Editing Kelvinator

{{short description|Defunct home appliance manufacturer based in Detroit, Michigan}}

{{Infobox company
| name           = Kelvinator
| logo           = Kelvinator Logo.svg
| logo_size      = 250px
| type           = [[Division (business)|Division]]
| company_slogan =
| foundation     = {{start date and age|1914}}
| defunct        = {{start date and age|1986}}
| location       =
| key_people     =
| num_employees  =
| industry       = [[Home appliance|Appliances]]
| products       = Commercial refrigeration for food service applications<br/>air-conditioning
| owner = [[Electrolux AB]], took over ownership in 1986
}}

'''Kelvinator''' was an American [[home appliance]] manufacturer and a line of [[domestic refrigerator]]s  that was the company's namesake.  Although it is now defunct as a company, the name remains a [[brand]] owned by [[Electrolux AB]]. It takes its name from [[William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin]], who developed the concept of [[absolute zero]] and for whom the [[Kelvin]] temperature scale is named. The name was thought appropriate for a company that manufactured [[ice-box]]es and refrigerators.

==History==
[[File:Kelvinator 1920 newspaper ad.png|thumb|upright|Kelvinator ad from 1920]]
[[File:Icebox - Cà d'Zan - John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art - Sarasota, FL - DSC00369.jpg|thumb|Kelvinator refrigerator, c. 1926]]

The enterprise was established on September 18, 1914, in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], United States, by engineer [[Nathaniel B. Wales]], who introduced his idea for a practical electric refrigeration unit for the home to Edmund Copeland and Arnold Goss.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.kelvinator-intl.com/history_kelvinator.asp |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071227060610/http://www.kelvinator-intl.com/history_kelvinator.asp |archive-date=27 December 2007 |title=History |publisher=Electrolux International Company |year=2007 |access-date=24 May 2013}}</ref>

Wales, a young inventor, secured financial backing from Arnold Goss, then secretary of the [[Buick]] Automobile company, to develop the first household mechanical refrigerators to be marketed under the name "Electro-Automatic Refrigerating Company".<ref name="hubbert">{{cite web |url= http://www.chhistory.org/FeatureStories.php?Story=KelvinHome |last=Hubbert |first=Christopher J. |title=The Kelvin Home: Cleveland Heights Leads the Way to: 'a New and Better Way of Living' |publisher=Cleveland Heights Historical Society |year=2006 |access-date=24 May 2013 |archive-date=31 January 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130131083208/http://www.chhistory.org/FeatureStories.php?Story=KelvinHome |url-status=dead }}</ref> After producing many experimental models, Wales selected one for manufacturing.

In February 1916, the name of the business was changed to "Kelvinator Company" in honor of the Irish-Scottish physicist, Lord Kelvin ([[William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin]]), the discoverer of [[absolute zero]]. Kelvinator was among two dozen home refrigerators introduced to the U.S. market in 1916. In 1918, Kelvinator introduced the first refrigerator with any type of automatic control.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.history.com/exhibits/modern/fridge.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080326092256/http://www.history.com/exhibits/modern/fridge.html |year=2006 |archive-date=26 March 2008 |title=History of the Refrigerator |website=history.com |access-date=24 May 2013}}</ref>

Frustrated by iceboxes, the Grand Rapids Refrigerator Company introduced a [[porcelain]]-lined "Leonard Cleanable" ice cabinet.<ref name="Beld">{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=EsalzuFqmpUC&q=Grand+Rapids+Kelvinator+Leonard+AMC&pg=PA71 |pages=70–71 |title=Grand times in Grand Rapids: pieces of Furniture City history |first=Gordon |last=Beld |publisher=History Press |year=2012 |isbn=9781609496296 |access-date=24 May 2013 }}</ref> Kelvinator began buying Leonard's boxes for its electric refrigerated models. By 1923, the Kelvinator Company held 80% of the American market for electric refrigerators.<ref name="hubbert"/>

On July 3, 1925, Kelvinator bought [[Nizer Corporation]] in a tri-party merger valued at $20 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ice Machine Merger Is Said to Impend; Kelvinator and Nizer Concerns Named in $20,000,000 Electrical Refrigerator Deal|date=3 July 1925 |newspaper=The New York Times |url= https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0D10FB3C5D167A93C1A9178CD85F418285F9 |access-date=24 May 2013}}</ref>

In 1926, the company acquired [[Leonard (appliances)|Leonard]], which had been founded in 1881. Kelvinator concentrated its entire appliance production at the Grand Rapids factory in 1928.<ref name="Beld"/> That year, [[George W. Mason]] assumed control of Kelvinator. Under his leadership, the company lowered its costs while increasing [[market share]] through 1936.

