Brand Histories | Building Intelligence Center

Where are they now and what happened to them?

Brand Histories

An ever-changing and intertwined index of company mergers, consolidations, and defunct brands.

The following are names and compiled histories of numerous HVAC related companies and brands. We have accumulated this data from multiple sources and years of research. The information is reasonably believed to be accurate to the best of our abilities; however, if you find that we have erred or discovered new information, we would love for you to let us know!

The information that we have compiled may help to determine the era of manufacture for some systems, especially those brand names that are no longer in business (defunct), obsolete, difficult or impossible to decode the serial numbers, or have been adopted by other manufacturers.

Brand names beginning with "A"

1921 - Bill Reed, engineer and entrepreneur, painted automobiles in his workshop in Louisville, KY. Because he grew irritated with dust fouling his work, Reed inserted steel wool between two layers of chicken wire and into a wood frame, inventing what would become a game-changing air filter. Discovering that his invention was popular not only in the automotive industry but other settings as well, he founds Reed Air Filter Company which manufactures the first commercial air filter in Louisville, KY - The Reed air filter.

1924 - Company establishes its first offices and manufacturing plant in Louisville.

1929 - Reed Air Filter merges with 7 other air filter manufacturers to form American Air Filter Company, Inc - AAF.

1935 - Fluorocarbon synthesis is developed by Daikin. Mass production begins in 1942

1950 - AAF introduces fiberglass replacement filters to the residential market.

1961 - AAF introduces the first bag-style filter

1963 - AAF introduces the first modern high-efficiency box-style filter

1964 - AAF makes the first HEPA filter

1966-1968 - AAF opens plants and begins manufacturing filters in Europe .

1969 - NASA Lunar Module uses AAF filters in Apollo 11 mission to the moon.

1970 - AAF Asian headquarters established.

1988 - SnyderGeneral acquires American Air Filter (AAF), an air filtration equipment manufacturer now with 27 international production facilities and sales coming from more than 100 countries.

1991 - Economic conditions hinder financial growth of the company. With global economic recession in full swing, SnyderGeneral sets its eyes on international markets to serve as the prime area for growth. SnyderGeneral subsequently sells Comfortmaker and Arcoaire brand lines to Inter-City Products.

1994 - The remainder of SnyderGeneral operations are sold to Hong Leong Group Malaysia, which is partially comprised of O.Y.L. Industries Berhad, a manufacturer of residential and light commercial HVAC equipment. SnyderGeneral is renamed "AAF-Mcquay Incorporated" and divided into two major companies: "AAF International" and "McQuay International". AAF International was based in Louisville, KY and manufactured air filtration products and systems including commercial, industrial, and residential air filters, as well as air pollution control products, machinery filtration, and acoustical systems. McQuay International was based in Minneapolis, MN where it designed, manufactured, marketed, and serviced all HVAC systems and products formerly undertaken by SnyderGeneral (with exception to the Arcoaire and Comfortmaker brands previously sold to Inter-City Products). McQuay International sold its products under various brand names, including Wesper, JennFan, Barry Blower, and AAF (commercial and institutional HVAC equipment).

2006 - McQuay International and AAF International were acquired by Daikin Industries, a global manufacturer of both commercial and residential air conditioning equipment based in Osaka, Japan. AAF becomes member of Daikin Group.

2013 - Daikin dropped the McQuay name, ending 80 years of business for the name. AAF International remains a subsidiary to Daikin.

2016 - AAF Acquires Dinair Group AB to form one of the strongest networks within Europe’s filtration industry.

2016 - AAF International acquires Flanders Corp. (Flanders Holdings LLC) another leading filter manufacturer in the U.S., and forms new company subsidiary as "AAF Flanders". Daikin Industries Ltd. remains parent company of AAF Flanders and AAF International. AAF Flanders manufactures HVAC filters and air purification products for the residential, commercial, and industrial market segments. AAF International remains focused on Energy/Power and Industrial air quality applications, and similar industrial filtration applications.

2017 - AAF acquires RIS Facility Management GmbH, a leading provider of Indoor Air Quality services in Germany.

