the whole frame with wire screening to protect it from the flies. When the frame is finished it should be painted white and enameled. This will permit of its being washed every day. A covering of white canton flannel is made to fit the screen, with the smooth side out, care being taken that the cover comes to the lower edge of the frame. The wicks are made half the width of the sides and tacked on the top edge of each side. These must be long enough to extend 3” over into the water. Strips of canton flannel 2” wide are tacked all around the sides and the top of the frame, and the eyes are sewed on these. White tape may be used for this purpose if more convenient. Sew one row of hooks on the edge of the covering near the latch and the other just opposite the opening, with the hem to extend far enough over on each side to cover crack at the edge of door. This permits the door to be opened without unfastening the hooks, keeping out the warm outside air and at the same time retaining the cool air inside the refrigerator. Hook the covering around the top also. Place the refrigerator in a shady place where the air will circulate around it freely. Keep the wicks in a supply of fresh water in the top pan. The water is taken down the sides by capillary attraction, and when evaporation takes place the heat is taken from the inside thereby lowering the temperature.