In 1936, Kelvinator introduced the "Kelvin Home", one of the earliest attempts to market in-home central air conditioning and heating to ordinary consumers. Customers could choose from several different home designs, all of which were equipped with climate control systems and the latest electric appliances, and were advertised to cost about $7,500 ($151,523 in 2022) <ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.dollartimes.com/inflation/inflation.php?amount=1&year=1936) | title=Calculate the Value of $1.00 in 1936. How much is it worth today? }}</ref> for a six-room house.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Typical Kelvin Home |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52912731/chicago-tribune/ |access-date=June 6, 2020 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=December 27, 1936 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=If You Plan To Build (advertisement) |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52913512/star-gazette/ |access-date=June 6, 2020 |newspaper=Elmira Star-Gazette |date=February 4, 1937 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The first Kelvin Home shown to the public was located in [[Livonia, Michigan]] and attracted thousands of visitors.<ref>{{cite news |title=More Than 10,000 See Kelvin Home |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52913733/detroit-free-press/ |access-date=June 6, 2020 |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=November 1, 1936 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Several surviving homes are registered historic properties, including some in the [[Rosedale Gardens Historic District]] in Livonia<ref>{{citation | title = National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Rosedale Gardens Historic District |first=R.O. |last=Christensen | series = File Unit: National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records: Michigan, 1964 - 2013 | date = December 2009 |url= https://catalog.archives.gov/id/25340944 |access-date=June 6, 2020}}</ref> and the [[Kelvinator House]] in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]].<ref name=abqjournal38>{{cite news |title=New Kelvin Home Open to Public for Four Hours Today |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52830992/albuquerque-journal/ |access-date=June 5, 2020 |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |date=February 20, 1938 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

==British operations==
In 1926, Kelvinator Limited, [[England]], was started in [[London]]. From simple merchandising of the products of the American factories, it grew until it was producing much of its own equipment for the [[United Kingdom|British]] market. In 1946, it was considered that the time was ripe for this unit to expand and be self-contained in its manufacture of Kelvinator Equipment, and the London manufacturing activities were moved to [[Crewe]] and greatly expanded with a further {{convert|19000|m2|sqft|}} of floor space. The Crewe factory was shared with [[Rolls-Royce Motors]], but burned down in the 1950s and was replaced by a new facility in [[Bromborough]], [[Cheshire]].

Italian manufacturer [[Candy (company)|Candy]] bought the operation in 1979 together with the use of the Kelvinator brand name in the UK and produced both Candy and Kelvinator products until it closed around 2000.

==Merger with Nash Motors==
On October 27, 1936, it was announced that [[Nash Motors]] and Kelvinator Corp. were merging.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Nash-Kelvinator |magazine=Cars & Parts |date=1984 |volume=27 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=QlRWAAAAMAAJ&q=January+4,+1937,+Kelvinator+merged+with+Nash+Motors |publisher=Amos Press |access-date=5 August 2019 }}</ref> The merger took effect on January 4, 1937, to form [[Nash-Kelvinator Corporation]] as part of a deal that placed George W. Mason at the helm of the combined company.

In 1952, it acquired the [[Altorfer Bros. Company]], which made home [[washing machine|laundry equipment]] under the ABC brand name.

