We’ll bet you didn’t know that
Garry Wormser, of Westhills, CA, informs us of “a little known fact that auto air-conditioning was invented by three Jewish entrepreneurs: Hi Goldberg, Max Shapiro, and Norm Gottlieb. They went to see Henry Ford 2d in
1947 to demonstrate their invention for the first time.
Ford tested the air-conditioning in a new Fairlane during an exceptionally hot day in Dearborn, MI. The unit worked perfectly and Ford was impressed.
He offered the trio $1 million for the rights to the invention.
The trio had huge egos and insisted their names appear in perpetuity on all auto air-conditioners built in the U.S. Mr. Ford refused, but countered with a $2 million offer and a promise to use the trio's first names on every unit built.
That agreement remains in force today. On the front panel of all car air-conditioners are the names "Hi, Max,. and Norm."