The invention of the refrigerator was a gradual process with contributions from multiple inventors over the centuries. Key milestones include:
- In 1748, Scottish physician William Cullen first demonstrated artificial refrigeration through evaporative cooling.
- In 1834, American Jacob Perkins invented the first vapor compression refrigeration system.
- In 1876, German Carl von Linde patented an improved method for liquefying gases used in refrigeration.
- The first home electric refrigerator was invented in 1913 by American Fred W. Wolf. It featured a refrigeration unit on top of an icebox.
- Mass production of home refrigerators began in 1918 when William C. Durant introduced the first home refrigerator with a self-contained compressor.
- By 1927, home refrigerators started to achieve widespread popularity in the U.S.
Thus, while the concept dates back to the mid-18th century, the modern electric refrigerator for home use dates from 1913, with mass production beginning around 1918.
