PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 



American Institute, Polytechnic Association, ? 

 June 14, 1860. \ 



Professor Mason in the chair. 



Mr. S. H. Elliott produced one of Winship's patent self-ventilat- 

 ing refrigerators, and stated that the principle on which it was con- 

 structed was very simple, being in fact, as old as the laws of nature ; 

 that the ice was placed in the top, and the provisions in a cham- 

 ber appropriated for that purpose, at the bottom ; the register, in 

 front of the ice department, was for the ingress of air, which, on 

 feeling the effects of the ice, fell into the provision chamber 

 underneath, thence, up an apartment along the sides, making its 

 exit through the registers in the sides ; that the pressure of the 

 atmosphere on the refrigerator was so great, that it prevented 

 the vapor from rising to the top ; the principal advantage of 

 this refrigerator over others was, that the cold air performed 

 the double function of effectually cooling and ventilating the 

 provision chamber, and protected it from the warm air without ; 

 that the provision chamber being furnished with an atmosphere 

 that was uniformly cool, and constantly changing, articles of a 

 strong odor could be kept in it, without, in any way, affecting 

 those which are more delicate ; that there was combined in this 

 refrigerator a saving of space, food, and consumption of ice, &c. ; 

 it took medals wherever presented ; the one produced was No. 

 3, cost $25 — prices vary from $15 $40. 



Mr. Dibben. — What would be the difference of letting the air 

 pass through the bottom, instead of the sides? 



Mr. Elliott. — By doing so, the ventilation would not be so 

 perfect. This box will contain a piece of ice, weight forty 



