Frederick McKinley Jones: February 12, 1957

Jet, Feb 16, 1998

February 12, 1957--

Frederick McKinley Jones, inventor, patented the method for preserving perishables in transport on this day. Orphaned at the age of 10, Frederick Jones left school in the sixth grade and worked at various jobs. During these early years, he became fascinated with gasoline engines and complicated machinery. Jones began to study refrigeration at the public library. He collected parts from junk yards, and by using a two-cycle engine (of his own invention and patent), he put together the first, practical truck refrigeration system in the world! The transportation industry was revolutionized by Jones' invention. Later, all refrigeration systems for the Army and Marine field kitchens were designed by Jones, and he gave the would one of its most important elements in food economics--the refrigerated boxcar.