Nash-Kelvinator Corporation was the result of a merger in 1937 between Nash Motors and Kelvinator Appliance Company. The union of these two companies was brought about as a result of a condition made by George W. Mason prior to his appointment as CEO of Nash. The company manufactured cars and refrigerators as well as aeronautic components and helicopters during World War II. In 1954, the company merged with Husdon Motors to form American Motors Corporation (AMC).
The founder of Nash Motors, Charles W. Nash, now serving as chair of the board, wanted George W. Mason for his expertise as a production engineer for several car manufacturers before being appointed president of Kelvinator in 1928.[1] To have Mason, Nash had to buy Kelvinator, a leading manufacturer of refrigerators.[2] The merged company began on 2 January 1937 with no debt and $50 million in cash assets.[3] Mason then served as president of Nash-Kelvinator until 1954 when the firm merged with Hudson Motors.[1]
Nash-Kelvinator ranked 27th among United States corporations in the value of World War II production contracts.[4] As part of the Arsenal of Democracy, the company shifted its factories to make a large variety of military components and aeronautic assemblies. The company expanded its facilities to produce the Hamilton Standard propellers to become the largest manufacturer of this type of propeller with more than 158,000 units made with an additional over 85,000 spare blades, assembling nearly 17,000 Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp 18-cylinder, air-cooled aircraft engine, making the newly introduced Sikorsky R-6 helicopters, and becoming one of the largest suppliers of binoculars in the world with over 200,000 delivered to the US Army.[1][5][6] Starting in late 1944, the company began to work on new car designs and by 1945 it completed new proving grounds in Wisconsin.[6]
In 1955, Kelvinator introduced the Kelvinator Food-A-Rama Side-by-Side Refrigerator, one of the earliest modern side-by-side frost-free refrigerators.[7] Kelvinator consumer products, before and after the merger with Nash, were considered an upmarket brand of household appliances.
In 1954, Nash-Kelvinator acquired Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, in what was called a mutually beneficial merger that formed the American Motors Corporation. It was the largest corporate consolidation to date. Kelvinator continued as a wholly owned division that was focused on the production and marketing of major home appliances and refrigeration equipment within the new company.
Seeking to focus on the automobile market, the rights to the Kelvinator brand was sold by AMC to White Consolidated Industries in 1968, which brought the product under its corporate appliance group, joining the White-Westinghouse, Gibson, and Frigidaire appliance brands. The appliance division of White Consolidated Industries is now part of Sweden's Electrolux Corporation. The Kelvinator brand is applied to household appliances and scientific refrigeration systems.
ReferencesEdit
^ abc"Encyclopedia of Detroit: Kelnivator Corporation". Detroit Historical Society. 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
^Adler, Dennis (2004). Fifties Flashback: The American Car. Motorbooks International. p. 103. ISBN9780760319277. Retrieved 22 April 2023 – via Google Books.
^Mays, James (16 November 2020). "Nash-Kelvinator 1937: A healthy new company Chapter 1 of A Car and a Refrigerator Go to War: Nash-Kelvinator in World War II". allpar.com. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
^Peck, Merton J.; Scherer, Frederic M. (1962). The Weapons Acquisition Process: An Economic Analysis. Harvard Business School. p. 619.
^"In which we serve freedom (advertisement)". Life. Vol. 15, no. 23. 6 December 1943. pp. 52–53. Retrieved 22 April 2023 – via Google Books.