==World War II==
[[File:S-49 Sikorsky R-6A USAF museum.jpg|thumb|Sikorsky R-6A Hoverfly II helicopter]]

Between 1939 and 1945, the complete manufacturing facilities of the factories' group were turned over to the manufacturing of military supplies. With the exception of one-ton, two-wheeled truck cargo trailers and some refrigerators, Nash-Kelvinator did not manufacture products related to its pre-war operations.<ref name="Jackson">{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=David D. |title=Nash-Kelvinator in World War Two |url= http://usautoindustryworldwartwo.com/nash-kelvinator.htm |website=usautoindustryworldwartwo.com |date=10 April 2022 |access-date=20 December 2022}}</ref> It became the largest producer of helicopters in the U.S. during the war by making the [[Sikorsky R-6#Development|A Hoverfly II]], the most advanced helicopter design of the war.<ref name="Jackson"/> Other wartime products included three- and four-blade propellers, optical equipment and binoculars as well as [[Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp]] radial aircraft engines.<ref name="Jackson"/> The Kelvinator refrigerator facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan, had up to 5,000 employees when it produced airplane propellers and engine parts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kelvinator Plant Can't Shake Name No Matter Who Owns It |url= https://apnews.com/article/120413bab763c4e804298bae0d3656fb |publisher=AP News |date=25 December 1987 |access-date=20 December 2022}}</ref> Nash-Kelvinator placed 27th in the value of World War II production contracts that were awarded to U.S. firms.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shea |first1=Jerry |title=Producing the Weapons of War · World War II in Life Magazine Advertisements · Western CT State University Archives' Digital Collections |url= https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/exhibits/show/world-war-ii-in-life-magazine-/weapons-of-war |website=archives.library.wcsu.edu |access-date=20 December 2022}}</ref>

In Britain, Kelvinator of [[London]] contributed to the field of testing [[airplane]] components at ultra-low temperatures, and instruments under high altitude conditions, research that was credited as saving the lives of many [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] aircrews.

The company pledged to introduce the scientific discoveries gained during the war production into its appliances to make them more useful and efficient.<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=JVMEAAAAMBAJ&q=Kelvinator+refrigerator+new+developments&pg=PA39 |page=39 |title=We'll be Inside ... Looking Out (advertisement) |magazine=Life |date=19 February 1945 |volume=18 |issue=8 |access-date=24 May 2013}}</ref>

[[File:1948KELVINATOR (8205072109).jpg|thumb|upright|Kelvinator refrigerator ad from 1948]]

==Integration into American Motors==
Nash-Kelvinator became a division of [[American Motors]] (AMC) when Nash merged with [[Hudson Motor Car|Hudson]] in 1954. Kelvinator introduced the first [[auto-defrost]] models.<ref name="Seideman">{{cite journal|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=5iL542-NO8AC&q=Kelvinator+refrigerator+doors&pg=PA46 |page=46 |title=Cold Comparisons |first1=Tony |last1=Seideman |first2=Celine |last2=Seideman |journal=Old-House Journal |date=March–April 2007 |volume=35 |issue=2 |access-date=24 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=AEgEAAAAMBAJ&q=Kelvinator+refrigerator+doors&pg=PP2 |page=inside cover |title=Move the magic of the "Magic Cycle" defrosting (advertisement) |magazine=Life |date=17 August 1953 |volume=35 |issue=7 |access-date=24 May 2013}}</ref> Kelvinator refrigerators included shelves on the inside of their doors and special compartments for frozen juice containers in the freezer.<ref name="Seideman"/> It also pioneered the side-by-side refrigerator freezer, the Foodarama series, in the mid-1950s.<ref name="Seideman"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Pk8EAAAAMBAJ&q=Kelvinator+refrigerator+doors&pg=PA68 |page=68 |title=Fabulous Foodarama by Kelvinator (advertisement) |magazine=Life |date=16 April 1956 |volume=40 |issue=16 |access-date=24 May 2013}}</ref> In the 1960s, Kelvinator refrigerators introduced "picture frame" doors on some models allowing owners to decorate their appliance to match décor of their kitchens.

Under the leadership of [[Roy D. Chapin Jr.]], AMC sold off its Kelvinator operations in 1968.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hyde |first=Charles K. |title=Riding the Roller Coaster |publisher=Wayne State University Press |year=2003 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=aQhTq18vi7AC&q=Kelvinator+history+1968&pg=PA276 |isbn=978-0-8143-3091-3 |page=276 |access-date=24 May 2013}}</ref> (AMC then purchased the [[Jeep]] brand from [[Kaiser Industries]] in 1970.) Kelvinator joined [[White Consolidated Industries]], a company that later acquired the rights to [[Frigidaire]] (originally owned by [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]]), [[Gibson Appliance|Gibson]], and [[White-Westinghouse]] product lines. [[Electrolux]] of Sweden acquired White Consolidated Industries in 1986, and combined WCI brands with Electrolux-owned [[Tappan (brand)|Tappan]] to become WCI Major Appliances Group.

