DKW | 1930

1930 German magazine ad for a DKW refrigerator. A grey-tinted drawing of an elegant couple, a grey-haired man in a jacket and a young woman in a short dress, looking into a large open fridge full of food and bottles. DKW logo, the words “Elektrisch-automatischer Kühlschrank” and “Das Kühl-Wunder”, and a block of text.

“Das Kühl-Wunder”: the cooling marvel. In 1930, DKW, better known for its motorcycles, advertised an “electric automatic refrigerator” in three household sizes, plus commercial cabinets, ice-cream makers, soda fountains and beer-counter cooling.

DKW belonged to the Dane Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen, whose Zschopau works were among the largest motorcycle makers in the world. From 1927 his branch plant in Scharfenstein, in the Ore Mountains, produced refrigeration machines.

The ad promises prices “matching the purchasing power of the German people”, but in 1930 an electric fridge was still a luxury for a few.

The Scharfenstein plant kept making fridges into GDR times. In 1993, renamed Foron, it launched Greenfreeze, the first CFC-free fridge.

Text in the ad

DKW · Elektrisch-automatischer Kühlschrank
Das Kühl-Wunder · Deutsches Erzeugnis
Haushaltungs-Kühlschränke in 3 verschiedenen Größen, gewerbliche Schränke und Raumkühlanlagen für alle Zwecke, gekühlte Schautische, Ladentischaufsätze, Speiseeisbereiter, Konservatoren, Sodafontänen, Biertheken-kühlung, Parfaitschränke usw. liefert DKW zu Preisen, die der Kaufkraft des deutschen Volkes entsprechen, in erstklassiger Qualität und Ausführung
DKW-Kühlanlagen, Scharfenstein Sa. / Zweigwerk der Zschopauer Motorenwerke J. S. Rasmussen A.-G.
Telefon: 518 / Telegrammadresse: Rasmussen Scharfenstein

Translation:
DKW · Electric automatic refrigerator
The cooling marvel · German product
Household refrigerators in 3 different sizes, commercial cabinets and cold-room systems for every purpose, chilled display tables, counter-top units, ice-cream makers, conservators, soda fountains, beer-counter cooling, parfait cabinets etc. are supplied by DKW at prices matching the purchasing power of the German people, in first-class quality and workmanship
DKW refrigeration plants, Scharfenstein, Saxony / Branch works of Zschopauer Motorenwerke J. S. Rasmussen AG
Telephone: 518 / Telegram address: Rasmussen Scharfenstein

Brand
DKW
Year
1930
Decade
1930s
Country
Germany
Medium
Magazine
Themes
Appliances, Home
Original publication
Die Koralle, 1930
DKW | 1930 · Vintage Ad Museum
Vintage Ad Museum · Museu da Propaganda, since 1999
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