1992 - AbsolutAire formed with purchase of Duo-Aire, Inc.
1994 - Introduces AA1500 product
1995 - Introduces AA7 product. Becomes a member of Gas Appliance Manufacturer's Association (GAMA) and the American Gas Association (AGA).
1996 - Becomes a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA)
1998 - Introduction of DH90 SS door heater and CH70 SS construction heater
2000 - Introduction of AA8 product line
2001 - Introduction of S-Series custom air handling product line
2006 - Introduction of first M-Series unit.
2009 - E-Series product introduced. I-Series product introduced.

1949 - Addison Products Company (APCO) founded in Addison, Michigan, manufacturing refrigerant systems for vending machines.
1952 - Addison Products Company enters residential air conditioning and creates innovative “split system” design which used an air-cooled condensing unit outside the home in tandem with the cooling coil in the plenum of a warm-air furnace. Soon nearly every warm-air furnace company in the country was buying the revolutionary new system from Addison. Throughout the 1950s, Addison continued to expand, adding a second plant in Michigan and becoming one of the foremost suppliers of residential comfort products in the United States.
1960 - Addison purchased WeatherKing, Inc. in Orlando, Florida. WeatherKing was a pioneer in the development of water-source and air-source heat pumps for the warm climate of the South.
1963 - Addison invented a packaged air conditioning system for 100% fresh air that evolved into the first commercially available Dedicated Outdoor Air System.
1988-1990 - Addison Products sold the residential "WeatherKing" brand line (but not the Orlando manufacturing facility)., and sold off its Michigan manufacturing facilities to Rheem Mfg. Addison moves into a newly constructed facility in Orlando, Florida in 1990. This transaction and move marked the beginning of Addison's departure from the residential HVAC market to focus solely on commercial HVAC products. By early 2000's, Addison (or what had become of its former self) had fully transitioned into commercial & industrial HVAC applications only.
December 1995 - Addison Products was acquired by Heat Controller. The new company was called "Addison Products Co., a division of Heat Controller Inc." - any product with a data tag bearing solely the name "Addison Products Company" or "APCO" will have been manufactured prior to December of 1995. Between 1995 and 2004, Addison data plates will indicate the unit to be a division of Heat Controller or manufactured by/for Heat Controller, and typically utilize Heat Controller serial number styles.
2004 - Company was acquired by Fedders and the name changed to Fedders Addison Co., becoming a new business unit under Fedders Commercial HVAC.
2008 - Upon Fedders' bankruptcy circa 2008, the assets under the Fedders umbrella were sold and acquired by various entities. Airwell Group, a subsidiary of Elco Holdings Ltd. purchased the residential HVAC business which included Fedders, Air Temp, and Emerson Quiet Kool brands. Roberts-Gordon LLC (maker of commercial infrared heating systems) purchased the Fedders Addison Co. subsidiary, dropped the Fedders name, and reverted it back to simply "Addison".
2014 - Roberts-Gordon was acquired by The Sterling Group, and formed Specified Air Solutions out of the multiple brands under Roberts-Gordon.
2018 - In October of 2018, the Sterling Group announced it had sold the multiple branded Specified Air Solutions portfolio (which included Addison among others) to Madison Industries of Chicago. Between 2008 and 2018, Addison data plates on these commercial units should reference "Specified Air Solutions" and/or "Roberts-Gordon" as the parent company.

Addison is currently manufactured as specialty commercial and industrial HVAC equipment under the Addison brand name which (along with Roberts-Gordon) is now a subsidiary of Madison Industries.

^{_{Information obtained from various industry sources}}

1900 - Company established in St. Louis by Harry Van Bayse, John Laux, and William D. Harrison who all met while working at Front Rank Steel/Langenberg Manufacturing Company. Production limited to warm-air heaters

1919 - Bayse buys out Laux's share of the company

1921 - Bayse buys out Harrison's share of the company

1942 - AFCO leaves residential production to manufacture furnaces for the military during WWII. Opens new facility in Redbud, IL.

1945 - AFCO is manufacturing a variety of warm-air furnaces including coal, gas, and oil.

1950's (early) - AFCO began manufacturing residential air conditioners - both central and window unit models.

1950's (general) - Company producing 3,000 furnaces and air conditioners per month including brands such as "Thermo" and "Air Stream". Introduces "Comfortmaker" brand combination heat/air unit and firmly establishes its southern market for air conditioners.

1955 - AFCO opens regional distribution center in Chicago serving a four-state area

1968 - Singer Furnace Company (subsidiary of Singer Sewing Machine Company) purchases AFCO and places it under the corporation's Climate Control Division.

