White-Westinghouse
| Company type | Brand |
|---|---|
| Industry | Home appliances |
| Predecessor | Westinghouse Electric Corporation (major appliance segment) |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Founder | White Consolidated Industries |
| Fate | Acquired by Electrolux in 1986; brand licensed by Westinghouse Licensing Corporation |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States |
| Parent | Electrolux (since 1986) |
White-Westinghouse is a U.S.-based home appliance brand, operating under a license granted by the trademark holder Westinghouse Licensing Corporation. The brand originated in 1975 following White Consolidated Industries' (currently known as White Sewing Machine Company) acquisition of the major appliance segment from Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Subsequently, in 1986, White Consolidated Industries was purchased by Electrolux. Appliances under the White-Westinghouse name continued to be produced by Electrolux as late as 2006.
History
The entry of Westinghouse into the major appliance industry began with its 1917 purchase of the Copeman Electric Stove Company, leading to the transfer of manufacturing operations from Flint, Michigan to Mansfield, Ohio. Copeman had been producing electric ranges since 1914, leveraging the expanding electrification across the United States.
Notable technological advancements credited to the company include:
- Sealed refrigeration systems in refrigerators during the 1930s
- Introduction of room air conditioning units in the 1930s
- Portable dishwashers developed in the 1930s
- Automatic washing machines in 1939 that were not fixed to the floor
- Refrigerators featuring automatic defrost functions in the 1950s
For many years, White-Westinghouse offered an extensive variety of household appliances. After 1998, Electrolux manufactured products under the White-Westinghouse brand through a licensing agreement with Paramount Global, managed via its Westinghouse brand subsidiary.
During the mid-1990s, White-Westinghouse branded home appliances and electronics were retailed through Kmart as an affordable private-label option. This licensing arrangement included Windmere-Durable Holdings, Salton/Maxim Housewares, and New M-Tech Corp., with most large-screen televisions supplied by Daewoo Electronics Corp. The collaboration concluded in the early 2000s; many items were either phased out or rebranded under Kmart’s "Home Essentials" line. Televisions continued to be offered through Daewoo but were rebranded under Curtis-Mathes, another brand licensed by Kmart.