2020 RETA Breeze Nov-Dec

David’s wife, Margaret, had saved some money in case of need. Such was her faith in David’s abilities that she gave it to David and his brother James, so they could began rebuilding the machine. David worked diligently and by October, began producing ice in the lean-to beside a lumber company. Unfortunately, David’s health was failing, his debtors were demanding payment, and being October, ice sales were insufficient to rescue David. The winter was a hardship. They say hope springs eternal, and spring is the time of growth and renewal. David prospered from both hope and renewal (and a warm spring). In the spring of 1874, his machine would start again and began producing clear ice. While most machines produced cloudy ice in cans, the Boyle machine produced clear sheet ice. It is thought that this was the machine destroyed by fire at the Louisiana Ice Manufacturing Company later this same year. A reasonable assumption, but this has not definitively been proven. By some accounts David would once again come on hard times. But by August, David’s skills were in demand, he accepted a business offer in Quincy, Illinois with William. B. Bushnell. Over the next year, two machines were built for installation in Texas at the Capitol Ice Company of Austin. This was a project for Richard King of King Ranch fame. In August of 1875 David would relocate to Chicago building machines with the Crane brothers. A new design was developed in 1876 with only one machine produced. Two machines were produced in 1877. Five in 1878. But more

Circa 1891 Consolidated Ice Machines Refrigerating Machine

thing ready, eeded to the ment I rojected, e

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importantly, 1878 saw the first Boyle Refrigerating Machine by the Boyle Ice Machine Company. The Machine was installed at the Downer & Bemis Brewing Co. in Chicago, Illinois. Many reports falsely credit it as the Bemis and McAvoy Brewery, however John McAvory would not become involved as the brewery President until 1882 and thus the name change did not occur until that time. The Boyle refrigerating machine exceeded expectations. It may be beneficial to discuss the ice machine vs. the refrigerating machine. The ice machine was a self-contained unit which produced ice. The refrigeration machine, compressed the refrigerant and could be used in a wide range of applications, thought more often then not at this time to produce ice. In 1879 a Boyle machine was erected in Atlanta, Georgia. David believed this machine to be his best design. This design would continue until after David’s death. 1884 proved a hard year, as the Boyle Ice Machine Company would merge with Empire Refrigerating Company

to form the Consolidated Ice Machine Company. David would leave the company but continue on his own with great success. The Lawsuit Prior to the merger, Thomas J. Rankin issued papers to be granted rights to 50% of the sales of Boyle compressors in Texas. This resulted from a business relationship years earlier (probably 1874) between Rankin, William Bushnell, David, and his brother James Boyle. The suit was interesting in that it involved three very important figures from refrigeration history. As related to the courts, in 1874 Mr. Rankin of Emporia, Kansas, but well established in the Texas ice trade. The Boyles were in need of capital and Mr. Rankin was in need of ice. Mr. Bushnell and Mr. Rankin would supply capital for the construction of several machines. Interestingly, Bushnell and Rankin were to also profit from any future Boyle Patents. In exchange David was to receive a $100 per month salary and reimbursement of his expenses. There were several buyout clauses

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