View source for Adelaide Crystal Ice Company

{{Redirect|Alaska Ice Cream|the food|Alaskan ice cream}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2017}}
'''Adelaide Crystal Ice Company''' was a South Australian ice manufacturing business founded in 1879 which started manufacturing "Alaska" ice cream in 1915 and in 1922 founded the Alaska Ice Cream Company.
==History==
The company was formed in 1879 by Logan, Weber, Barnfield, Lawrance and others <!--included Allison, Sawers, Chambers --> and installed American ice-making machinery<ref name=crystal>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43098087 |title=The Crystal Iceworks |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=24 October 1879 |accessdate=10 May 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} This reference contains much useful technical information on the plant installed at Ebenezer Place.</ref> at their premises, the old Ebenezer Chapel off the east end of [[Rundle Street, Adelaide|Rundle Street]].
:Built for the Congregational Church in 1851 by [[William Peacock (businessman)|William Peacock]], and for which [[Ebenezer Place, Adelaide|Ebenezer Place]] was named, it was used by [[John L. Young]] for his [[Adelaide Educational Institution]] in 1851, and 1870–71 by the "East Adelaide School for Children of the Poorest Class".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197662184 |title=East Adelaide School |newspaper=[[The Evening Journal (Adelaide)]] |location=South Australia |date=14 December 1871 |access-date=25 April 2020 |page=3 |via=Trove }}</ref> The "Peacock Chapel", as it was sometimes called, has been named as the building used by [[William Charlick]] for his grain and fodder store, attached to the [[East End Market]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57471492 |title=The Old Corner Acre 141 |newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)]] |location=South Australia |date=21 February 1924 |access-date=25 April 2020 |page=12 |via=Trove }}</ref>
The company had offices in Gresham Chambers, [[King William Street, Adelaide|King William Street]] (later Eagle Chambers, [[Pirie Street, Adelaide|Pirie Street]]), and a depot in [[Thebarton, South Australia|Thebarton]]. They had ten carts delivering ice to all suburbs, also by paddle-steamer to [[River Murray]] towns as far as [[Wentworth, New South Wales|Wentworth]]. In 1881 the machinery was moved to Thebarton, where their production capacity was 50 tons a week.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article34270482 |title=Thebarton Crystal Iceworks |newspaper=[[The South Australian Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=6 October 1881 |accessdate=10 May 2015 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
In 1880 the company bought out a rival company and sold its refrigeration plant to a Queensland meat processing business. A second machine was purchased in 1881.
Almost from the outset, the company diversified into other products, some of which seem to bear little relation to the core business of ice-making. The motive behind this decision was the desirability of retaining workers during winter months, when their only occupation was maintenance and overhauling of machinery.
A trial batch of [[starch]] which previously had to be imported, was well received at the 1884 Exhibition; production began in 1885, closely followed by [[corn starch|cornflour]].
In 1898 a new building was constructed at their premises, Queen Street, [[Thebarton, South Australia|West Thebarton]] (between West Thebarton Road and the [[River Torrens]]) with completely new machinery, imported from [[Halle (Saale)|Halle]]. This plant, comprising three independent machines of different capacities, could produce 40 tons of ice per day, and more efficiently, so the price could be reduced by a third.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56538081 |title=The Adelaide Crystal Ice Company |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=23 November 1898 |accessdate=10 May 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
In 1910 the old ice storage room, which was used as sleeping quarters for some of the workers, was destroyed by fire; some equipment was damaged but prompt action by the Hindmarsh voluntary fire brigade averted a catastrophe.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5258048 |title=Fire at the Adelaide Ice Works |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=18 April 1910 |accessdate=10 May 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} This reference has considerable detail on the disposition of the iceworks buildings.</ref>
The company was in the happy situation of being the major supplier in a [[seller's market]], and although highly seasonal, the company made a healthy profit for its shareholders in most years. Crystal's main competition was the Adelaide Ice and Cold Storage Works in [[Light Square, Adelaide|Light Square]], and in an attempt to control the price of ice, it was purchased in 1910<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57143043 |title=Government as Ice Retailers |newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)|The Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=17 August 1910 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> for £36,000 by the [[John Verran|Verran]] ([[Australian Labor Party|Labor]]) South Australian Government. The venture immediately proved troublesome, and after two independent enquiries, the Light Square factory was turned by the [[Archibald Peake|Peake government]] from a derided competitor to a contractor for the supply of ice to Crystal.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105261621 |title=The Daily Herald. |newspaper=[[Daily Herald (Adelaide)|Daily Herald]] |location=Adelaide |date=12 October 1912 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=4 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
