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The Means of Modernization, Freezing Technologies and the Cultural Politics of Everyday Life, Norway 1940–1965

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History of Artificial Cold, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Issues

Part of the book series: Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science ((BSPS,volume 299))

Abstract

After World War II, the Norwegian government set out to modernize the country with the industrialization of agriculture and fisheries, the rationalization of retail and by heightening the standard of living in Norwegian households. The period between 1945 and 1960 was the formative years of the social democratic welfare state in Norway. Within this process, science was meant to guide the modernization and technology to serve as a tool (Sejersted 2011).

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Report on the meeting of experts on the marketing of deep-frozen products in Europe (European Productivity Agency (EPA) of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation OEEC), 1959); Marketing and consumption of frozen fish in OEEC countries. Report presented at a meeting of experts on deep-frozen foods held in Verona from the 6th to the 12th of October 1959 (Verona: EPA of the OEEC, 1959).

  2. 2.

    The industrial committee – New York, Freezing (New York: The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Provisions and Reconstruction, 1945).

  3. 3.

    White Paper no. 10 (1947–1948), “The National Budget 1947”.

  4. 4.

    The buildup was very rapid. In the period between 1945 and 1949, more than 23 freezing plants were built and more were on their way. “Letter from Gustav Lorentzen on behalf of the department for construction and machine engineering to the director of fisheries”, Sept. 1, 1949. Department of Fisheries Research Department, series 43.3, box 43.3/4, folder 82, the Regional State Archive in Bergen.

  5. 5.

    Charles Robertson, “The demand for quality in production and distribution”, Frionorbladet (Frionor magazine), no. 2 (1949): 3–5; “What demands are posed to the phase of production and distribution in order to produce high quality frozen fillets?”, Frionorbladet (Frionor magazine) (June 1960): 6.

  6. 6.

    White Paper, no. 87 (1958), “Recommendations on the rationalization of the distribution of fish on the inland market, part II”; “The fresh fish distribution in Oslo discussed at meeting tomorrow”, Aftenposten (Newspaper) (Oslo, November 5, 1951); “Will the fish distribution ever work?”, Aftenposten (Oslo, May 17, 1953); “The evil spirit of the fresh fish distribution”, Verdens Gang (Newspaper) (February 27, 1948); “The fresh fish distribution is no issue for the State”, Verdens Gang (April 22, 1948); “It is snobbish not to like frozen fish”, Verdens Gang (July 11, 1951); “The council of exports take responsibility for the inland fresh fish distribution”, Aftenposten (Oslo, December 15, 1948); “Fresh fish all year if the fish is frozen and rinsed at the packing site”, Aftenposten (Oslo, May 10, 1951).

  7. 7.

    “It is snobbish not to like frozen fish”.

  8. 8.

    Nils L.S. Jacobsen, “The inland”, Norsk Fryserinæring (Norwegian Freezing Industry Trade Journal), no. 6 (July 1949): 1–2.

  9. 9.

    J. Trondsen, “About the home market department of Norwegian Frozen Fish Inc.”, Frionorbladet (Frionor Magazine), no. 1 (1951): 32; Per W. Bistrup, Marketing of frozen fish on the home market (Bergen: Norwegian School of Economics, 1952); “Frozen fish from frozen goods counters”, Husmorbladet (Housewives Magazine) (May 16, 1951); “Window exhibitions”, Frionorbladet (Frionor Magazine), no. 1 (1952): 38; “Regular visits – distribution of advertising materials”, Frionorbladet (Frionor Magazine), no. 1 (1952): 39; Freia, Annual report and accounts 1951 (Oslo, 1952); Freia, Annual report and accounts 1952 (Oslo, 1953); Freia, Annual report and accounts 1953 (Oslo, 1954); Leif Throne-Holst, Fish and fisheries in Northern-Norway (Oslo: Dreyer publishing, 1966).

  10. 10.

