What is the history of ice cubes?

Answer 1

It is not known for certain who invented the first ice cube tray, a refrigerator accessory that can make and remake small uniform ice cubes. In 1844, American physician, John Gorrie, built a refrigerator to make ice to cool the air for his yellow fever patients. Some historians think that Doctor Gorrie may have also invented the first ice cube tray since it was documented that his patients were also receiving iced drinks. In 1914, Fred Wolf invented a refrigerating machine called the DOMELRE or DOMestic ELectric REfrigerator. The DOMELRE was not successful in the marketplace, however, it did have a simple ice cube tray and inspired later refrigerator manufacturers to include ice cube trays in their appliances as well. During the 1920s and '30s, it became common for electric refrigerators to come with a freezer section that included an ice cube compartment with trays. In 1933, the first flexible stainless steel, all-metal ice tray was invented by Guy Tinkham. The tray flexed sidewise to eject the ice cubes. Flexing the tray cracked the ice into cubes corresponding to the division points in the tray, and then forced the cubes up and out. Pressure forcing the ice out is due to the 5-degree draft on both sides of the tray. Guy Tinkham was the vice-president of the General Utilities Mfg. Company that produced household appliances. Guy Tinkham's invention was named the McCord ice tray and cost $0.50 in 1933. Later, various designs based on the McCord were released, aluminum ice-cube trays with a removable cube separator and release handles. They were eventually replaced molded plastic ice cube trays. Today, refrigerators come with a variety of ice cube making options that go beyond trays. There are internal automatic icemakers and icemakers and dispensers built into refrigerator doors. source: http://inventors.about.com/od/istartinventions/a/IceCube.htm