COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3634

Electronic Housewares & Fans

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

24companies1901–1989founding years24still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedHamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex Inc.FoundedHamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex Inc.FoundedHunter Fan Company
1901
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedWest Bend Co.FoundedWest Bend Co.
1911
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedKitchenAid
1924
FoundedNational Presto Industries, Inc.FoundedNational Presto Industries, Inc.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedThe Rival Company
1932
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedMoulinex S.A.FoundedMoulinex S.A.
1953
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedPhilips Electronics North America Corp.
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedWindmere CorporationFoundedWindmere Corporation
1963
FoundedHelen of Troy Corporation
1968
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedCuisinart CorporationFoundedCuisinart Corporation
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedSunbeam-Oster Co., Inc.
1989
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.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
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.
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.
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.
West Bend Co. →
Active · founded 1911
West Bend Co.
KitchenAid →
Active · founded 1924 · United States
KitchenAid manufactures and markets a full line of premium-price home appliances, including microwave and conventional…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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…
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.
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.
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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