Frigidaire T.O.M. (Tired Old Men) Club Records

This collection spans more than 90 years’ worth of Frigidaire history as collected and preserved by members of the TOM (Tired Old Men) Club. The material is divided into series and subseries, and then further arranged into major groupings to aid in quickly locating relevant documents.

Series I: T.O.M. Club, 1919-2013, contains documents on the history of the TOM Club and the history of Frigidaire as written by TOM club members. The most comprehensive history is a presentation titled “The Frigidaire Story: End of an Era” by TOM Club member Gailard “Red” Ketcham. Administrative documents, membership lists, and club rosters and newsletters spanning the years 1986-2013 are also included.

Series II: Frigidaire, circa 1918-2008, covers the history of the Frigidaire company. It includes administrative information and employee newsletters. There is also promotional material and appliance information which includes parts catalogs, technical bulletins, and installation and operation instructions. The appliance information mostly dates from the 1950s-1970s.

Series III: Audio / Visual Media, 1921-2010, undated, contains audio and visual media relating to both the TOM Club and the Frigidaire company. Numerous photographs of retirement and Christmas parties, as well as photographs of products and production are included, mostly from the 1950s and 60s. Audio media in this section includes audiocassettes and audio disc records, many of which are promotional. Much of the audiocassette content was recorded by the donor to the audiocassettes. Also included are VHS videocassettes of Frigidaire history content, and Frigidaire film strips. Of note are the slides, which are also in digital form, of Gailard “Red” Ketcham’s presentation titled “The Frigidaire Story: End of an Era”. Series I contains the typed script to this presentation.

Series IV: Artifacts, 1942-1981, undated, consists of various artifacts collected by TOM club members during their working lives. These range from pin badges and key chains to a bullet, produced on a Frigidaire production line during World War II.

Frigidaire played an important role in the war effort of the 1940s. While the collection offers some information about this valuable function, it does not mention many of the manufacturing specifics of how the assembly lines were retooled. However, information is included on the quantity of Browning .30 caliber machineguns, and three- and four-blade propellers shipped.