F. L. Maytag
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Frederick Louis (F.L.) Maytag (1857–1937) founded the Maytag Company, which eventually became the Maytag Corporation and acquired by the Whirlpool Corporation in 2005.
[edit] Biography
F.L. Maytag was the eldest of 10 children born to German immigrants Daniel and Amelia Maytag. F.L. was born in Cook County, Illinois. When ten years old F.L. traveled in a covered wagon with his family to a small farm near Laurel, Iowa in Marshall County in 1867.
In 1893 F.L., his two brothers-in-laws, and George W. Parsons each contributed US$600, for a total of US$2,400, to start a new farm implement company named Parsons Band-Cutter & Self Feeder Company. This company produced threshing machines, band-cutters, and self-feeder attachments invented by Parsons.
F.L. Maytag eventually took sole control of the firm and renamed it the Maytag Company. As Maytag grew, F.L. forayed into other businesses. In the 1910s, F.L. left the day-to-day company operation in the hands of sons E.H. and L.B., to concentrate on other business areas including new innovations of a washing machine with a gas powered motor branded as the Multi-Motor and a washing machine with an agitator that forced the water through the clothes branded as the Gyrafoam. These inventions proved extremely valuable as by 1927, Maytag was producing more than twice the washers of its nearest competition and had outperformed the industry with growth doubling for five consecutive years.
Even after E.H. Maytag became Maytag's president in 1926, F.L. was active in promoting Maytag products, and ensuring worker happiness and often greeted employees by asking, "Is everybody happy?"
F.L. married Dena Bergman, and they had two sons and two daughters. To the city of Newton, Iowa, F.L. donated a 40-acre park and swimming pool, now named Maytag Park and Maytag Pool. He built and donated the Maytag Hotel and spearheaded a theater and a water plant. F.L. also built hundreds of houses for his workers, selling them on easy terms.
In 1937, F.L. Maytag died of a heart ailment at his winter home in Beverly Hills, CA, leaving a US$10 million estate. A special train brought mourners from the east coast to Newton, IA, and an estimated 10,000 factory workers and salesmen formed a line five blocks in length to observe the casket processional. Those who could not fit into the First Methodist Church were taken to four other churches and two halls.
[edit] Quotes
- "In all business, there is a factor which cannot be compensated for in dollars and cents or computed by any measure. It has no relation or connection with the mercenary and is represented only by the spirit of love which the true craftsman holds for his job and the things he is trying to accomplish."
- "Is everybody happy?"
