John Inglis and Company

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John Inglis and Company (now Whirlpool Canada) was a Canadian firm which made weapons for the United Kingdom and British Commonwealth military forces during the World War II era, then became a major appliance company.

One of the firm's famous products was the Inglis Browning Hi-Power, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol which is still in production in other parts of the world.

John Inglis and Company signed Contracts, in March 1938, with the British and Canadian governments to supply 5,000 Bren machine guns to Great Britain and 7,000 Bren machine guns to Canada. Both countries shared the capital costs of creating this new facility. Inglis started production in 1940; and the contracts were extended several times. By 1943 they were producing 60% of the world output of Bren machine guns, destined for the British Commonwealth, and 30% of the British Army's requirements. They also produced a large proportion of the Polsten 20 mm autocannon for the British Commonwealth.

After the war, Inglis entered the consumer appliance business beginning with a wringer washer manufactured for Inglis by Nineteen Hundred Corporation (now Whirlpool Corporation) in 1946.

Whirlpool acquired majority interest of Inglis in 1987 and changed the company name to Whirlpool Canada in 2001.[1]

Inglis is now a brand of household appliances from Whirlpool Corporation marketed primarily in Canada. In the United States, Inglis appliances are sold at Best Buy stores.[2]