Frick Eclipse Steam Engine Waynesboro, PA 1921

In 1848 George Frick began manufacturing grain cleaners and horse powered treadmills. While watching a teakettle whistle on the stove he supposedly got the idea for his next project, a steam engine. Frick had likely never seen a steam engine before, but he was determined to build one. and sought to innovate agricultural world but their own offices did not have production and food storage. In 1883 air conditioning until 1960 when their In 1850 Frick drew up his own plans drawings were made for Frick’s first offices were remodeled. and after much time and hard labor, he complete refrigerating machine. The assembled his engine on the second success of this compressor brought in Frick equipment has been notorious for floor of his shop, while he left the so many inquiries Frick decided to enter longevity. An 1877 7x10 portable was boiler on the first floor connected by a the refrigeration equipment business. used for 72 years before it was returned pipe. After lighting a fire in the boiler This early innovation set the future of to the Frick plant for refurbishing, it and getting up steam, he was ready to the Frick Company. later became part of the Smithsonian test his engine. From downstairs, he collection. cautiously opened the valve that fed The sales of steam engines reached steam into the engine and listened for their peak in the early 1900s with an York International bought Frick the explosion he hoped wouldn’t come. average of 700 engines sold annually Company in 1987. Today their plant is There was no bang so he climbed the in the first decade of the 20th century. still located at the Main Street location stairs and gingerly poked his head With the sale of engines declining and in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania; long above the floor and saw his new 2 horse Frick’s refrigeration business increasing, gone are the days of the dirty, grimy power (hp) stationary engine humming traction engine sales ended in 1927. boiler shops. Today Frick’s ultramodern away merrily. manufacturing facility is equipped “Frick had likely with state-of-the-art machinery. From In 1853 Frick established Frick Co. to its welding, fabrication and machine build horsepowers and steam engines never seen a steam engine shops, to its brand new climate under the patents of Peter Geiser. In controlled “clean room” where the 1861 Frick built a larger building in before, but he was screw compressors are assembled. The Waynesboro, Pennsylvania and moved plant is busy fulfilling orders from the his plant there. Then in the late 1860s determined to build one.” refrigeration compressors for the local he built a larger brick factory across the The Frick steam engine business came grocer to 1600 hp equipment bound street. to an end with the shipments of the last for Saudi offshore oil platforms. Frick two portable engines in 1945. This put employees are not only proud that their In 1876, the centennial Exposition, an end to the steam engine shipments products carry the “Frick” name, but or first official World’s Fair, was held forever. also “Made in the USA”. The Frick line in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The of industrial refrigeration equipment Frick farm engine, which carried the In the 70-year period from 1876 to is still a world leader and their line of “Eclipse” trademark for the first time, 1945 Frick Co. sold 12,944 portable steam engines is still popular among was presented with the gold medal, the and small stationary engines and 4,572 collectors. highest award, for best in its class. Then traction engines. again in 1880 a Frick Eclipse engine Please refer to our website for a list of triumphed over 25 other competitors Frick’s unit air conditioners were sources. at the great exhibition in Melbourne, introduced in 1938, which opened up Australia. air conditioning to many buildings and Frick was interested in social progress offices. Ironically, Frick Co. cooled the

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