Christian Steenstrup, inventor of the Monitor-top refrigerator inspects the manufacturing line in Erie, Pennsylvania, circa 1930

Examine the photographs from this service manual for General Electric refrigerators. Then answer the questions on the worksheet in complete sentences.

1.  What is the purpose of this series of photographs of refrigerators?

2.  What information does this document give you about refrigerators?

3.  Who might use this document when it was produced?

4.     How might it be used by researchers today?

5.  On a sheet of drawing paper, design a refrigerator of the future including a view of the interior.

Document 2 Overview: Photographs of Monitor Top Refrigerator Models

The second document is a series of photographs of various models of the GE Monitor Top Refrigerator, from the pages of a 1944 General Electric service manual. This portion of the manual would be used by service staff to identify the specific model they were servicing. The manual also included instructions for various service and repair procedures.

          Social Studies, Language Arts, Science, Art

          Copy of service manual pages

          1. Students will learn to examine and analyze the photographs and complete the worksheet

          2. Students will make inferences from photographic data.

          1. Distribute copies of the General Electric service manual to each student.

          2. Direct the students to analyze the photographs and to complete the worksheet.

          3. When completed, discuss the worksheets.

          4. Have the students design a refrigerator of the future, making a drawing of its interior.

              Also include a written description of their refrigerator. 

Standards for Document 2: Photographs of Monitor-top Refrigerator Models