Nash-Kelvinator
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive, Home appliances, Aviation |
| Founded | 1937 |
| Founder | Charles W. Nash, George W. Mason |
| Defunct | 1954 |
| Fate | Merged with Hudson Motors to form American Motors Corporation (AMC) |
Key people | George W. Mason (President) |
| Products | Automobiles, refrigerators, aviation parts, helicopters |
Nash-Kelvinator Corporation emerged in 1937 following the combination of Nash Motors and the Kelvinator Appliance Company, a strategic move initiated when George W. Mason was appointed as Nash's chief executive officer. The enterprise manufactured automobiles, refrigerators, aviation parts, and helicopters throughout World War II. In 1954, it joined forces with Hudson Motors to establish the American Motors Corporation (AMC).
History
Charles W. Nash, who founded Nash Motors and served as chairman of the board, brought on George W. Mason—an accomplished production engineer and president of Kelvinator since 1928. To secure Mason’s leadership, Nash acquired Kelvinator, a prominent refrigerator manufacturer. The newly combined company launched on January 2, 1937, boasting zero debt and $50 million in liquid assets. Mason held the presidency until the 1954 merger with Hudson Motors.
Throughout World War II, Nash-Kelvinator ranked 27th among American companies in terms of military contract awards. The firm transitioned its operations to produce a variety of military equipment and aeronautical components, becoming the largest manufacturer of Hamilton Standard propellers with more than 158,000 units plus 85,000 spare blades. It also assembled close to 17,000 Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engines, manufactured Sikorsky R-6 helicopters, and delivered upwards of 200,000 binoculars to the U.S. Army. By 1945, the company had established new testing grounds in Wisconsin to facilitate automotive innovation after the war.
In 1955, Kelvinator launched the Food-A-Rama Side-by-Side Refrigerator, among the earliest frost-free refrigeration units. Prior to and following the merger, Kelvinator products were marketed as premium household appliances.
The acquisition of Hudson in 1954 led to the creation of AMC—the largest corporate merger at that time—with Kelvinator continuing as a wholly owned subsidiary specializing in major home appliances and refrigeration within AMC's portfolio.
Focusing its efforts on automotive production, AMC divested the Kelvinator brand rights in 1968 to White Consolidated Industries. This move placed Kelvinator alongside brands such as White-Westinghouse, Gibson, and Frigidaire within White's appliance division. Today, White's appliance segment is integrated into Sweden’s Electrolux Corporation, with the Kelvinator name still active in household appliances and scientific refrigeration equipment.