Have you installed a thermidor in your automobile?

In 1975, the Federal Energy Administration (FEA) conducted a telephone survey about energy conservation and included the question, "Have you installed a thermidor in your automobile?"

Five percent of the people who took the survey stated that they had. Therefore, the FEA concluded that 5 percent of the survey takers were lying in their responses, because Thermidor is a month in the French revolutionary calendar.

Though, to be fair, Thermidor does sound like it could be some kind of heating device.

The Minneapolis Star - Sep 11, 1975

     Posted By: Alex - Fri Feb 03, 2017
     Category: 1970s | Cars





Comments
If you did install a lobster thermidor in your car, I would not ride with you on a hot summer road trip.
Posted by BMN on 02/03/17 at 10:00 AM
Perhaps they were confused with "humidor".
Posted by RobK on 02/03/17 at 11:37 AM
Maybe the 5% were those living at enough altitude to keep the lobster cold.
Posted by Virtual on 02/03/17 at 03:51 PM
As usual, the government doesn't trust people and brands them as liars even when they might very well be telling the truth. 'Thermidor' sounds a lot like 'Thermador' and could easily be confused for it. Thermador (parent company: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH) made evaporator coolers for cars which are more energy efficient than engine-powered air conditioning.

"There were several manufacturers of car coolers, examples being Thermador, Classic Aire, Sears Roebuck (Allstate brand) . . ." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_cooler
Posted by Phideaux on 02/03/17 at 10:28 PM
I've got two Thermidors, a trio of Harpsichords and a half-dozen dodecaphonic speakers in my car.
;p
Posted by Greg on 02/04/17 at 03:09 PM
I got the humidors, just make sure you filled your headlights with water in the winter to see farther
Posted by Zombie on 02/05/17 at 11:43 PM
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