The first freezer was invented in the 1940s and was referred to as a deep freezer. Before this, households used iceboxes to store ice in the home. During this time, however, very few people had access to their own freezer. It wasn't until after World War II that refrigerators become the norm in U.S. households.
The Monitor-Top was the first widely used antique refrigerator, which included a motor and compressor located in a different room, attached to the freezer, which was stored in the kitchen.
The problem with the early freezers is that they used dangerous chemicals, which have now been ruled to be toxic.
During the 1950s and 1960s, companies focused on making freezers more efficient. Many of these freezers also included automatic ice makers. Today, most households own a freezer.