LOCKERS and /or 

 HOME FREEZERS 



THE evolution of preserving perish- 

 able farm products has been an in- 

 teresting subject. The canning method 

 has long been in use. To what extent 

 will the freezing method replace the 

 canning? The use of the frozen food 

 locker is directing considerable atten- 

 tion to a wider use of this method of 

 preservation. To what extent will it be 

 used in the future by both rural and ur- 

 ban people? 



Before Pearl Harbor a few manu- 

 facturers had started to make various 

 kinds of home freezers. A few have been 

 in use. Some have proved satisfactory, 

 others not. When materials are again 

 available many concerns will start mak- 

 ing them. Single units will be available 

 of approximately six cubic feet capacity 

 — about the same as a locker. These 

 complete will cost around $300 and 

 with volume production they may sell 

 for $250. Two and three-compartment 

 home coolers, with each compartment 

 of six cubic feet capacity also will be 

 available. These will cost at least $150 

 more for each additional compartment. 

 Already the walk-in type of home 

 freezer has been on the market. These 

 also vary in size and cost. The pre-war 

 price was from $600 to $1,000. 



Another type of refrigeration at 

 zero or lower for home storage has 

 and will be built into the ordinary 

 kitchen refrigerator. This storage space 

 will probably vary from one half the 

 space of the standard locker to that of 

 a locker. 



Individuals who are interested in 

 some kind of home freezer might well 

 ponder the pros and cons of such an 

 investment for a considerable time be- 

 fore actually making a purchase. The 

 first question should be: What service 

 do I expect of the machine? In connec- 

 tion with the small compartment type 

 of home freezer, in most cases it may 

 be assumed that by having such a unit 

 fewer trips will be necessary to the 

 locker plant. In this case it will not be 

 expected to eliminate the use of a 

 locker. Interest on initial investment, 

 depreciation service and upkeep will 

 probably be as much or more than the 

 rental of a locker. 



There are now approximately 325 

 locker plants in Illinois and as soon as 

 materiab are available many more will 



By FRANK GOUGLER 



be built. Within a short time after the 

 war most farmers in this state will have 

 available lockers for rent in their reg- 

 ular "trading center. If a locker can be 

 rented in the town where one naturally 

 trades, then very few extra trips would 

 be required during the year to get prod- 

 ucts from the locker. With the smaller 

 type of home freezer the owner would 

 not expect it to replace his locker but 

 merely supplement it. The kitchen re- 

 frigerator with a zero cold storage com- 

 partment would serve the same pur- 

 pose, namely reduce the number of trips 

 to the locker plant. The services 

 afforded by the locker plant would 

 still be utilized. 



The two and three-compartment type 

 home freezer with a capacity of two or 

 three lockers might be purchased with 

 a different idea in mind. In this case 



one may not intend to rent a locker at 

 all. 



In this case the slaughtering could 

 be done on the farm and the carcasses 

 would be taken to the locker plant for 

 processing, wrapping, and sharp freez- 

 ing. These costs would probably be 

 slightly more than the charge for such 

 where a locker is rented. This appears 

 to be the policy now of locker plant 

 operators who process for home freezer 

 owners. In a locker plant these costs 

 usually average slightly less than the 

 rental charge for a locker. Here again 

 interest on investment, depreciation, 

 and power costs would probably equal 

 or exceed the cost of like space rented 

 at a locker plant. 



Another producer may have still a 

 different idea. In this case it may be 

 desired to eliminate entirely the use 



FROZEN FOODS WILL MAKE BIG GAINS IN POPULAR FAVOR 



WHEN WAR IS OVER I 





CoHtltsj Tie Locter Operator 



Hera ia on« typ* of home ireexar with a 

 capacity of 9.7 cubic ieet. Some locker 

 patrons might consider this as a supple- 

 mentary unit. 



Locker patrons appreciate the cutiiag. 

 wrapping and processing serrices fur- 

 nished by locker plants. More and more 

 locker plants are selling the idea of serv- 

 ice as the main stock ia trade. 



24 



L A. A. RECORD 



