COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3634

Electric Housewares and Fans

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

14companies1901–1989founding years14still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedHamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex Inc.FoundedHunter Fan Company
1901
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedWest Bend Co.
1911
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedHealth O Meter Products Inc.
1919
FoundedKitchenAid
1924
FoundedNational Presto Industries, Inc.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedThe Rival Company
1932
FoundedFrymaster Corporation
1935
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedMoulinex S.A.
1953
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedPhilips Electronics North America Corp.
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedWindmere Corporation
1963
FoundedHelen of Troy Corporation
1968
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedCuisinart Corporation
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedSunbeam-Oster Co., Inc.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex Inc. →
Active · founded 1901
Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex Inc.
Hunter Fan Company →
Active · founded 1901
Hunter Fan Company is the world's oldest and largest ceiling fan manufacturer.
West Bend Co. →
Active · founded 1911
West Bend Co.
Health O Meter Products Inc. →
Active · founded 1919
Health O Meter Products Inc.
KitchenAid →
Active · founded 1924 · United States
KitchenAid manufactures and markets a full line of premium-price home appliances, including microwave and conventional…
National Presto Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1929
National Presto Industries, Inc., based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is a leading manufacturer of small, electric kitchen…
The Rival Company →
Active · founded 1932
The Rival Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of small household and personal care appliances, as well as…
Frymaster Corporation →
Active · founded 1935
Frymaster Corporation, a subsidiary of Welbilt, is the leading manufacturer of commercial, open-pot fryers in the…
Moulinex S.A. →
Active · founded 1953 · France
Moulinex S.A., the once proud leader of the European small household appliance market, has seen troubled times for most…
Philips Electronics North America Corp. →
Active · founded 1959
Philips Electronics North America Corp.
Windmere Corporation →
Active · founded 1963
Windmere Corporation is a leading manufacturer and distributor of personal care and seasonal products, such as hair…
Helen of Troy Corporation →
Active · founded 1968
Named for the most beautiful woman in classical mythology, Helen of Troy Corporation commands an industry-leading 35…
Cuisinart Corporation →
Active · founded 1973
Cuisinart Corporation is a well-known manufacturer of small kitchen appliances.
Sunbeam-Oster Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
Sunbeam and Oster are consumer brand names recognizable from coast to coast, and by all generations of Americans.
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