What Were the Popular Central Air-Conditioning Brands in 1980?

Lennox

• Lennox has been in the air conditioning and heating business for more than a century, and in 1980 the company was among the leaders in the industry. The familiar face of Dave Lennox and the catch phrase “Atta Boy, Dave” became synonymous with the brand in the early 1970s. By 1980, Lennox had become known as the pioneer in electronically controlled, variable speed air handlers and solar powered air conditioners. Shortly after 1980 the company developed high-efficiency furnaces, as well as he first air conditioner to achieve an efficiency rating of 15.00 SEER, which would be efficient enough to surpass later federal standards.

Carrier

• Willis Carrier, a mechanical engineer and founder of the Carrier Company, began development of the first mechanical air conditioner in 1902. His company grew from there, and by 1980 it already had its mark on the air conditioning and heating business. The company got the contract to install air conditioning in the Sears Tower in Chicago in the early 1970s, which was the tallest building in the world at the time. In 1980, the well-known and successful company was purchased by United Technologies Corporation and continues under the Carrier name. Carrier remains a major manufacturer of residential and commercial central air-conditioning equipment.

Trane

• Trane is a well-known brand of air conditioners that was prominent in 1980 and long before. The company got started in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1885 when James Trane developed a new type of heating system. The heating business soon included air conditioning as the company developed new technology for cooling large buildings in the 1930s. By the early 1980s, Trane had acquired General Electric’s air-conditioning division and became a leader in residential air-conditioning manufacturing. American Standard purchased Trane in 1984, but the Trane name remains on the air-conditioning equipment it for which it is known.

Amana

• Amana is a popular brand of all types of home appliances, including air-conditioning systems. The company started in the town of Amana, Iowa, when George Foerstner founded the company in 1934. Amana supplied walk-in coolers to the military during World War II and then expanded decades later to begin offering some of the industry’s most well-known heating and cooling products. In 1980, the brand was more widely known than it ever had been prior to that date. The Amana Heating and Air Conditioning brand is still manufactured, but these products are now made in Tennessee and Texas.