Any system bearing the brand name "AFCO" or "American Furnace Company" will have been manufactured during the era's leading up to 1968-1970.

1970 - Became Singer American Furnace

1982 - Singer Co.'s Climate Control Division is purchased by it's then president, Richard W. Snyder, and becomes SnyderGeneral Corp. More than half the bank debt ($14 million) was paid back within 9 months, and venture capitalists who invested in Snyder were bought out by early 1984.

1984 - Singer and Singer American Furnace brand names dropped and no longer used; however, "Comfortmaker" brand from 1950's AFCO era was kept alive.

Prior to 1976 - Known as Chrylser Airtemp and Airtemp - A Division of Chrylser Corp. (Dayton, OH)

1976 - Fedders purchased the U.S. non-automotive air conditioning assets of Chrysler. Became a subsidiary of Fedders Corp. called "Airtemp Corp. - A subsidiary of Fedders Corp."

1977 - Moved the operations from Dayton, OH to Edison, NJ

1982 - Fedders formed "Fedders Air Conditioning USA" and moved operations (except for Applied Machinery which was later moved) to Effingham, IL

1987 - MagneTek purchased all assets of applied systems and industrial compressor parts business related to Chrysler/Airtemp from Fedders

1991 - MagneTek purchased all assets of central air conditioning parts business related to Chrysler/Airtemp from Fedders

1997 - All assets of Fedders/MagneTek parts businesses acquired by RSI Company.

2012 - Airtemp name revived by Nordyne under private label

See also Fedders

1934 - Company founded by George Foerstner as "The Electrical Equipment Company" in Middle Amana, Iowa to manufacture commercial walk-in coolers.

1936 - Company sold to the Amana Society, renamed the "Electrical Department of the Amana Society" and Foerstner remained manager.

1947 - Manufactured the first upright freezer for the home.

1949 - Introduced first side-by-side refrigerator.

1949 - Electrical Department of the Amana Society sold to an investment group and renamed "Amana Refrigeration, Inc."

1954 - Began making air conditioners

1965 - Acquired by Raytheon which had invented the microwave oven in 1947 and produced the commercial "Radarange" in 1954

1967 - Amana introduced a consumer model of the "Radarange", the first popular microwave designed for home use.

1986 - Amana invents tubular heat exchanger for gas furnaces

1997 - Amana (Raytheon Appliances) purchased by Goodman Corp.

2001 - Goodman separates the appliance and HVAC divisions

2002 - Goodman sold the appliance division to Maytag (now Whirlpool), but retained the furnace and air conditioner division including Amana branded HVAC systems.

2012 - Daikin acquires Goodman Manufacturing.

Amana HVAC brand still remains part of Goodman Manufacturing (now Daikin North America as of 2012).

1875 - Standard Sanitary Manufacturing is formed and begins making porcelain enamel coated cast iron water closets, wash stands, and bathtubs.

1881 - Pierce Steam Heating Company is formed in Buffalo, NY manufacturing steel boilers and radiators.

1892 - Three companies (Michigan Radiator, Detroit Radiator, and the Pierce Steam Heating Company create a major company merger to form the "American Radiator Company".

1929 - Standard Sanitary Manufacturing and American Radiator Company merge to form "American Radiator-Standard Sanitary Corp."

1929 - Purchased Kewanee Toilet Boiler Company. Kept this company until 1970.

1937 - Fox Furnace company purchased by American Radiator-Standard Sanitary Corp.

1948 - Brand name changed from American Radiator-Standard Sanitary Corp. to "American-Standard".

1968 - Hyphen between names dropped and name changed to "American Standard".

1968 - Purchased Westinghouse Air Brake Company (WABCO) earth moving and mining product division.

1984 - TRANE acquired by American Standard Inc. - Divested previous WABCO assets.

1988 - Kelso & Company outbids Black & Decker to purchase American Standard

1996 - Kelso & Company parts ways with American Standard

2007 - American Standard Companies breaks up its three divisions:

Sells namesake kitchen and bath division to Bain Capital. Bain subsequently sold the North American operations to Sun Capital, and Asian operations to Lixil Group, while retaining the European and Latin American operations as "Ideal Standard". The deal also included the rights to use the former company name in North America.
Spins off automotive parts division forming WABCO Vehicle Control Systems.
Remainder of the company took the name of its heating and air conditioning division, "TRANE, Inc."

