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This unique item, an apparently unremarkable letter and envelope from 1932 actually provides a clear picture of where the Kelly Supply Company was back in 1932, and hints at it's future as an increasingly diverse supplier. The company's diversity as a supplier becomes obvious when you notice the advertising on the letter head and on the back of the envelope:

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Fire Protection Equipment

Heating and Power Piping

"KELVINATOR" The Oldest Domestic Electric Refrigerator

What is a "Kelvinator"? We found a nice photo from the 20's or 30's of a Kelly county fair booth featuring the Kelvinator. We put up a post about it and some nice, detailed information regarding the Kelvinator and it's company history - Late 20’s early 30’s Kelvinator Photo + the Story of Kelvinator.

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On the letter itself, there is mention of "Central Automatic Sprinklers". Our research has turned up a Central Automatic Sprinkler Company in Lansdale, PA, that designs, manufactures, and distributes a complete line of fire sprinklers, valves and accessories, PVC pipe and fittings, steel pipe, and iron grooved products. As far as we can tell, industry giant Tyco aquired Central Sprinkler in 1999.

The letter is being sent to Haller’s Electrical Shop in Ericson, NE, which displays the relatively wide trading area that Kelly had even in the 1930's. It wasn’t easy to maintain such a wide net, especially since it's not hard to imagine that Ericson had few phones at the time. Here's a map showing Ericson and Haller's Electrical Shop in relation to Kelly's Grand Island location.

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As always, if any of our faithful readers have any info about either Haller's Electrical Shop in Ericson, NE, or Kelvinator ice-boxes, feel free to leave a comment below.

UPDATE: Most of the historical articles we've been writing have been based on historical photos and documents that are stored in the Grand Island, NE offices, but this particular item was actually brought in by a customer, Gene Penrose of Grand Island. He said he found it in some of his dad's old paperwork! Thanks a bunch, Gene!