<P> The first practical vapor compression refrigeration system was built by James Harrison, a British journalist who had emigrated to Australia . His 1856 patent was for a vapor compression system using ether, alcohol or ammonia . He built a mechanical ice - making machine in 1851 on the banks of the Barwon River at Rocky Point in Geelong, Victoria, and his first commercial ice - making machine followed in 1854 . Harrison also introduced commercial vapor - compression refrigeration to breweries and meat packing houses, and by 1861, a dozen of his systems were in operation . </P> <P> The first gas absorption refrigeration system using gaseous ammonia dissolved in water (referred to as "aqua ammonia") was developed by Ferdinand Carré of France in 1859 and patented in 1860 . Carl von Linde, an engineering professor at the Technological University Munich in Germany, patented an improved method of liquefying gases in 1876 . His new process made possible the use of gases such as ammonia (NH), sulfur dioxide (SO) and methyl chloride (CH Cl) as refrigerants and they were widely used for that purpose until the late 1920s . </P> <P> In 1913, refrigerators for home and domestic use were invented by Fred W. Wolf of Fort Wayne, Indiana with models consisting of a unit that was mounted on top of an ice box . In 1914, engineer Nathaniel B. Wales of Detroit, Michigan, introduced an idea for a practical electric refrigeration unit, which later became the basis for the Kelvinator . A self - contained refrigerator, with a compressor on the bottom of the cabinet was invented by Alfred Mellowes in 1916 . Mellowes produced this refrigerator commercially but was bought out by William C. Durant in 1918, who started the Frigidaire company to mass - produce refrigerators . In 1918, Kelvinator company introduced the first refrigerator with any type of automatic control . The absorption refrigerator was invented by Baltzar von Platen and Carl Munters from Sweden in 1922, while they were still students at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm . It became a worldwide success and was commercialized by Electrolux . Other pioneers included Charles Tellier, David Boyle, and Raoul Pictet . Carl von Linde was the first to patent and make a practical and compact refrigerator . </P> <P> These home units usually required the installation of the mechanical parts, motor and compressor, in the basement or an adjacent room while the cold box was located in the kitchen . There was a 1922 model that consisted of a wooden cold box, water - cooled compressor, an ice cube tray and a 9 - cubic - foot (0.25 m) compartment, and cost $714 . (A 1922 Model - T Ford cost about $450 .) By 1923, Kelvinator held 80 percent of the market for electric refrigerators . Also in 1923 Frigidaire introduced the first self - contained unit . About this same time porcelain - covered metal cabinets began to appear . Ice cube trays were introduced more and more during the 1920s; up to this time freezing was not an auxiliary function of the modern refrigerator . </P>

When was the first refrigerator invented and by who