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 Custom Air Conditioning Systems
Custom In-Dash Air Conditioning
Contact our customer service to determine if SCS/Frigette has an A/C system that will fit your vehicle. Let us help you find a distributor near you. Air Conditioning History and Background
These programs were so successful and profitable for the retailer that he was asked by Montgomery Ward to develop a program for them nationwide. Unfortunately, the resources to manufacture, distribute and merchandise air conditioners on a nationwide basis were not available. Therefore, Hickman lost the business his dad developed to older and more financially established companies.
While establishing the mass merchandising base, Hickman formed other companies to build component parts for the auto air conditioner, which enabled him to have fast turnaround times and lower costs. An adaptor kit manufacturing company, coil plan, plastic company and a light weight bracket company were formed to expedite production and control quality. Mr. Hickman's companies became very successful and began soliciting O.E.M. car manufacturing accounts. Through hard work and superior products, the following O.E.M. manufacturers purchases air condition units from Lone Star Manufacturing Company; American Motors / Jeep, Chrysler Motors, Chrysler MMC Cars, Mazda, Subaru, Isuzu, Volvo, and Renault. Due to tremendous growth in Hickman's companies, financing was needed. Yet, financing was extremely difficult to obtain. In order to service the customers efficiently and have financing and the resources to continue growth, these companies were sold to Wynn's International in 1978. |
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In 1958, Mr.
Holt Hickman secured a distributorship for Mark IV air conditioning units manufactured by
the John E. Mitchell company of Dallas, Texas. At that time, John E. Mitchell was the
leader in the automotive air conditioning field. In four (4) years Hickman developed his
distributorship, Fort Worth Battery and Automotive, into the world/s largest retail outlet
for automotive air conditioners.
During this
same four (4) year span, the mass merchandisers were unsuccessful and lost millions of
dollars in the auto air conditioning business. Hickman, using the retail knowledge gained
at Fort Worth Battery Automotive, developed programs to sell and install the MARK IV brand
of air conditioning units through retail outlets such as Goodyear Tire and Service
Centers, Leonard's Automotive Centers, Montgomery Ward Auto Centers, and U.S. Home and
Auto Stores throughout the State of Texas.
Not
discouraged by this misfortune, Hickman formed his own air conditioning manufacturing
company in 1964 and entered into the manufacturing of automobile air conditioners with a
4,000 sq. ft. plant and five employees. He developed mass merchandising programs which
would sell air conditioners in higher volumes, with higher gross profits and fewer service
problems. These programs became a standard throughout the industry. As time passed,
Hickman was able to secure Globe Automotive Stores, Goodyear Tire and Service Centers,
W.T. Grand, K-mart, Leonard's Automotive Centers, Montgomery Ward, Target, Uniroyal Home
and Auto Stores, Venture, Western Auto, White's, and Woolco, on a national basis through
their company owned stores. In fact, all mass merchandisers in the United States handled
his products, with the exception of Sears and J.C. Penney. At that time, Sears would not
handle a product made by the same manufacturer that Montgomery Ward did and J.C. Penney
would not handle a product made by the same manufacturer that K-Mart did.