COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 3630

Household Appliances, Not Elsewhere Classified

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

23companies1889–1984founding years21still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedMontgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated
1889
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedA. O. Smith Corporation
1904
FoundedKingfisher plcFoundedP.C. Richard & Son Corp.
1909
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedAktiebolaget Electrolux
1919
FoundedKitchenAid
1924
FoundedMaytag Corporation
1925
FoundedBrother Industries, Ltd.
1934
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedLechmere Inc.
1948
FoundedSun Television & Appliances Inc.
1949
FoundedFretter, Inc.
1951
FoundedMoulinex S.A.
1953
FoundedDarty S.A.
1957
FoundedLinens 'n Things, Inc.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedABC Appliance, Inc.
1964
FoundedTops Appliance City, Inc.
1970
FoundedRoberds Inc.
1971
FoundedCampo Electronics, Appliances & Computers, Inc.
1972
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
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
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
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

Montgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated →
Defunct · founded 1889
Montgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated is a national retailer with more than 400 stores in 43 states.
A. O. Smith Corporation →
Active · founded 1904
A.
Kingfisher plc →
Active · founded 1909 · United Kingdom
Based in London, Kingfisher plc is a major European retailing and property group.
P.C. Richard & Son Corp. →
Active · founded 1909
P.C.
Frigidaire Home Products →
Active · founded 1916
Celebrating its 80th anniversary in 1996, Frigidaire Home Products ranks third among America's manufacturers of "white…
Aktiebolaget Electrolux →
Active · founded 1919 · Sweden
To the average consumer, the name Electrolux says two things: vacuum cleaners and refrigerators.
KitchenAid →
Active · founded 1924 · United States
KitchenAid manufactures and markets a full line of premium-price home appliances, including microwave and conventional…
Maytag Corporation →
Active · founded 1925
Maytag Corporation is one of the leading appliance manufacturers in the United States.
Brother Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1934 · Japan
Brother Industries, Ltd., is one of the world's top manufacturers of electronic office machines.
American Furniture Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1935
Recognized as one of the largest retail home furnishing companies in the southwest United States, American Furniture…
Lechmere Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
Lechmere Inc.
Sun Television & Appliances Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Sun Television & Appliances Inc., Ohio's leading consumer electronics and appliance discounter, expanded its operations…
Fretter, Inc. →
Active · founded 1951
Fretter, Inc.
Lowe's Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1952
Lowe's Companies, Inc., is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the United States (trailing Home Depot…
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…
Darty S.A. →
Active · founded 1957 · France
With its "contract of confidence," Darty S.A.
Linens 'n Things, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1958
Linens 'n Things, Inc.
ABC Appliance, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
ABC Appliance, Inc., a leading retail supplier of radio, television, and consumer electronics, operates establishments…
Mr. Coffee, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Best known for its pioneering and market-leading automatic drip coffeemakers, Mr.
Tops Appliance City, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Starting with a tiny store in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Leslie S.
Roberds Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Characterized as "one of the most successful retailers of appliances in the Dayton area" by the Dayton Daily News,…
Campo Electronics, Appliances & Computers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Campo Electronics, Appliances & Computers, Inc.
REX Stores Corp. →
Active · founded 1984
REX Stores Corp.
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