Kelvinator Logo

Kelvinator, a well-known appliance brand, is recognized for manufacturing refrigerators and air conditioners. The company was launched in 1914 by an engineer named Nathaniel B. Wales in Detroit, USA. It was named in honor of Lord Kelvin, given his theory of absolute zero.

The company is considered a trailblazer in the field of refrigeration technology. Kelvinator was responsible for introducing some of the earliest electric refrigerators intended for domestic use. In 1925, the Chrysler Motors Corporation acquired the company, which was later purchased by the Nash Kelvinator Corporation in 1937.

During World War II, Kelvinator stepped beyond its regular manufacturing and contributed to the war effort by producing military items such as bomb fuses and rocket launchers. In the 1950s, the company diversified its product range to include cooking ranges and air conditioners, having already introduced room air conditioners in 1928.

White Consolidated Industries acquired Kelvinator in 1967. After several mergers, the brand became a part of Electrolux in 1986. Today, Electrolux continues to use the Kelvinator brand to market refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners, primarily targeting markets in India and other developing countries.

The company’s legacy includes several innovations, such as developing a self-contained refrigerator unit and introducing pop-out ice cube trays. Vintage Kelvinator refrigerators, particularly those hailing from the 1920s to the 1940s, are often collected today as antique pieces.