It was a sweltering August day when the Cohen brothers entered the posh
Dearborn, Michigan, offices of Henry Ford, the car maker, "Mr. Ford,"
announced Norman Cohen, the eldest of the three. "We have a remarkable
invention that will revolutionize the automobile industry."

Ford looked skeptical, but their threat to offer it to the competition
kept his interest piqued. "We would like to demonstrate it to you in
person."

After a little cajoling, they brought Mr. Ford outside and asked him to
enter a black automobile parked in front of the building. Hyman Cohen,
the middle brother, opened the door of the car. "Please step inside,
Mr. Ford."

"What!" shouted the tycoon, "Are you crazy? It must be two hundred
degrees in that car!" "It is," smiled the youngest brother, Max, "but
sit down Mr. Ford, and push the white button."

Intrigued, Ford pushed the button. All of a sudden a whoosh of freezing
air started blowing from vents all around the car, and within seconds the
automobile was not only comfortable, it was quite cool.

"This is amazing!" exclaimed Ford. "How much do you want for the
patent?"

Norman spoke up, "The price is one million dollars." Then he paused.

And there is something else. The name 'Cohen Brothers Air-conditioning
must be stamped right next to the Ford logo!"

"Money is no problem," retorted Ford, "but no way will I have a Jewish
name next to my logo on my cars!'

They haggled back and forth for a while and finally they settled. Five
million dollars, but the Cohens' lastname would be left off. However, the
first names of the Cohen brothers would be forever emblazoned upon the
console of every Ford air conditioning system.

And that is why, even today, whenever you enter a Ford vehicle, you will
see those three names clearly printed on the air conditioning control
panel: Norm, Hi and Max.

—Forwarded by Paul Thomas, MD, San Diego