Servel Appliances – Now Gas Can Cool as Well as Heat

Colonel William McCurdy Jr. founded Servel in 1919 as the National Electric Products Company. In 1922, they made history by adopting the Servel name, which came from the company slogan of “serving electricity”.

Jumping to Gas

Ironically, the company’s first product was a gas-powered refrigerator. It was developed in response to the growing demand for refrigeration in homes and businesses. Servel became the leading manufacturer of gas-powered refrigerators in the United States.

In 1925, Servel acquired the American rights to a Swedish patent for a continuous absorption refrigerator. This type of refrigerator used heat to power the cooling process, rather than electricity. Servel began producing absorption refrigerators in 1926, and they were a hit in areas where electricity was not yet available.

Continuous Absorption

A gas powered continuous absorption refrigerator works by using heat to evaporate a refrigerant, which then absorbs heat from the surrounding air. The refrigerant is then condensed back into a liquid and the process repeats. The heat can be provided by a gas burner, an electric heater, or even the sun.

How They Work

Here are the basic steps of how a gas powered continuous absorption refrigerator works:

Evaporation: The refrigerant is pumped into an evaporator, where it is exposed to heat. This causes the refrigerant to evaporate, absorbing heat from the surrounding air. The evaporator is usually located inside the refrigerator, where the heat is removed from the air.

Absorption: The gaseous refrigerant is then pumped into an absorber, where it is absorbed by a liquid absorbent. This releases heat, which is carried away by the absorbent. The absorber is usually located outside the refrigerator, where the heat can be dissipated to the surrounding air.

Condensation: The refrigerant-rich absorbent is then pumped into a condenser, where it is heated. This causes the refrigerant to vaporize, leaving behind the absorbent. The condenser is usually located outside the refrigerator, where the heat can be dissipated to the surrounding air.

Pumping: The refrigerant is then pumped back to the evaporator, where the cycle repeats.
Gas powered continuous absorption refrigerators are more efficient than traditional compressor-driven refrigerators, and they can be used in areas where electricity is not available.

Transition and Decline

In 1939, Servel (now Electrolux-Servel) introduced the first residential gas air conditioner. This product was a major success, and Servel also became a leading manufacturer of air conditioners.

In 1939, Servel (now Electrolux-Servel) introduced the first residential gas air conditioner. This product was a major success, and Servel also became a leading manufacturer of air conditioners.

In the 1950s, Servel began to face increasing competition from other appliance manufacturers. Gas appliances were less in vogue since electricity had found its way even to rural homes by then. The company also struggled to keep up with the changing demands of consumers. As a result, Servel began to lose market share.

In 1956, Servel discontinued the production of gas-powered refrigerators. The company continued to produce electric appliances for a few more years, but it eventually filed for bankruptcy in 1966.

Nevertheless, this writer’s first refrigerator out of college in 1968 was a gas Servel. I remember it to be dependable, cost-efficient, and very heavy!