[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: A water cooler with a DC motor is
> interesting; but did you ever see a _refrigerator_ powered by -gas-
> rather than -electricity-? I had one of those in a long since for-
> gotten apartment in Chicago back in the 1960's. No motor of course, no
> compressor, etc, but it was a refrigerator, freezer, etc, and I think
> (cannot remember for sure) it was manufactured by 'Frigidaire
> Company'. Totally silent of course. I have no idea how it worked; if
> I ever knew, I have since forgotten. PAT]
My mother had one of those, probably in the early 50s. When it was replaced by a more modern unit, it was moved to the back porch and used in the summer to cool melons and stuff. I guess this was high tech for the back porch -- the neighbors had an ice box on theirs for similar uses.
I think those were ammonia-water absorption cycle refrigerators. I seem to recall its making little gurgling noises from time to time.