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Other Lansing Companies that contributed
to winning World War Two
"Don't feel your work here is not important because the equipment you made does not actually go into battle. Every part that goes into a B-29 is important; without testing in your 'stratosphere' chambers, it would not have been possible to carry out the recent important mission against the Jap mainland."
I was unaware that there was a company in Lansing, MI, where I grew up by the name of Kold-Hold. It was not until I began researching Lansing companies that helped win World War Two that I became aware of it. As my research progressed, I realized that I knew this company as Tranter Manufacturing. On October 13, 1932, R.E. Olds announced he had obtained options on the Kold-Hold company of Greenville, MI and was planning on moving the operations to Lansing. The company had a new patent used in truck refrigeration and R.E. Olds purchased the company and the patent rights. In 1933 the company relocated to 424 North Grand Ave. in Lansing and began making refrigeration units for use in dairy and milk trucks. In 1937, James Tranter purchased the company from Mr. Olds and became its president. In 1953, Mr. Tranter changed the name of the company to Tranter Manufacturing and Kold-Hold became a division of the renamed company. While I was aware of Tranter Manufacturing when I grew up in Lansing, I was unaware of the different divisions the company had, including Kold-Hold, which was focused on truck refrigeration systems. In 1974 became Tranter, Inc. and in January 1978 the company was purchased by Dover Corporation. At the time, Tranter no longer had any manufacturing plants left in Lansing, as they had been closed in 1970 and the manufacturing moved out of state. Only the headquarters operation was still located in Lansing. Kold-Hold Company World War Two products: The company made cold chambers for the Army and Navy air forces and aircraft companies. Its test chambers could reach temperatures down to minus 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Other pieces of test equipment had a range of 185 degrees above zero to minus 80 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. The company also made "landing boxes" that were refrigerated cabinets loaded with perishable food that were brought ashore during the many amphibious landings during World War Two. This company was unique among the many other companies in Lansing that were associated with the auto industry.
The Kold-Hold Plants:
Kold-Hold World War Two Advertisements: The following advertisements were placed in aviation related industry periodicals. Note that the advertisements have the wrong address. Kold-Hold was located at 424 North Grand Avenue, not 442.
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