2023 RETA Breeze March-April
resignation on January 26, 1904. His appointment was reported as far away as Germany. His resignation was apparently due to his objections to changes made in the ice distribution plans for the fair. The “Fair”was an event which highlighted a multitude of refrigeration innovations. With over 1600 tons of refrigeration in operations, Gardner managed to generate much interest from manufacturers throughout the industry. Procuring agreements with 8 major machinery manufacturers. In 1903, Gardner took time from his Fair preparations to address the Southern Ice Exchange. His speech was described as “The Principal Feature” of the conference. Gardner spoke under his title as “Chief of the Bureau of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition”. An endorsement of Gardner’s fair preparation was soon forthcoming from the Southwestern Ice Exchange as well. Gardner would be called to address most of the influential ice and refriger- ation organizations of the day, including the Indiana Ice Manufacturer’s Association, and the Western Ice Manufacturer’s organization among others. Following the 1904 fair, Gardner would file suit against the exposition for the sum of $45,000 due to his treatment. (editor’s note: the scandal surrounding the refrigeration exhibition of the 1904 world’s fair is fascinating and a must read!). Mr. Voorhees was at heart a true refrigeration pioneer and one prone to seeking facts. To that end, he often engaged in spirited debates with the leaders in the industry at the time. Through discussions, sometimes heated, the industry moved forward. By questioning the information presented by his peers, he assured that factual information was being given to the industry. One such event occurred in 1906 at the second conference of the American Society of Refriger- ation, Mr. Voorhees entered a discussion with another industry great, Edgar Penny (The Frick Company). This discussion was fascinating. It concerned the costs of Ice production and storage in comparison to the making of Refrigeration when needed by artificial means. Certainly, Gardner was for the latter.
GARDNER T. VOORHEES — “It seems to me in assuming that it takes two tons of refrigeration to make a ton of ice, that the proposition would come down to this, that the ice you make not only requires twice as much refrigeration to produce it, but also requires a considerable expenditure of money to land it in the icehouse. Consequently, the ice in the icehouse stands you more than twice as much in cost as it would to make the refrigeration”. At the same Conference, Mr. Voorhees had another spirited discussion with Thomas Shipley (York Manufacturing). Concerning a paper Mr. Shipley had presented, Gardner specifically wanted to know the exact conditions of the tests performed by Mr. Shipley. GARDNER T. VOORHEES: It looks to me as if you show an extraordinarily low friction as low as the friction of an engine without any compressor attached. I have in mind the eight very splendid tests made by Prof. Denton some years ago, on, I think, a 10 in. x 30 in. “consolidated” machine. It had two single acting compressors and a vertical engine, and the average of those eight tests, working from 8 pounds gauge back pressure to 28 pounds gauge back pressure, as I recall it, was 22 percent of the engine horsepower. Taking those eight tests, which were carefully made, and seeing the friction used per horsepower, running up to 22 per cent., it seems inconceivable, and I would like to have this explained. I would like to know if it were the result of one test or the results of a number of tests. If you assume that the dry compressor can be operated at less than 10 percent friction Joss, I want to know whether it is the result of an extended series of tests. THOMAS SHIPLEY: You want to know how we made up those figures? GARDNER T. VOORHEES: No; whether that was a certain test under low conditions. THOMAS SHIPLEY: The conditions are stated. GARDNER T. VOORHEES: What was the back pressure? THOMAS SHIPLEY: 13.67 pounds gauge. GARDNER T. VOORHEES: What was the condensing pressure? THOMAS SHIPLEY: 185 pounds gauge. The reason that it is so low is that the compressor is hung tandem behind the steam cylinder. GARDNER T. VOORHEES: Is it your regular type that you put on the market? THOMAS SHIPLEY: No, sir. GARDNER T. VOORHEES: That is what I am driving at. THOMAS SHIPLEY: The comparison would be the same, would it not? GARDNER T. VOORHEES: That is what I want to know, whether it was your regular type or a special machine? THOMAS SHIPLEY: The machine is special, but the relative friction between the two conditions is represented by the figures shown. I am not trying to sell any of your ice machines; I am only showing you what happened in our test. We are not trying to fool you. GARDNER T. VOORHEES: I hope you do not think that I am attempting to find fault with your most splendid paper. The data are very fine, but what I want to arrive at is what is the friction under ordinary conditions of the “York” machine. ‘ THOMAS SHIPLEY: I am not trying to demonstrate anything about the “York” machine. This particular machine is not on the market. GARDNER T. VOORHEES: Do you claim that you can operate the “York” machine with less than 9 per cent. friction or not? THOMAS SHIPLEY: I am giving you a whole array of figures to tell you what we have done.
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