Crystal started making "Alaska" ice cream in 1915. It was by no means the first ice cream manufacturer in South Australia: S. Albert had a factory in Rundle Street in 1883; Edwin Ellis had a factory in Gouger Street, and was associated with [[Peters Ice Cream]] from 1914.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59648435 |title=Making Ice Cream. |newspaper=[[The Mail (Adelaide)|The Mail]] |location=Adelaide |date=28 February 1914 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Other early manufacturers were A. Williams with his "Snowdrop" factory in Rosa Street, Goodwood; Felice Maggi<!--born 16 March 1891; see Naturalization papers--> had the Imperial Ice Cream Factory in St. Vincent Street, Port Adelaide, then Excelsior Ice Cream factory on [[South Terrace, Adelaide|South Terrace]], destroyed by fire, deliberately lit, in 1929;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35318415 |title=A Midnight Blaze |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=15 January 1929 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=15 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> There was Wattle ice cream, made at the Mile End Cold Stores<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5624605 |title=Wattle Ice Cream Company |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=13 September 1919 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=13 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and P. Smyth had a factory in [[Murray Bridge, South Australia|Murray Bridge]], later known for "Freesia" ice cream. Rivals [[AMSCOL]] and [[Golden North]] did not appear until 1923<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129848384 |title="What I observed at the Amscol Exhibit at the Royal Show". |newspaper=[[The News (Adelaide)|The News]] |location=Adelaide |date=6 October 1923 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=8 Edition: Sporting |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and 1953 respectively.
:Alaska Ice Cream became a separate company in 1922, with offices at Queen Street, Thebarton, and acquired the rights to manufacture the confection known as "[[Eskimo Pie]]" in 1923.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64311976 |title=Alaska Ice Cream Company |newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)|The Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=29 August 1923 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The company, along with the Interstate Fruit and Produce Company (which operated the East End Market) and the Broken Hill Ice and Produce Company, became part of Peters Alaska Ice Cream Company<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128887995 |title=Alaska Icecream |newspaper=[[The News (Adelaide)|The News]] |location=Adelaide |date=21 January 1930 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=6 Edition: Home |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and changed its name accordingly in 1929.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129068538 |title=Company Changes Name. |newspaper=[[The News (Adelaide)|The News]] |location=Adelaide |date=13 September 1929 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=16 Edition: Home |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
:Following a court case Peters American Delicacy Co. Ltd. v. Peters Alaska Ice Cream Co. Ltd., the company was renamed Alaska Ice Cream and Produce Company Limited in August 1932. A new office block was erected at Beans Road, Thebarton in 1953.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131244772 |title=Real Estate |newspaper=[[The News (Adelaide)|The News]] |location=Adelaide |date=22 December 1953 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=23 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Longtime managing director was Leonard Maurice Hocking (c. 1887 – 6 October 1948), and chairman of directors was T. E. Malone.
In 1930 Crystal combined with the  Government Produce Depot and Amscol as the "Clear Ice Service"
under chairman W. D. Price, and acted as a government-controlled monopoly supplier of an essential commodity, producing standard sized blocks of ice, and making available suitable icechests<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128961515 |title=Clear Ice |newspaper=[[The News (Adelaide)|The News]] |location=Adelaide |date=13 November 1930 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=13 Edition: Home |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> made in Unley by Chittleborough and Company,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129024484 |title=Icechest Manufacture |newspaper=[[The News (Adelaide)|The News]] |location=Adelaide |date=8 November 1928 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=16 Edition: Home |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> or could be produced by a [[do-it-yourself]]er.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168919886 |title=Hints for the Handyman. |newspaper=[[Adelaide Observer]] |date=25 January 1930 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=20 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Demand for ice fluctuated wildly, from practically zero to peaks like in March 1930 when reserves (around 3,000 tons)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29883146 |title=City Wilts Under Temperature of 107.9 (47.4C) |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=29 December 1931 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> were exhausted, demand exceeded manufacture and supplies had to be rationed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128987695 |title=Ice Shortage |newspaper=[[The News (Adelaide)|The News]] |location=Adelaide |date=6 March 1930 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=15 Edition: Home |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Ice storage capacity reached a peak around 1944<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43226710 |title=New Ice Tanks Installed |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=1 November 1944 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> then became redundant as domestic refrigerators became commonplace and home delivery of ice ceased around 1960.