2008 - Merger of American Standard Americas, Crane Plumbing, and Eljer results in formation of "American Standard Brands" manufacturing bath and kitchen fixtures/products.

2008 - Trane, Inc. purchased by Ireland-based Ingersol Rand after offer made in December 2007. The parent company was renamed "Trane Technologies".

2013 - American Standard Brands purchased by LIXIL Corporation.

1874 - Machine shop started as Charles J. Smith - Machinist (name later changed to C.J. Smith and Sons)
1889 - Introduces concept of forming steel tubing from sheet metal and enters the bicycle manufacturing industry, eventually becoming the largest bicycle parts manufacturer in the world
1899 - Arthur O. Smith (son of Charles) develops the worlds first pressed steel automobile frame
1902 - Company receives first order of auto frames from Peerless Car Company - closely followed by orders from Cadillac, Packard, and Oldsmobile
1904 - Arthur O. Smith incorporates the A.O. Smith Company
1906 - Henry Ford orders 10,000 steel auto frames, leading the company to develop the first mass production process for assembling frames
1914 - Develops Smith Motor Wheel, a gas powered device for bicycles
1918 - Develops coated welding rod which influenced the development of arc welding as a mass production method
1921 - Reveals the world's first fully automated frame assembly plant , dubbed "the Mechanical Marvel"
1936 - Patents the process of glass lining a water heater tank
1939 - Begins producing residential water heaters
1942 - Produces bomb casings, aircraft propellers, nose frames for the B25 bomber, and landing gear for the war effort
1948 - Acquires Burkay Company of Toledo, OH and enters market for coil-type commercial water heaters
1949 - Introduces "Harvestor" glass fused to steel silo for dairy and livestock operations
1953 - Glascote Products, Inc. becomes a subsidiary of A.O. Smith® expanding its vessel manufacturing capabilities
1961 - Opens commercial water heater and boiler plant in Ontario, Canada
1967 - Begins making fiberglass body panels for Corvette Stingray
1972 - Water heater division opens first European operation in the Netherlands
1982 - Company produces 100 millionth passenger car frame
1995 - A.O. Smith® enters China market with three joint ventures
1997 - Sells automotive division and exits the auto industry after 98 years
2001 - A.O. Smith® acquires State Industries, Inc.
2006 - Acquires Canadian GSW, Inc. and American Water Heater Company. The addition covers American, Whirlpool, GSW, and John Woods brands
2010 - Acquires Takagi's North American operations as a joint venture to market and manufacture tankless water heaters in North America
2011 - Acquires Lochinvar Corporation, leading manufacturer of high efficiency water heaters and boilers
2016 - A.O. Smith® enters water treatment market through acquisition of Aquasana
2017 - Expands North American water treatment presence through acquisition of Hague Quality Water

1886 - The Michigan Radiator & Iron Company of Detroit was formed by Clarence Mott Woolley
1892 - Three companies (Michigan Radiator, Detroit Radiator, and the Pierce Steam Heating Company create a major company merger to form the "American Radiator Company".
1899 - The company was re-incorporated under the same name, absorbing the St. Louis Radiator Manufacturing Company, and the Standard Radiator Manufacturing Company of Buffalo, and the radiator business of the Titusville Iron Company (Pennsylvania).
1929 - Standard Sanitary Manufacturing and American Radiator Company merge to form "American Radiator-Standard Sanitary Corp."
1948 - Brand name changed from American Radiator-Standard Sanitary Corp. to "American-Standard".

Any boiler bearing the initials "ARCO" or the name American Radiator Company will have been manufactured circa 1892 to 1948 (there are still a few of these historic dinosaurs around).

1968 - Hyphen between names dropped and name changed to "American Standard".
1984 - TRANE acquired by American Standard Inc. - Divested previous WABCO assets.
1988 - Kelso & Company outbids Black & Decker to purchase American Standard.
1996 - Kelso & Company parts ways with American Standard
2007 - American Standard Companies breaks up its three divisions:
- Sells namesake kitchen and bath division to Bain Capital. Bain subsequently sold the North American operations to Sun Capital, and Asian operations to Lixil Group, while retaining the European and Latin American operations as "Ideal Standard". The deal also included the rights to use the former company name in North America.
- Spins off automotive parts division forming WABCO Vehicle Control Systems.
- Remainder of the company took the name of its heating and air conditioning division, "TRANE, Inc."
2008 - Merger of American Standard Americas, Crane Plumbing, and Eljer results in formation of "American Standard Brands" manufacturing bath and kitchen fixtures/products.
2008 - Trane, Inc. purchased by Ireland-based Ingersol Rand after offer made in December 2007. The parent company was renamed "Trane Technologies".
2013 - American Standard Brands purchased by LIXIL Corporation.

