Topic: History Lesson
in Forum: Humor
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Lifetime MemberManteca, CA - USA
Joined: 11/20/2005
Posts: 3623
Vette(s): 1978,two tone,Metalic Rootbeer & gold
1975 L48 4 speed
The 3 Goldberg brothers, Norman, Hiram, and Maxwell, invented and developed the first automobile air-conditioner. On July 17th, 1946, the temperature in Detroit was 97º. The three brothers walked into old man Henry Ford's office and sweet- talked his secretary into telling him that three gentlemen were there with the most exciting innovation in the auto industry since the electric starter.
Henry was curious and invited them into his office. They refused and instead asked that he come out to the parking lot to their car. They persuaded him to get into the car, which was about 130º. They promptly turned on the air-conditioner and cooled the car off immediately.
The old man got very excited and invited them back to the office, where he offered them 3 million dollars for the patent. The brothers refused, saying they would settle for 2 million but they wanted the recognition by having a label ''The Goldberg Air Conditioner'' on the dashboard of each car it was installed in.
Now old man Ford was more than just a little bit Anti-Semitic, and there was no way he was going to put the Goldbergs' name on 2 million Ford cars. They haggled back and forth for about 2 hours and finally agreed on 4 million dollars and that just their first names would be shown.
And so, even today, all Ford air-conditioners show on the controls, the names ''Norm, Hi, &Max''. Now I'll bet you didn't know the origin.
Henry was curious and invited them into his office. They refused and instead asked that he come out to the parking lot to their car. They persuaded him to get into the car, which was about 130º. They promptly turned on the air-conditioner and cooled the car off immediately.
The old man got very excited and invited them back to the office, where he offered them 3 million dollars for the patent. The brothers refused, saying they would settle for 2 million but they wanted the recognition by having a label ''The Goldberg Air Conditioner'' on the dashboard of each car it was installed in.
Now old man Ford was more than just a little bit Anti-Semitic, and there was no way he was going to put the Goldbergs' name on 2 million Ford cars. They haggled back and forth for about 2 hours and finally agreed on 4 million dollars and that just their first names would be shown.
And so, even today, all Ford air-conditioners show on the controls, the names ''Norm, Hi, &Max''. Now I'll bet you didn't know the origin.
Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again. 
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Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
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Well, that's almost the complete story...seems the Goldberg's sister is always being left out of it, but she was instrumental in the development.
Her name? Medusa...
Her name? Medusa...
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Hey Jimmy, Is that true, or have you been drink'n again ? 
Just kidd'n Bud ! Thats a GREAT story, glad you shared it 
[QUOTE=Bry58501]Cool story![/QUOTE]
He said COOL story....
Lifetime Member #116
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in Forum: Humor
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