Servel Inklings metal sign
Collection — Folder: S2636
Identifier: S2636
Scope and Contents
This collection includes one black metal sign, 15 inches in length and 3.5 inches in width, with the word “INKLINGS” painted in gold from Servel Inklings, the bi-weekly factory newsletter of the Servel company in Evansville, Indiana, circa 1948-1949.
Dates
- circa 1948-1949
Creator
- Servel, Inc. (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights resides with the creators of the documents or their legal heirs and assigns. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Administrative History
Servel was originally founded as the National Electric Products Company in 1923. In 1925, the name changed to Servel Manufacturing with the word “Servel” being a combination of the first few letters of the company’s original motto, “Serving Electric.” In the beginning, the company focused on manufacturing cabinets for gas-powered refrigerators. Eventually, Servel would produce their own refrigerator units under the Electrolux Servel line which would become Servel, Inc. in 1931. Throughout the 1930s, Servel researched chilling units and by 1939, began producing gas-powered air conditioning units. During World War II, the manufacturing focus shifted to war-time production including the manufacture of wings for the P-47 Thunderbolt.
After the war, Servel returned to manufacturing consumer goods with a focus on gas and kerosene fridges, water heaters, “All Year” air conditioners, and electric commercial fridges. Full production of water heaters and air conditioning units took off in 1946. By the mid-1960s, Servel would introduce the “air-cooled” ammonia/water gas-fired air conditioner. The company would continue to produce and market these units globally for thirty years. In 1991, the Italian company Robur acquired the gas-powered AC division of Servel, changing the name to Servel Chiller.
As for the gas-powered refrigerator side of the business, the Evansville, Indiana factory continued production, employing at one point nearly 7,000 factory workers throughout the 1940s and 1950s. However, by 1957, the gas-powered refrigerator section of Servel would go out of business as, more and more, consumers switched to electric refrigerators. In 1958, Whirlpool bought the Servel factory as part of their company’s own expansion. It would close in June 2010 when Whirlpool moved their refrigeration manufacturing to Mexico.
During the Evansville factory's operation in the 40s and 50s, the employees published their own bi-weekly factory newsletter called the Servel Inklings. It covered the day-to-day news of the Servel employees, focusing on employee families, hobbies, clubs, and general announcements.
Sources:
Item in this collection.
Good, Stephen. “Servel, Inc. Papers, 1937-1955.” Indiana Historical Society. Last modified September 2020. https://indianahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/servel-inc-papers-1937-1955.pdf.
“Inkling’s Birthday.” Evansville Courier and Press (IN), May 12, 1940. Accessed August 13, 2025. Newspapers.com.
“Servel Factory Paper Wins National Red Cross Award.” Evansville Courier and Press (IN), June 7, 1953. Accessed August 13, 2025. Newspapers.com.
“Servel Vies for Head Start in Winning Bigger Sales Next Year.” Evansville Courier and Press (IN), August 22, 1954. Accessed August 13, 2025. Newspapers.com.
Springate, Megan E. “The Servel Company in World War II and the History of Refrigeration.” National Park Service. Accessed August 13, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/the-servel-company-in-world-war-ii-the-history-of-refrigeration.htm.
Wikipedia. “Servel.” Wikipedia.org. Accessed August 13, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servel.
After the war, Servel returned to manufacturing consumer goods with a focus on gas and kerosene fridges, water heaters, “All Year” air conditioners, and electric commercial fridges. Full production of water heaters and air conditioning units took off in 1946. By the mid-1960s, Servel would introduce the “air-cooled” ammonia/water gas-fired air conditioner. The company would continue to produce and market these units globally for thirty years. In 1991, the Italian company Robur acquired the gas-powered AC division of Servel, changing the name to Servel Chiller.
As for the gas-powered refrigerator side of the business, the Evansville, Indiana factory continued production, employing at one point nearly 7,000 factory workers throughout the 1940s and 1950s. However, by 1957, the gas-powered refrigerator section of Servel would go out of business as, more and more, consumers switched to electric refrigerators. In 1958, Whirlpool bought the Servel factory as part of their company’s own expansion. It would close in June 2010 when Whirlpool moved their refrigeration manufacturing to Mexico.
During the Evansville factory's operation in the 40s and 50s, the employees published their own bi-weekly factory newsletter called the Servel Inklings. It covered the day-to-day news of the Servel employees, focusing on employee families, hobbies, clubs, and general announcements.
Sources:
Item in this collection.
Good, Stephen. “Servel, Inc. Papers, 1937-1955.” Indiana Historical Society. Last modified September 2020. https://indianahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/servel-inc-papers-1937-1955.pdf.
“Inkling’s Birthday.” Evansville Courier and Press (IN), May 12, 1940. Accessed August 13, 2025. Newspapers.com.
“Servel Factory Paper Wins National Red Cross Award.” Evansville Courier and Press (IN), June 7, 1953. Accessed August 13, 2025. Newspapers.com.
“Servel Vies for Head Start in Winning Bigger Sales Next Year.” Evansville Courier and Press (IN), August 22, 1954. Accessed August 13, 2025. Newspapers.com.
Springate, Megan E. “The Servel Company in World War II and the History of Refrigeration.” National Park Service. Accessed August 13, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/the-servel-company-in-world-war-ii-the-history-of-refrigeration.htm.
Wikipedia. “Servel.” Wikipedia.org. Accessed August 13, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servel.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection consists of one item.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Elizabeth Yakel on 2024/10/04.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2025/08/13 by Shannon O'Donnell. EAD finding aid created 2025/08/13 by Shannon O'Donnell.
Creator
- Servel, Inc. (Organization)
- Title
- Servel Inklings metal sign
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