In the early 1990s, the name of the [[Dublin, Ohio]] based holding company changed to Frigidaire Company.

In 1997, it was reorganized into Electrolux North America Products.

==Legacy==
In North America, Electrolux continues to sell (under the Kelvinator Commercial brand) a range of commercial refrigeration equipment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kelvinatorcommercial.com/ |title=Kelvinator Commercial |publisher=Kelvinator Commercial  |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>

The Kelvinator brand is used in [[Argentina]] for a wide variety of appliances marketed by Radio Victoria Fueguina in [[Tierra del Fuego]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.radiovictoria.com/qhistoria.php |title=Historia |website=radiovictoria.com |language=es |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120425055457/http://www.radiovictoria.com/qhistoria.php |archive-date=25 April 2012 |access-date=24 May 2013 }}</ref> The factory is in this province.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.kelvinator.com.ar/kelVarios.php?x=1&en=35 |title=Acerca de Kelvinator |publisher=Radio Victoria Fueguina |language=es |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120123114023/http://www.kelvinator.com.ar/kelVarios.php?x=1&en=35 |archive-date=23 January 2012 |access-date=24 May 2013}}</ref>

In the Philippines, the Kelvinator brand was licensed in 1977 to Concepcion Industries Inc. (now Concepcion Industrial Corporation) who continues to sell whitegoods under this brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cic.ph/about/ |title=Concepcion Industrial Corporation - About Us |publisher=Concepcion Industrial Corporation |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>

In Australia, Kelvinator Australia Ltd was formed in 1934, and manufactured and distributed products under licence from several US companies, including Kelvinator. The managing director was William Queale, while his father-in-law, F.H. Griffiths, was a co-director.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grainger |first=G |date=2020 |title=Kelvinator Australia Ltd. with a special emphasis on its Keswick Plants |url=https://www.westtorrens.sa.gov.au/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/objective-digitalpublications/external-website/publications/kelvinator-australia-limited-keswick-local-history.pdf |access-date=8 September 2023 |website=City of Woodville West-Torrens |publisher=West Torrens Historical Society Inc. |page=3}}</ref> In 1980, they became part of the Australian-owned 
Email Limited group of companies, whose appliance division was subsequently sold to the Swedish-owned Electrolux Group in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.westtorrens.sa.gov.au/Council/Local-history/West-Torrens-businesses-and-industries/Kelvinator-Australia-Ltd |title=Kelvinator Australia Ltd - Keswick Local History |publisher=City of West Torrens, South Australia  |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref> Refrigerators and air conditioners continue to be sold under the Kelvinator brand by the Electrolux Group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kelvinator.com.au/other/about/ |title=About Kelvinator Australia  |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>

In India, the Kelvinator brand was revived in 2019, when the retail arm of Reliance Retail signed a licensing, manufacturing, marketing and distribution deal with Electrolux.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/electronics/reliance-set-to-bring-back-the-coolest-one-to-india/articleshow/71679828.cms |title=Reliance set to bring back the 'coolest one' to India |newspaper=The Economic Times  |date=21 October 2019 |access-date=9 January 2023 |last1=Mukherjee |first1=Writankar }}</ref> They currently sell a range of appliances and whitegoods under the Kelvinator brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kelvinator.in/page/about-us |title=Kelvinator - About Us |publisher=Kelvinator India  |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>

As late as 2014, residents of [[Robeson County, North Carolina]] used "Kelvinator" to generically refer to refrigerators, due to the former presence of a Kelvinator factory in their county.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wolfram| first1=Walt |last2=Reaser |first2=Jeffrey |title=Talkin' Tar Heel: How Our Voices Tell the Story of North Carolina |publisher=The University of North Carolina Press |date=2014 |location=Chapel Hill |isbn=978-1-4696-1437-3 |page=234}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Electrolux}}
{{American Motors}}
{{Nash Motors}}
{{Home appliance brands}}

[[Category:American Motors]]
[[Category:Nash Motors]]
[[Category:Home appliance manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:Electrolux brands]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1914]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1914]]
[[Category:1914 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Defunct manufacturing companies based in Detroit]]
[[Category:1986 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Refrigerators]]