^ abHyde, Charles K. (2009). Storied Independent Automakers: Nash, Hudson, and American Motors. Wayne State University Press. pp. 68–76. ISBN9780814334461. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
^. antiqueappliances.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
October 21, 2023
nash, kelvinator, corporation, result, merger, 1937, between, nash, motors, kelvinator, appliance, company, union, these, companies, brought, about, result, condition, made, george, mason, prior, appointment, nash, company, manufactured, cars, refrigerators, w. Nash Kelvinator Corporation was the result of a merger in 1937 between Nash Motors and Kelvinator Appliance Company The union of these two companies was brought about as a result of a condition made by George W Mason prior to his appointment as CEO of Nash The company manufactured cars and refrigerators as well as aeronautic components and helicopters during World War II In 1954 the company merged with Husdon Motors to form American Motors Corporation AMC Nash Kelvinator CorporationIndustryAutomotive Major appliancesPredecessorNash Motors Kelvinator CorporationFoundedJanuary 2 1937 86 years ago 1937 01 02 DefunctJuly 4 1954 69 years ago 1954 07 04 FateConsolidated into American MotorsSuccessorAmerican Motors Corporation AMC HeadquartersDetroit MichiganProductsAutomobilesMilitary componentsMajor home appliancesCommercial refrigerationHistory EditThe founder of Nash Motors Charles W Nash now serving as chair of the board wanted George W Mason for his expertise as a production engineer for several car manufacturers before being appointed president of Kelvinator in 1928 1 To have Mason Nash had to buy Kelvinator a leading manufacturer of refrigerators 2 The merged company began on 2 January 1937 with no debt and 50 million in cash assets 3 Mason then served as president of Nash Kelvinator until 1954 when the firm merged with Hudson Motors 1 Nash Kelvinator ranked 27th among United States corporations in the value of World War II production contracts 4 As part of the Arsenal of Democracy the company shifted its factories to make a large variety of military components and aeronautic assemblies The company expanded its facilities to produce the Hamilton Standard propellers to become the largest manufacturer of this type of propeller with more than 158 000 units made with an additional over 85 000 spare blades assembling nearly 17 000 Pratt amp Whitney R 2800 Double Wasp 18 cylinder air cooled aircraft engine making the newly introduced Sikorsky R 6 helicopters and becoming one of the largest suppliers of binoculars in the world with over 200 000 delivered to the US Army 1 5 6 Starting in late 1944 the company began to work on new car designs and by 1945 it completed new proving grounds in Wisconsin 6 In 1955 Kelvinator introduced the Kelvinator Food A Rama Side by Side Refrigerator one of the earliest modern side by side frost free refrigerators 7 Kelvinator consumer products before and after the merger with Nash were considered an upmarket brand of household appliances In 1954 Nash Kelvinator acquired Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit Michigan in what was called a mutually beneficial merger that formed the American Motors Corporation It was the largest corporate consolidation to date Kelvinator continued as a wholly owned division that was focused on the production and marketing of major home appliances and refrigeration equipment within the new company Seeking to focus on the automobile market the rights to the Kelvinator brand was sold by AMC to White Consolidated Industries in 1968 which brought the product under its corporate appliance group joining the White Westinghouse Gibson and Frigidaire appliance brands The appliance division of White Consolidated Industries is now part of Sweden s Electrolux Corporation The Kelvinator brand is applied to household appliances and scientific refrigeration systems References Edit a b c Encyclopedia of Detroit Kelnivator Corporation Detroit Historical Society 2023 Retrieved 22 April 2023 Adler Dennis 2004 Fifties Flashback The American Car Motorbooks International p 103 ISBN 9780760319277 Retrieved 22 April 2023 via Google Books Mays James 16 November 2020 Nash Kelvinator 1937 A healthy new company Chapter 1 of A Car and a Refrigerator Go to War Nash Kelvinator in World War II allpar com Retrieved 22 April 2023 Peck Merton J Scherer Frederic M 1962 The Weapons Acquisition Process An Economic Analysis Harvard Business School p 619 In which we serve freedom advertisement Life Vol 15 no 23 6 December 1943 pp 52 53 Retrieved 22 April 2023 via Google Books a b Hyde Charles K 2009 Storied Independent Automakers Nash Hudson and American Motors Wayne State University Press pp 68 76 ISBN 9780814334461 Retrieved 22 April 2023 1952 Kelvinator Food A Rama Side by Side Refrigerator antiqueappliances com Archived from the original on 22 January 2004 Retrieved 20 April 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nash Kelvinator amp oldid 1164748003, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
