John Inglis and Company

John Inglis and Company was a Canadian manufacturing business whose activities evolved from industrial machinery into marine engineering, wartime armaments and, ultimately, mass-market household appliances. Its origins date to 27 July 1859, when John Inglis, Thomas Mair and Francis Evatt established Mair, Inglis and Evatt in Guelph, Ontario. The early business supplied machinery for grist and flour mills and later added steam power equipment. After Daniel Hunter replaced Mair, the enterprise became Inglis and Hunter. In 1881 John Inglis moved the operation to a large site near Strachan Avenue in Toronto and renamed it John Inglis and Sons, reflecting the participation of five of his sons. Under William Inglis, who assumed control after John Inglis's death in 1898, the company shifted away from milling equipment toward marine steam engines and waterworks pumping machinery. It built engines for Canada Steamship Lines vessels including Hamonic and Huronic, and during the First World War manufactured shells, shell forgings and marine engines. Its interwar portfolio included boilers, grain-handling equipment, hydraulic turbines, tugs and several types of pumps. The Great Depression caused severe losses, and after William Inglis died in 1935 the company entered receivership. Major J. E. Hahn acquired the business in 1937 through British Canadian Engineering Limited and restored the name John Inglis and Company. The company's most consequential wartime contract followed in 1938, when British and Canadian authorities selected it to manufacture Bren machine guns. Inglis began production in 1940 and expanded output substantially during the Second World War. By 1943 it was producing a large share of Bren guns supplied to British Commonwealth forces. It also manufactured Polsten 20 mm autocannons, Browning Hi-Power pistols for Commonwealth and allied customers, and machinery associated with Tribal-class destroyers. This period established Inglis as an important Canadian defence manufacturer. After 1945 the company diversified into consumer products, including fishing equipment, house trailers, oil-burner pumps, heaters and stoves. It entered the laundry-appliance market in 1946 by licensing production of a US-designed wringer washer from the Nineteen Hundred Corporation, the company that later became Whirlpool Corporation. Inglis added automatic washers in 1950 and subsequently expanded into dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators and other domestic appliances. By the mid-1960s it had become Canada's leading producer of locally made laundry machines. It also retained engineering interests for a time, including English Electric-related operations and naval steam-turbine production, but progressively divested those activities to focus on consumer products. The company reached a further transition in the 1970s. It produced its millionth automatic washer in 1972 and began selling appliances under the Whirlpool name. It later operated as Inglis Limited, expanded facilities in Ontario and Quebec, and acquired parts of Canadian Admiral Corporation in 1982. Whirlpool acquired a majority interest in Inglis in 1987. The corporate name was changed to Whirlpool Canada in 2001, ending Inglis as a separate operating company while preserving Inglis as an appliance brand, chiefly in Canada and also through US retail distribution. Whirlpool announced in 2002 that it would close the remaining Inglis manufacturing plant in Montmagny, Quebec, transferring production to the United States. The historical Toronto factory site was subsequently redeveloped, and the prominent Inglis billboard that remained there was removed in 2014. Today, Inglis is best understood as a legacy Canadian appliance brand within Whirlpool rather than as an independent manufacturer.

John Inglis and Company developed from a nineteenth-century Ontario machine shop into one of Canada's more versatile manufacturing enterprises. Mair, Inglis and Evatt was founded in Guelph in 1859 to build machinery for flour and grist mills. Steam power was added in 1864, and changes in ownership led to the name Inglis and Hunter. In 1881 John Inglis relocated the enterprise to Toronto and renamed it John Inglis and Sons. The company later moved into marine engines, waterworks equipment and other heavy machinery under William Inglis, who led the business after his father's death in 1898. The company incorporated as John Inglis Company Limited in 1913. During the First World War it produced shells, shell forgings and marine engines. Its interwar lines included boilers, turbines, pumps, tugs and grain-conveying machinery, but the Depression caused substantial financial distress. Following William Inglis's death in 1935, the company entered receivership. Major J. E. Hahn acquired it in 1937 and used the name John Inglis and Company. Inglis became a strategically important defence contractor during the Second World War. In 1938 it secured British and Canadian contracts for Bren machine guns and constructed or adapted production capacity for large-scale output. Manufacturing began in 1940, and by 1943 the company supplied a significant proportion of Bren guns used by British Commonwealth forces. It also produced Polsten 20 mm autocannons, Browning Hi-Power pistols and equipment connected with naval construction. The wartime business demonstrated the company's ability to convert engineering expertise into high-volume armaments production. After the war, Inglis sought more stable civilian markets. It made heaters, stoves, oil-burner pumps, fishing tackle and house trailers, then entered appliance manufacturing through a 1946 licence for a wringer washing machine designed by the Nineteen Hundred Corporation. Automatic washers followed in 1950, with dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators added later. Inglis maintained engineering and naval-industrial interests, including English Electric-related operations and production of licensed naval steam turbines, but divested much of that work during the 1960s as household appliances became its central business. The company produced its millionth automatic washer in 1972 and began marketing products under the Whirlpool name. It expanded in Ontario and Quebec and acquired portions of Canadian Admiral Corporation in 1982. Whirlpool bought a majority interest in 1987. The legal corporate identity was ultimately absorbed into Whirlpool Canada in 2001, while Inglis continued as a brand. The closure of the Montmagny plant, announced in 2002 and completed by 2004, marked the end of the brand's principal Canadian manufacturing footprint. Former Toronto industrial land was redeveloped, and a long-standing Inglis billboard was removed in 2014. The name remains associated with Whirlpool household appliances, particularly in the Canadian market.

1. 2002Montmagny plant closure announced

   Whirlpool announces the planned closure of the last Inglis manufacturing plant in Canada.

