Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1993.369 |
Object Name |
Iron, Waffle |
Lexicon category |
4: T&E For Materials |
Description |
Simplex Electric Heating Company in Boston manufactured the first electric waffle iron in 1906. In the early days of electric power, electricity was produced only during evening hours, because electric lighting was not needed during the day and there were no other products to use electricity. General Electric Co., as the producer of both electricity-generating equipment and electricity-consuming devices, sought to expand both ends of its markets. The first major expansion of the General Electric product line was made in the first decade of the 20th century. Before the turn of the century, light bulbs and electric fans were GE's only consumer product. One of the first household appliances GE began to market was a toaster in 1905. At the same time two other companies in the United States were producing electric devices for the home. The Pacific Electric Heating Company produced the first electric appliance to be readily accepted by the public: the Hotpoint iron. The Hughes Electric Heating Company produced and marketed an electric range. In 1918 all three companies were prospering, but to avoid competition with one another, they agreed upon a merger. The new company combined GE's heating-device section with Hughes and Pacific to form the Edison Electric Appliance Company, whose products bore either the GE or the Hotpoint label. |
Date |
ca 1910 |
Dimensions |
H-4.055 Dia-8.267 inches |
Imagefile |
023\1993369.JPG |