1966 - Atlantic Richfield Company established as an independent oil and gas company formed from the merger of Atlantic Petroleum and the Richfield Oil Corporation.

1969 - Atlantic Richfield Company acquires Sinclair Oil, and decides to merger their three separate service brands into one called "ARCO". $60 million was reportedly spent on the rebranding effort.

1970's - 1980's - Besides mining, oil & gas production, and branded gasoline stations, ARCO branched into multiple other segments including Scientific Research, Solar, Chemical, and Climate Control Products. The foray into climate control came about with acquisition of HVAC division of Friedrich (Friedrich Climate Master) during this period.

1979 - In a later related event, United Technologies Corp. (UTC) acquires Carrier Refrigeration in forced takeover. Carrier becomes a subsidiary of UTC.

1984 - ARCO's climate control division is purchased by SnyderGeneral (formerly AFCO and then Singer), who incorporated the brand under "Arcoaire"

1999 - Carrier/United Technologies acquires Inter-City Products, and changed the name to "International Comfort Products" (ICP). Carrier becomes the parent company of ICP, thus incorporating all ICP brands under the Carrier umbrella.

Brand names beginning with "B"

1914 - Dale Bard launches the Bryan Plumbing and Heating Company in Bryan, OH as a tin shop and contracting business from their hardware store.
1930's - Bard gas and oil furnaces were introduced
1940's - Bryan Plumbing and Heating Company discontinues its original contracting business and began using the name Bard Manufacturing Company
1950's - Introduced central air conditioning to their product lines
1963 - Introduced Bard Wall-Mount systems, ideally suited for modular and manufactured housing. Still manufactured today and found in mobile control rooms, nuclear test sites, offshore oil rigs, modular offices, modular classrooms, emergency hospitals, and construction site offices.
1981 - Introduced the company's first geothermal heat pump.
1992 - Bard opened its second facility in Madison, GA
2001 - Bard opened its third facility in Saltillo, Mexico

1949 - Bryant, Day & Night and Payne merger to form Affiliated Gas Equipment (AGE)
1955 - Carrier merged with Affiliated Gas Equipment, Inc., which owned Bryant Heater Co., Day & Night Water Heater Co., and Payne Furnace & Supply Co., and moves Bryant’s corporate headquarters from Cleveland to Indianapolis.
1974 - Carrier creates "BDP" company comprised of Bryant - Day & Night - Payne brands.
1979 - United Technologies Corp. (UTC) acquires Carrier Refrigeration in forced takeover. Carrier becomes a subsidiary of UTC.
1981 - Bryant pioneers one of the first 90%-efficient gas furnaces, with variable-speed operation. Bryant introduces the Dual Pack, the world’s first outdoor gas heating and electric cooling unit a few years later.
1990's - Carrier stops using the Day & Night Brand. BDP company still in use.
1996 - Bryant patents and introduces Puron^®as an environmentally sound refrigerant.
1999 - Carrier/United Technologies acquires Inter-City Products, and changed the name to International Comfort Products (ICP). Carrier becomes the parent company of ICP, thus incorporating all ICP brands under the Carrier umbrella.
2006 - Day & Night brand revived by ICP between 2006-2009 (sources for date vary). Unsure, but presumed to be the end of "BDP Company", and brands under the umbrella are separated once again. Bryant and Payne remain listed under Carrier brands. Day & Night listed under ICP brands.
2020 - Carrier completes separation from United Technologies as an independent, publicly traded company - Carrier Global Corporation. The separation process was started in 2018. Carrier retains all current brands, as well as ICP and their brands.
2022 - Carrier celebrates 120 year anniversary.