Both companies are now defunct; the factory complex at Hindmarsh was taken over <!-- by the University of Adelaide--> as part of University Research Park; one building has become "Alaska Towers".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=973&c=7400 |title=SA Memory: Alaska Eskimo Pie |publisher=State Library of South Australia |accessdate=12 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322021610/http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=973&c=7400 |archivedate=22 March 2015 }}</ref>
==Some people==
'''Vinrace Lawrance'''<!--not Lawrence--> (16 January 1833 – 5 September 1922) was a prominent Adelaide accountant, member of the Stock Exchange and secretary of A.C.I.C. He was heavily involved in the mining industry and had a fine collection of minerals including prize samples of [[Gold#Specimens of crystalline native gold|crystalline gold]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64125681 |title=A Well-Known Identity |newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)|The Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=7 September 1922 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=11 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He married Elizabeth Binney (c. 1839 – 19 July 1919) on 22 August 1861, lived at "Lopen", Mill Terrace, North Adelaide.
'''Wilhelm "William" Weber''' JP (c. 1837 – 17 December 1909) was born in [[Darmstadt]] and arrived in Australia in 1855. He founded an icemaking business in Bendigo in 1876 and another in Adelaide with [[J. M. Wendt]], [[John Bentham Neales#Family|J. B. Neales, Jnr]], T. Barnfield, W. K. Simms and J. Allison in 1878, then founded A.C.I.C. with those men and other investors. He never married, living at [[Thebarton, South Australia|Southwark]] with his widowed sister Matilda Richards, and was three times mayor of Thebarton.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57874061 |title=Concerning People |newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)|The Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=20 December 1909 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
'''George Frank Richards''' (c. 1883 – 7 January 1924) was a son of Frank Richards (who may have been a driver for the company)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43149021 |title=Runaway |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=14 December 1880 |accessdate=12 May 2015 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and his wife Matilda, née Weber, (c. 1850 – 21 August 1913), sister of Wilhelm Weber. He was manager of A.C.I.C. from around 1910 and was largely responsible for diversification into ice cream and introduction of the "Eskimo Pie", both following trips to America.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74192896 |title=A Pioneer of Ice Cream |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=18 January 1924 |accessdate=12 May 2015 |page=14 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He had been both president and vice-president of Hindmarsh Bowls Club.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57466005 |title=Bowls |newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)|The Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=11 January 1924 |accessdate=12 May 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} This article has a photo of Richards.</ref> He married Gertrude Ruby Reid (c. 1888 – 15 December 1933) on 26 September 1908; they lived at "Coonvrai", Beaufort street, Woodville.
'''Thomas Barnfield''' (c. 1848 – 19 August 1931) married Mary Ann Thomson (c. 1846 – 12 June 1927) on 4 April 1889; they lived at [[Wasleys, South Australia|Wasleys]], then Nottage Terrace, [[Medindie, South Australia|Medindie]]. He was chairman of the Crystal Ice Company board.
'''Hugh Logan''' was propounder and first manager of A.C.I.C. He arrived in Adelaide from America in February 1878 and signed the ten-year lease on the Ebenezer Chapel.<ref name=crystal/> A search of contemporary newspapers reveals nothing about his previous or later activities.
'''[[John Bentham Neales#Family|William B. Neales]]''' was secretary in 1878.
'''Walter Davies Price''' MC (24 March 1886 – 29 July 1944) was a son of Premier [[Thomas Price (South Australian politician)|Tom Price]] and a brother of [[J. L. Price]] MHR. He joined the Lands Department of the SA Government in 1903 and in 1907 transferred to the Government Produce Department. He was appointed manager of the newly acquired Light Square iceworks in 1920 and general manager of the Department in 1941. He was first president of the SA division of the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, chairman of the Ice Manufacturers' Association and the Clear Ice Service. He was an officer with the [[43rd Battalion (Australia)#First World War|43rd Battalion, 1st AIF]], was wounded near [[Armentières]] and was awarded an [[Military Cross|MC]]. He followed [[A. S. Blackburn]] VC as president of the [[Returned and Services League|RSL]] and of the 43rd Battalion Club.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74628938 |title=Death of Mr. W. D. Price |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=31 July 1944 |accessdate=11 May 2015 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150322021610/http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=973&c=7400 SA Memory: Alaska Eskimo Pie]
[[Category:Ice cream brands]]
[[Category:Dairy products companies of Australia]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Adelaide]]
[[Category:Australian companies established in 1897]]
[[Category:History of Adelaide]]
[[Category:Food and drink companies established in 1897]]