The History of the Air Conditioner

We use it almost regularly on hot days, but have you ever wondered who invented the air conditioner? Imagine what the world would be like if it hadn’t been invented, or rather try to picture out how people coped with hot climate before it was invented. Read on to learn more about the history of the AC and who invented it.

The ‘Apparatus for Treating Air’ granted in 1906, was the first of several patents awarded to Willis Haviland Carrier. The recognized ‘father of air conditioning’ is Carrier, but the term ‘air conditioning’ actually originated with textile engineer, Stuart H. Cramer. Cramer used the phrase ‘air conditioning’ in a 1906 patent claim filed for a device that added water vapor to the air in textile plants – to condition the yarn.

It wasn’t until 1924 when the cooling device was used for human cooling purposes and not for industrial needs. It was installed in the J.L. Hudson Department Store in Detroit, Michigan where shoppers flocked to the ‘air conditioned’ store. In 1928, the Mr. Carrier created the first “Weathermaker” for homes. Although the sales were down during the Great Depression and World War 2, they went up soon after the war.

For more on the history of the air conditioner, read The Father of Cool.