1904 - Charles Bryant founds the Natural Gas Regulator Company in Cleveland, OH. The company soon begins manufacturing gas-fired water heaters.
1908 - Company name changed to Bryant Heater & Manufacturing, LLC
1927 - New mascot 'the pup' is introduced in ad campaign indicating Bryant furnaces are so simple, you could "let your pup be your furnace man."
1949 - Bryant, Day & Night and Payne merger to form Affiliated Gas Equipment (AGE)
1955 - Carrier merged with Affiliated Gas Equipment, Inc., which owned Bryant Heater Co., Day & Night Water Heater Co., and Payne Furnace & Supply Co., and moves Bryant’s corporate headquarters from Cleveland to Indianapolis.
1974 - Carrier creates "BDP" company comprised of Bryant - Day & Night - Payne brands.
1979 - United Technologies Corp. (UTC) acquires Carrier Refrigeration in forced takeover. Carrier becomes a subsidiary of UTC.
1981 - Bryant pioneers one of the first 90%-efficient gas furnaces, with variable-speed operation. Bryant introduces the Dual Pack, the world’s first outdoor gas heating and electric cooling unit a few years later.
1990's - Carrier stops using the Day & Night Brand. BDP company still in use.
1996 - Bryant patents and introduces Puron^®as an environmentally sound refrigerant.
1999 - Carrier/United Technologies acquires Inter-City Products, and changed the name to International Comfort Products (ICP). Carrier becomes the parent company of ICP, thus incorporating all ICP brands under the Carrier umbrella.
2006 - Day & Night brand revived by ICP between 2006-2009 (sources for date vary). Unsure, but presumed to be the end of "BDP Company", and brands under the umbrella are separated once again. Bryant and Payne remain listed under Carrier brands. Day & Night listed under ICP brands.
2020 - Carrier completes separation from United Technologies as an independent, publicly traded company - Carrier Global Corporation. The separation process was started in 2018. Carrier retains all current brands, as well as ICP and their brands.
2022 - Carrier celebrates 120 year anniversary.

_{^1- History excerpts from various sources}

Brand names beginning with "C"

1881 - Willis Carrier patents the slide rule which was manufactured by Kueffel & Esser. A precursor to the modern calculator, Carrier used this instrument to calculate dew point control - a breakthrough that was the foundation of his invention of modern air conditioning.

1902 - The world’s first modern air conditioning system run by a stationary engine is installed and started by Willis Carrier in the summer of 1902 at the Sackett & Wilhelms printing plant in Brooklyn, New York. This is the invention of modern air conditioning. As a result of his inovations and contributions through the next 50 years, Willis Carrier becomes known as "The Father of Air Conditioning".

1904 - Willis Carrier applies for patent on "Apparatus for Treating Air" He had invented the world's first spray-type air conditioning equipment that could both wash and humidify (or dehumidify) air. The patent was granted and issued in 1906.

1906 - Buffalo Forge Company sells Carrier’s “Apparatus for Treating Air” to the Chronicle Cotton Mills of Belmont, North Carolina, and applies it to the mill’s fan-heater ventilating system. It was the first industrial “central station” humidifying system.

1911 - Willis Carrier publishes "Rational Psychrometric Formulae" which brought science to what had been the often hit-or-miss design of air-conditioning systems, and in the process made Carrier an international name. The chart would be updated and reprinted regularly, serving as an essential tool to generations of engineers and remaining the basis of today’s designs.

1913 - Willis Carrier developed the Carrier Air Humidifier designed to humidify the air in one room, such as an office or laboratory. It was the first self-contained unit with the fan and motor, eliminator, and sprays all combined into a single, packaged product. By 1914,

1914 - By this year, industrial installations designed by Willis Carrier reach from North America to the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Central and South America. Carrier also achieves the first application of air conditioning in a residence for the Charles Gates mansion in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1915 - Having so much success across the globe with this new air conditioning technology, Willis Carrier joins forces with 6 other fellow engineers from Buffalo Forge Company to launch Carrier Engineering Corporation, and mass production is started.

1917 - Carrier hires America's first woman engineer - Margaret Ingles who later served on President Herbert Hoover's Conference on Home Building and Home Ownership in the late 1920's, as well as wrote and published Willis Carrier's biography in 1952.

1922 - Carrier unveils the first centrifugal refrigeration machine, more commonly known today as a chiller. This first chiller was installed in Onondaga Pottery Company in Syracuse, New York

1925 - Madison Square Gardens opens. It employs Carrier centrifugal chillers to cool patrons and produce the ice surface for professional hockey.