    White Paper, no. 87 (1958), “Recommendations on the rationalization of the distribution of fish on the inland market, part II”; F. Wedervang, The distribution of food in U.S.A. and Norway. Report from a study trip to the U.S.A. (Oslo, 1957); Retail trade in the U.S.A. Report from a Norwegian study group (Oslo: Norwegian Productivity Agency, 1953); Modern marketing. Report from a study trip to the U.S.A. (Oslo: Norwegian Productivity Agency, 1954); Sverre Nilsen, Self service stores and chains in the USA. Report from a study trip to the U.S.A. (Oslo: Norwegian Productivity Agency, 1955).

  11. 11.

    White Paper, no. 87 (1958), “Recommendations on the rationalization of the distribution of fish on the inland market, part II”.

  12. 12.

    In 1959 there were more than 6,500 frozen goods counters in Norway. Only Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and England had more in Europe at the time: Marketing and consumption of frozen fish in OEEC countries. Report presented at a meeting of experts on deep frozen foods held in Verona from the 6th to 12th of October 1959.

  13. 13.

    Bistrup (1952).

  14. 14.

    Merchants Credit Inc, 5 years in the service of development (Oslo: Merchants Credit Inc, 1958); Merchants Credit Inc, 10 years in the service of development (Oslo: Merchants Credit Inc, 1963).

  15. 15.

    Norwegian Frozen Fish, “Can’t convince the kids to eat fish?”, Husmorbladet (Housewives Magazine) (April 9, 1952); Norwegian Frozen Fish, “Good dinner with FRIONOR-filets”, Husmorbladet (Housewives Magazine) (September 25, 1952); Freia, “Findus, a product of Freia”, Husmorbladet (Housewives Magazine) (June 12, 1953); Arne L. Davidsen, “A sketch from the fish market in Copenhagen”, Frionorbladet (Frionor Magazine), no. 1 (1951): 24–27; Anders Frihagen mfl., Norwegian frozen fish to the United States (Oslo: Department of commerce, 1946).

  16. 16.

    Ibid.; Robertson (1949); “What demands are posed to the phase of production and distribution in order to produce high quality frozen fillets?”, Frionorbladet (Frionor Magazine) (June 1960): 6; “Give the market what the market demands”, Frionorbladet (Frionor Magazine) no. 3 (1952): 1–2; Throne-Holst (1966); Freia, Annual report and accounts (1951–1954).

  17. 17.

    Max Schmid, “Switzerland”, Frionorbladet (Frionor Magazine), no. 1 (August 1949): 4; Frionor, Frionor 1946–1971 (Oslo, 1976); Frionor, Pioneering for 50 years (Oslo, 1996).

  18. 18.

    “Highest price of fish in Oslo og Bærum”, Verdens Gang (March 11, 1952); “Fish dealers break with the price directorate. Refuse to negotiate today”, Verdens Gang (January 11, 1952).

  19. 19.

    “Highest price of fish in Oslo og Bærum”; “Fewer fish dealers in Oslo than before the war” Verdens Gang (June 10, 1954).

  20. 20.

    “Highest price of fish in Oslo og Bærum”; “Fewer fish dealers in Oslo than before the war”; “Fish dealers wants qualifying exam and authorization”, Verdens Gang (April 25, 1955); Bistrup (1952); “Give us back the fish store”, Verdens Gang (June 12, 1962).

  21. 21.

    “The dairies build freezer locker plants in joint effort”, Norsk Fryserinæring no. 4 (April 1950): 69–73; “Gran dairy’s new cooling plant with 460 freezer lockers are now running”, Norsk Fryserinæring (Norwegian Freezing Industry Trade Journal), no. 1 (January 1954): 9; “Hokksund dairy inaugurate large storehouse and freezer locker plant”, Norsk Fryserinæring (Norwegian Freezing Industry Trade Journal), no. 3 (March 1953): 55.

  22. 22.

