Here's a little fact for automotive buffs, or just to dazzle your friends: Four Goldberg brothers, Lowell, Norman, Hiram, and Max, invented and developed the first automobile air-conditioner.
On July 17, 1946, the temperature in Detroit was 97 degrees. The Goldberg brothers walked into Henry Ford's office and convinced his secretary into telling Ford that four gentlemen were there with the most exciting innovation in the auto industry since the electric starter.
Henry was curious and invited them into his office. They refused, and instead asked that he come out to the parking lot where they persuaded him to get into their sweltering car. One of the brothers started the engine then turned on the air conditioner. The interior quickly became noticeably cooler.
Ford was quite excited and invited them back to the office, whereupon he offered $3 million for the patent rights.
Three million in 1946 was a lot of money. But, the brothers waffled. They demanded a label, “The Goldberg Air-Conditioner”, be placed on the dashboard of every car in which it was installed.
Now, Henry Ford was more than just a little anti-Jewish; the thought of the Goldberg’s name on two million Fords was disagreeable - no way he was going to do that.
For hours the haggling went back and forth. In the end the brothers finally accepted a $4 million buyout, and Ford agreed that their first names would be acceptable.
Thus, to this day all Ford air conditioners have their names on the controls: Lo, Norm, Hi, and Max.
On July 17, 1946, the temperature in Detroit was 97 degrees. The Goldberg brothers walked into Henry Ford's office and convinced his secretary into telling Ford that four gentlemen were there with the most exciting innovation in the auto industry since the electric starter.
Henry was curious and invited them into his office. They refused, and instead asked that he come out to the parking lot where they persuaded him to get into their sweltering car. One of the brothers started the engine then turned on the air conditioner. The interior quickly became noticeably cooler.
Ford was quite excited and invited them back to the office, whereupon he offered $3 million for the patent rights.
Three million in 1946 was a lot of money. But, the brothers waffled. They demanded a label, “The Goldberg Air-Conditioner”, be placed on the dashboard of every car in which it was installed.
Now, Henry Ford was more than just a little anti-Jewish; the thought of the Goldberg’s name on two million Fords was disagreeable - no way he was going to do that.
For hours the haggling went back and forth. In the end the brothers finally accepted a $4 million buyout, and Ford agreed that their first names would be acceptable.
Thus, to this day all Ford air conditioners have their names on the controls: Lo, Norm, Hi, and Max.
![1280px-Thermador_Car_Cooler[1].jpg](https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/data/attachments/207/207338-dd50779e386ec816f2d9152290b59fea.jpg "1280px-Thermador_Car_Cooler[1].jpg")