1926 - T.W. Patterson Building in Fresno, California becomes Carrier’s first multi-story installation with cooled floors two through seven for its tenants. Carrier also introduces the first home air conditioner.

1928 - Milam Building in San Antonio, Texas, included Carrier central air conditioning, making it the first skyscraper to install comfort cooling as it was built.

1930 - Carrier recorded the first sale of its window-sill-height Weathermaster units to the Superheater Company of East Chicago, Indiana, to air condition the second floor of a two-story building. Later that year, the California Bank of Los Angeles contracted for 490 Weathermasters to air condition its 15-story building. The U.S. Supreme Court was also cooled using 180 Carrier Weathermaster units.

1931 - The M.V. Victoria, a 13,400-ton Italian motorship designed to run from Italy to Egypt, became the first vessel to make its maiden voyage equipped with Carrier air conditioning.

1939 - World Fair opens in New York with “Carrier Igloo of Tomorrow” as a major and popular attraction. Inside the Igloo and in the adjacent Hall of Weathermakers, guests learned the steps involved in air conditioning, toured a modern food store using Carrier refrigeration, and viewed an exhibit with Carrier self-contained air conditioning.

1950 - October 7, Willis Carrier passed away. It was the close of an era for both the industry and company, but just the start of an enduring legacy.

1955 - Carrier merged with Affiliated Gas Equipment, Inc., which owned Bryant Heater Co., Day & Night Water Heater Co., and Payne Furnace & Supply Co.

1956 - Carrier won the largest contract ever awarded for residential air conditioning, jointly announced with the community building firm of Levitt & Sons, Inc. Carrier was able to provide Weathermaker central air-conditioning systems for 702 “Country Clubber” homes in Levittown, Pennsylvania.

1968 - Carrier Transicold produces the first front-wall diesel/electric refrigeration unit for shipping containers.

1974 - Carrier creates "BDP" company comprised of Bryant - Day & Night - Payne brands.

1979 - United Technologies Corp. (UTC) acquires Carrier Refrigeration in forced takeover. Carrier becomes a subsidiary of UTC.

1993 - Carrier ceases to manufacture CFC-based chillers in the U.S., two years before the deadline established by the U.S. Clean Air Act.

1990's - Carrier stops using the Day & Night Brand. BDP company still in use.

1999 - Carrier/United Technologies acquires Inter-City Products, and changed the name to International Comfort Products (ICP). Carrier becomes the parent company of ICP, thus incorporating all ICP brands under the Carrier umbrella

2006 - Day & Night brand revived by ICP between 2006-2009 (sources for date vary). Unsure, but presumed to be the end of "BDP Company". Bryant and Payne currently listed under Carrier brands. Day & Night listed under ICP brands.

2011 - Carrier introduced the Infinity^® heat pump with Greenspeed™ intelligence offering the greatest heating efficiency of any air source heat pump to date.

2012 - Carrier celebrates the 110th anniversary of the invention of modern air conditioning.

2022 - Carrier celebrates 120 year anniversary.

1917 - Century Engineering Corp. founded in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Produced and manufactured warm air furnaces, and later oil and gas conversion kits for coal-fired furnaces. Later delved into PTAC systems, humidifiers, as well as portable space heaters.
1975 - Heat Controller, Inc. of Jackson, Michigan acquired the Century® brand name and assets, and incorporated those product offerings and market distribution into the Heat Controller family.
2000 - Heat Controller acquired Aiton's Equipment of Canada, providing increased market penetration in North America. Comfort-Aire and Century brand names were distributed under the new Aiton's of Canada umbrella ("by Aitons") throughout Canada.
2013 - MARS (Motors and Armatures, Inc.), a leading commercial and residential HVACR motors and components supplier, acquires Heat Controller, Inc. and forms a merger between the two companies.
Current (2024) - The Heat Controller name was eventually dropped (circa 2016) resulting in two divisions of MARS - the motors and components (parts) division for which MARS was known for, and the MARS equipment division selling under the previous Heat Controller private label brand names of Comfort-Aire, Century, and Allied Commercial. The product lines include an impressively broad selection of HVACR equipment including heat pumps, split system air conditioners, air handlers, furnaces, geothermal, PTACs, portable room air conditioners, dehumidifiers, window air conditioners, ductless systems, commercial Rooftop units, packaged units, and more.
About MARS - Founded in 1945, MARS is a family-owned and operated supplier of motors, components, service/installation parts, and equipment for the HVACR industry. Originally launched as a motor repair company, MARS continually evolved its business throughout the years to meet the needs of customers. Now the MARS Motors and Components Division distributes an extensive line of MARS and JARD branded aftermarket replacement products, as well as original equipment components of leading manufacturers. MARS Equipment Division offers residential and commercial heating, cooling, and dehumidification equipment under the Comfort-Aire and Century brand names in the United States and under the Comfort-Aire by Aitons brand name in Canada. MARS Motors and Components Division operates from Hauppauge, New York, with distribution facilities in Earth City (St. Louis), MO and Halton Hills, Ontario. The MARS Equipment Division operates out of Jackson, Michigan, the former headquarters of Heat Controller, Inc.