    “Report from a meeting in the committee of home economics, Norwegian National Nutritional Council (NNNC)”, (Oct. 19, 1951), Box 2, Norwegian Institute for Consumer Research (NICR); “Report from a meeting in the committee of home economics, NNNC”, (Nov. 13, 1951), Box 2, NICR; “Report from a meeting in the committee of home economics, NNNC”, (Nov. 20, 1952), Box 2, NICR; Bergliot Qviller Werenskiold, “Cooling and freezing of food”, Tidsskrift for husstell-lærerinner (Journal of home economics teachers) no. 10 (Oct. 1942): 81–90; “Deep freezing” (Oslo: Norwegian National Broadcasting (NNB), July 7, 1954), Box 18.1: NRK etc., NICR; “The newest news about the freezing of food”, Hus og heim (Oslo: NNB, Sept. 4, 1950), Box 18.11, NICR; The freezing of food (Oslo: State Research Institute in Home Economics (SRIHE), 1951); The freezing of food (Oslo: SRIHE, 1953).

  23. 23.

    Bergliot Qviller Werenskiold, “Freezing as conservation for vegetables”, (1948), Box 18.5 NICR; “The newest news about the freezing of food”.

  24. 24.

    “No hope for bigger food rations”, Verdens Gang (June 22, 1948); “It is snobbish not to like frozen fish”.

  25. 25.

    “Mrs. Erken demonstrates frozen fish”, Frionorbladet (Frionor Magazine), no. 3 (Sept. 1951): 38–39

  26. 26.

    Jacobsen, “The inland”.

  27. 27.

    Nils W. Pettersen-Hagh, Freezing and refrigerated storage in the USA. (Oslo: Norwegian Association of Freezing Plants/Norwegian Productivity Agency, 1956); Marketing and consumption of frozen fish in OEEC countries. Report presented at a meeting of experts on deep frozen foods held in Verona from the 6th to 12th of October 1959.

  28. 28.

    Rolf Kirkvaag, “Deep freezing in Norway”, Norsk Fryserinæring (Norwegian Freezing Industry Trade Journal) no. 1 (Feb. 1960): 3–13. The Deep Freezing Office was an organization established by actors from the freezing industry and producers of freezing technology in order to promote the sale and consumption of frozen foods and freezing technologies. In short, it was the freezing industry’s propaganda office.

  29. 29.

    Rolf Kirkvaag, “The future of deep freezing”, Kjøleteknikk og Fryserinæring (Refrigeration and Freezing Industry Trade Journal) no. 6 (Dec 1962): 150–154.

  30. 30.

    Rolf Kirkvaag, “Frozen TV-dinners in the Norway of tomorrow”, Kjøleteknikk og Fryserinæring (Refrigeration and Freezing Industry Trade Journal) no. 2 (April 1962): 41–44; “The food of the future”, Norsk Fryserinæring (Norwegian Freezing Industry Trade Journal) no. 11/12 (1959): 14; Rolf Kirkvaag, “Home freezers – some statistics”, Kjøleteknikk og Fryserinæring (Refrigeration and Freezing Industry Trade Journal) no. 5 (Oct. 1963): 101–102; “Revolution in the retail trade. A glimpse into the store of the future”, Frionorposten (Frionor Magazine) (Oct. 1965): 18–19.

  31. 31.

    “Tomorrows home presented at Danish exhibition” Aftenposten (Oslo, Dec. 12, 1966); “The food of the future”; “When the central kitchen takes over” Husmorbladet (Housewives Magazine) (Jan. 20, 1955); “Household schools has lost their purpose”, Aftenposten (Oslo, Jan. 29, 1963); “Frozen, prepared foods”, Aftenposten (Oslo, Sept. 14, 1955); “Deep frozen pre-cooked dinner and deep frozen school lunch are no longer just a dream”, Aftenposten (Oslo, Apr. 2, 1959).

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  1. Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Terje Finstad

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  1. Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Kostas Gavroglu

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Finstad, T. (2014). The Means of Modernization, Freezing Technologies and the Cultural Politics of Everyday Life, Norway 1940–1965. In: Gavroglu, K. (eds) History of Artificial Cold, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Issues. Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science, vol 299. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7199-4_12

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