RichardWilliams

Can anybody give me any info on this thing? I've looked around on the net but couldn't find anything.

Willidog

Here is what I found on the Net:

Mitchell Lofts

Address: 3800 Commerce Street
Architect: J. A. Pitzinger
Year Built: 1928

Also known as: John E. Mitchell Building
This building was built for the John E. Mitchell Company, which was founded in 1900. Additions were made to the building in 1929 and 1930. The Mitchell Company was a manufacturing firm, and through the years made automobile and truck air conditioners and the ICEE soft drink machine, though it started as a cotton gin. During World War II, the plant made artillery shells and missiles for the US Navy.
In 1981, the company folded, and the building became a haven for artists and musicians. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. In 1995, the City of Dallas had to close the building because of code violations.

RichardWilliams

Thank you. I've been looking around on the net but couldn't find anything. It was in my 68 Cutlass and I'm looking to sell it. I don't have a clue on how much it's worth.

88 coupe

http://www.scsfrigette.com/html/products/air_cond.htm

Norm

citcapp

I had one just like it in my 1962 Bonniville worked great. That was in 1966

Jamesbo

I ha one in a 61 Cheby. Worked great but could cause the engine to overheat in heavy traffic.

Oldsguy

Those are some cool pieces of information. That would look really neat in a fully restored mid sixties sedan. Kind of replicating what was available to the every day man back then if his "brand new to him" two year old car didn't have A/C.

RichardWilliams

Well, it's going to the swap meet so hopefully it gets a good owner.

old98owner

Most of the auto A/C aftermarket manafacturers were in the Dallas/ Fort Wroth area since that is where the auto A/C was invented. I don't remember who did it first, but they were working for Packard.

The first auto A/C was offered on the 1938 or 1939 Packard. I have seen one of these and the compressor looked like it came of a 1938 air compressor.

Then World War 2 came along and production ceased. After the war a lot of the original designers started companies of their own. Brands I remember, besides the Mark IV, were ARA, Clardy and Thermoking which is the only one still around. There was also a company called Cool which was owned by VW and is now owned by BEHR. All were or still are in the D/FW area.

I would estimate the value of your underdash unit at $150.

The reason cars wtih these units would overheat was due to the fact that the radiator fan was not changed out. Mercedes solved this problem with an additional electirc fan in front of the radiator. When I used to intoall auto A/C units in 1966 we did the same thing.