SnoWizard

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Sno-Wizard is a New Orleans, Louisiana based sno-ball company. It was founded by George J. Ortolano in 1937.

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[edit] The History

In 1936, Ortolano noticed a gathering of customers at a nearby snow cone business and was inspired to add this inexpensive treat to his grocery store to generate additional income.

Ortolano, however, resolved to create a machine that would produce a fine, fluffy shaven snow, similar to that made with blocks of ice and a hand-plane ice shaver. His efforts were successful and his subsequent invention of a simple but ingenious machine transformed blocks of ice used in the household icebox into mounds of delicate snow-like flakes, unlike the crunchy ice crystals from that snow cone machine.

Because of this invention, Ortolano could rightfully be called the "father of the snowball," or at least its guardian, and the corner of Magazine and Delachaise streets, from which his business still operates, might be labeled as its birthplace. -New Orleans Magazine, 1980

Regulars buying snow balls at the Ortolano's grocery store became fascinated with George's invention. He soon began receiving requests for the machine from those who wanted to start their own businesses.

In 1948, Ortolano set about to improve his early wooden machine design for commercial use and production. Incorporating knowledge gained through his shipyard experience, he began development of a new model built of galvanized metal.

[edit] The Sno-Wizard Sno-Ball Machine

As the demand for his Snow Wizard machine increased, so did the time that Ortolano invested in manufacturing them. He abandoned the grocery business soon thereafter to devote his full energies to the fledgling enterprise. Manufacturing most all of his machine parts by hand, Ortolano was compelled to automate production to keep apace with sales. Blueprints were drawn to standardize the parts and automate assembly, and stainless steel replaced the galvanized metal.

Incorporating knowledge gained through his shipyard experience, he developed new models built of galvanized metal, and later of stainless steel. His newly redesigned machine warranted a modernized distinct name, so the two words were combined and the letter “w” was removed. The birth of the New Orleans “SnoBall” evolved from his newly donned SnoWizard SnoBall machine. Unknowing to George at that time, he had given birth to a new industry that would gradually expand throughout the entire country and to other parts of the world.

[edit] Sno-Wizard Today

Ortolano's nephew, Ronnie R. Sciortino, joined the firm in 1981. Sciortino assumed full responsibility for the operation of the SnoWizard companies after his uncle's retirement.

The SnoWizard tradition continues today, with the geographic scope of SnoBall machine operators now flourishing nationwide and in numerous foreign countries in South America, Europe, the Mid-East and Australia.

[edit] External links

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This article has been tagged since October 2007.
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