Jones, Frederick McKinley
1893-1961 · Contribution: 1930s-1950s
Automatic refrigeration systems for trucks and railroad cars
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Impact on the world
His refrigerated transport systems revolutionized the shipping of perishable food over long distances and led to the founding of Thermo King.
Life & background
A self-taught engineer, Jones developed the first reliable automatic refrigeration system for long-haul trucks, later extending the technology to railroad cars. His invention transformed the national food supply chain, and he co-founded the Thermo King company.
Sources
- Smithsonian Lemelson Center; DiversityMD
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