Feedback For The Week: December 03, 2001
A Tribute To An Industry Pioneer
Ed Bottum Sr., president and founder of Refrigeration Research, Brighton, MI, was without a doubt one of the finest, most humble, and giving gentlemen I have ever known. His knowledge and history of the early days of the refrigeration and a/c industry was boundless. His energy and enthusiasm for inventing, developing, and improving the technology and engineering of refrigeration and a/c that improves our quality of life — even in his late 80s, prior to his death — should have been bottled for the rest of us.Ed gave this industry dozens of inventions and developed numerous refrigeration components and products that have truly made a difference to the refrigeration technology we have and know today. He gave back to the industry he loved and lived for in many ways, including the historical museum in the lower level of Refrigeration Research, which preserves the historical progression of 20th century refrigeration, and donations of historical equipment to the Smithsonian Institute.
I most appreciated Ed for what he stood for and his caring about our industry’s future relative to education and young people. The word “no” was never in Ed’s vocabulary when it came to giving of his time, expertise, equipment, and parts, as well as monetary contributions that would improve the educational process and recruit good young people to our industry.
Our days of building and growing a national hvacr program at Ferris State University with quality students were made easier, exciting, and enjoyable because of Ed Bottum Sr.
Heaven will be a better place (and more comfortable) because of the efforts of Ed Bottum. Rest in peace, my friend.
[Editor’s note: Ed Bottum Sr.’s obituary appears on page 5.]
Dick Shaw
Technical Education Consultant
Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)
Arlington, VA
A Hot Tip For Ice Machines
I read with great interest the article by Joe Marchese regarding ice machine service [“Seven Tips For Servicing Ice Machines,” Nov. 5].I agree that servicing these products takes time and experience. After all, a small adjustment to the machine may result in waiting through whatever cycle time the unit requires to make a batch of ice. Patience is a virtue when servicing ice machines.
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One tip I would like to add to his list is that when servicing ice machines in areas where the average daily temperature is above 85 degrees F, these machines can run over their production time due to warmer incoming water temperatures to the sump. In many cases, the freeze time can be shortened or be within the manufacturer’s specifications by reducing the inlet water temperature. This works especially well in commercial restaurants where the walk-in cooler is near the ice machine. Taking a roll of soft copper tubing and attaching it to the ceiling area of the walk-in allows the water to be precooled (for free). The incoming water can be reduced to the temperature of most walk-ins, about 36 degrees to 45 degrees. This will allow the machine to increase production no matter what the ambient may be.
Harry Shotz
Hvac Instructor
CHI Institute
Broomall, PA
To Lead, You Must Learn To Follow
I enjoyed Mark Skaer’s “Views and Opinions” column in the Nov. 5 News (“Having The Right Attitude Today Is Important — Period”).I have been working in the customer business for almost 40 years. I worked as a tech, then management/trainer, ran my own restaurant service business, and also the pastor of a church for 17 years. During that time I have discovered that everyone wants to lead or be in charge, the constant comment being, “If I was in charge, I would not do it that way.”
I have learned over the years that in order to be able to lead, you must first learn to follow. The art of following involves suffering. The suffering I am talking about is getting your foot out of your mouth and putting the foot to the pedal and doing as you are told.
Many times poor leadership is bred out of poor role models in the home, school, church, and on the job. When we have learned the lessons of loving our neighbor as we do ourselves, and finding out what loving oneself is all about, we will have accomplished the ability to lead. We are all called to be servants, we just do not like to serve. I used to say “The boss is not always right, but he is the boss.”
Timmie McElwain President Gas Appliance Service Training & Consulting Riverside, RI
Publication date: 12/03/2001