Frigidaire

Frigidaire is a brand of consumer and commercial appliances. Frigidaire was founded as the Guardian Frigerator Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and developed the first self-contained refrigerator (invented by Nathaniel B. Wales and Alfred Mellowes) in 1916. In 1918, William C. Durant, a founder of General Motors, personally invested in the company and in 1919, it adopted the name Frigidaire. The brand was so well known in the refrigeration field in the early 20th century that many Americans called any refrigerator, whatever its brand, a "Frigidaire." The name Frigidaire or the earlier version, Frigerator, may be the actual origin of the slang term "fridge."

From 1919 to 1979, the company was owned by General Motors. During that period, it was first a subsidiary of Delco-Light and was later an independent division, based in Dayton, Ohio. Frigidaire was sold to White Sewing Machine Company 1979, which was in turn purchased by Electrolux, its current parent, in 1986.

While the company was owned by General Motors, its logo featured the phrase "Product of General Motors."

The company claims firsts including:

  • Electric self-contained refrigerator (September, 1918 in Detroit)
  • Home food freezer
  • Room air conditioner
  • 30" electric range
  • Coordinated colors for home appliances

Read more about Frigidaire:  Automatic Washers, Refrigerators, Manufacturing, In Popular Culture