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2. 2001Corporate identity becomes Whirlpool Canada

   The separate corporate name is replaced by Whirlpool Canada, although Inglis remains an appliance brand.

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3. 1987Whirlpool takes control

   Whirlpool Corporation acquires a majority interest in Inglis.

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4. 1972One-millionth automatic washer and Whirlpool-branded production

   Inglis produces its millionth automatic washer and begins manufacturing and selling appliances under the Whirlpool brand.

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5. 1950Automatic washer introduced

   Inglis expands from wringer washers into fully automatic laundry appliances.

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6. 1946Entry into washing machines

   The company begins licensed production of a wringer washer for the Canadian market.

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7. 1940Wartime firearms production begins

   Inglis begins manufacturing Bren guns for British Commonwealth requirements.

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8. 1938Bren production contract awarded

   British and Canadian authorities contract Inglis to produce thousands of Bren machine guns.

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9. 1937J. E. Hahn acquires the business

   Major J. E. Hahn purchases the distressed company through British Canadian Engineering Limited and restores the Inglis name.

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10. 1913The company reincorporates

    The business becomes John Inglis Company Limited.

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11. 1881Operations move to Toronto

    John Inglis relocates the company near Strachan Avenue and adopts the name John Inglis and Sons.

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12. 1859Mair, Inglis and Evatt is founded

    John Inglis, Thomas Mair and Francis Evatt establish a Guelph machine shop serving flour and grist mills.

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Historically positioned as a vertically capable Canadian engineering and manufacturing company, first serving industrial and marine customers, then becoming a major wartime supplier and finally a value-oriented domestic-appliance producer. The surviving Inglis brand is associated primarily with practical household appliances sold in Canada under Whirlpool ownership.

• Industrial and milling machineryIndustrial machinery1859

  The company's original business supplied machinery for grist and flour mills. It later produced steam-powered equipment, grain elevators and conveyors, boilers, pumps, hydraulic turbines and related heavy machinery for industrial and municipal customers.

• Marine engines and naval equipmentMarine engineering1903

  Inglis manufactured marine steam engines for commercial vessels and later produced licensed naval steam turbines and machinery. Its marine work included engines for Canada Steamship Lines ships and equipment associated with Canadian destroyer programs.

• Bren machine gunMilitary firearm1940

  During the Second World War, Inglis became a major producer of the Bren light machine gun for Britain, Canada and other Commonwealth forces. Production began in 1940 and expanded to a substantial share of Commonwealth wartime requirements.

• Browning Hi-PowerMilitary firearm

  Inglis manufactured Browning Hi-Power pistols for Commonwealth nations and other allied customers, including the Nationalist Chinese Army, during the wartime period.

• Automatic washing machinesLaundry appliance1946

  Beginning with licensed wringer washers in 1946 and fully automatic machines in 1950, laundry appliances became Inglis's core postwar consumer business. The company later added dryers and sold products under both Inglis and Whirlpool branding.

• Inglis household appliancesHome appliances1946

  The surviving Inglis brand covers practical household appliances, historically including washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, stoves and related domestic equipment. Products are marketed primarily in Canada under Whirlpool ownership.

• 2002Closure of the Montmagny manufacturing facilityStrategy

  Whirlpool announced a restructuring of its Canadian appliance manufacturing network.

  What changed. The Montmagny, Quebec, plant was scheduled to close by 2004, with production transferred to facilities in the United States.

  Aftermath. The decision ended the brand's principal Canadian manufacturing presence and affected approximately 500 workers.

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• 2001Corporate consolidation under Whirlpool CanadaStrategy

  Whirlpool had controlled Inglis since 1987 and was consolidating its Canadian operations.

  What changed. The corporate name was changed to Whirlpool Canada, with Inglis retained as a product brand.

  Aftermath. The independent company ceased to operate under its historic legal identity, but the Inglis name remained commercially visible.

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• 1987Whirlpool acquires majority controlM&A

  Inglis had become primarily a consumer-appliance manufacturer after divesting much of its engineering business.

  What changed. Whirlpool Corporation acquired a majority interest in the company.

  Aftermath. Inglis became part of Whirlpool's Canadian appliance operations, while the name later survived as a brand.

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• 1946Diversification into consumer appliancesStrategy

  After wartime production ended, Inglis sought civilian markets to replace defence demand.

  What changed. The company licensed a US wringer-washer design and built a broader domestic-appliance business.

  Aftermath. Appliances became the company's central activity and ultimately defined the Inglis brand.

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• 1938Commitment to large-scale Bren productionProduct launch

  British and Canadian governments required expanded domestic production of the Bren machine gun before the Second World War.

  What changed. Inglis accepted contracts for 5,000 guns for Britain and 7,000 for Canada, with production commencing in 1940 and later expanding.

  Aftermath. The contracts transformed Inglis into a major Commonwealth armaments supplier during the war.

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• 2014Historic Inglis billboard removed from Toronto site

  The large Inglis billboard that had remained on part of the former Toronto factory complex was removed after redevelopment and nearby condominium construction reduced its visibility.

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• 2002Whirlpool announces closure of the Montmagny plant

  Whirlpool announced that its remaining Inglis manufacturing facility in Montmagny, Quebec, would close by 2004, affecting approximately 500 workers and shifting production to plants in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Oxford, Mississippi.

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• 2001The Inglis corporate name is replaced by Whirlpool Canada

  Whirlpool changed the company's corporate name to Whirlpool Canada while retaining Inglis as a consumer-appliance brand.

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• 1987Whirlpool acquires majority interest in Inglis

  Whirlpool Corporation acquired control of Inglis, beginning the company's integration into Whirlpool's Canadian operations.

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1. John Inglis and Company