¹Excerpts from various industry sources

1933 - Heat Controller, Inc., was founded, but can trace its roots to the formation of the Wingert Furnace Company in Montpelier, Ohio, in 1907
1949 - Heat Controller, Inc. moved to Manitou Beach, Michigan
1955 - Heat Controller was sold and moved to a new plant in Jackson, Michigan, which remains the company's headquarters today. Shifts its production emphasis from furnaces to include room air conditioners, central air conditioning, and dehumidifiers under the Comfort-Aire brand name.
1960's - Heat Controller restructured its furnace line, focusing on residential
gas-fired and oil-fired furnaces, while still maintaining an emphasis on the air conditioning portion of the business.
1972 - Manufactures the first ductless mini-split for the American market - the Comfort-Aire Twin Pak.
1975 - Heat Controller acquired the Century® brand name and assets, and incorporated those product offerings and market distribution into the Heat Controller family. Century's history dates back to 1917 and continues today to offer a complete line of residential and light commercial heating and air conditioning products.
2000 - Heat Controller acquired Aiton's Equipment of Canada, providing increased market penetration in North America. Comfort-Aire and Century brand names were distributed under the new Aiton's of Canada umbrella ("by Aitons") throughout Canada.
2013 - MARS (Motors and Armatures, Inc.), a leading commercial and residential HVACR motors and components supplier, acquires Heat Controller, Inc. and forms a merger between the two companies.
Current (2024) - The Heat Controller name was eventually dropped (circa 2016) resulting in two divisions of MARS - the motors and components (parts) division for which MARS was known for, and the MARS equipment division selling under the previous Heat Controller private label brand names of Comfort-Aire, Century, and Allied Commercial. The product lines include an impressively broad selection of HVACR equipment including heat pumps, split system air conditioners, air handlers, furnaces, geothermal, PTACs, portable room air conditioners, dehumidifiers, window air conditioners, ductless systems, commercial Rooftop units, packaged units, and more.
About MARS - Founded in 1945, MARS is a family-owned and operated supplier of motors, components, service/installation parts, and equipment for the HVACR industry. Originally launched as a motor repair company, MARS continually evolved its business throughout the years to meet the needs of customers. Now the MARS Motors and Components Division distributes an extensive line of MARS and JARD branded aftermarket replacement products, as well as original equipment components of leading manufacturers. MARS Equipment Division offers residential and commercial heating, cooling, and dehumidification equipment under the Comfort-Aire and Century brand names in the United States and under the Comfort-Aire by Aitons brand name in Canada. MARS Motors and Components Division operates from Hauppauge, New York, with distribution facilities in Earth City (St. Louis), MO and Halton Hills, Ontario. The MARS Equipment Division operates out of Jackson, Michigan, the former headquarters of Heat Controller, Inc.

¹Excerpts from various industry sources

This is an old AFCO (American Furnace Company) brand name originating from the 1950's. AFCO was purchased by Singer in 1968, and then spun off to become SnyderGeneral in 1982. The Comfortmaker brand name was revived at the founding of SnyderGeneral by a former Singer HVAC executive.

1950's - AFCO Introduces "Comfortmaker" brand combination heat/air unit and firmly establishes its southern market for air conditioners.

1968 - Singer Furnace Company (subsidiary of Singer Sewing Machine Company) purchases AFCO and places it under the corporation's Climate Control Division.

Any Comfortmaker system bearing the company name "AFCO" or "American Furnace Company" will have been manufactured during the era of 1950 leading up to 1968-1970.

1970 - Became Singer American Furnace

1984 - Snyder completes 3 major acquisitions to diversify beyond residential and into commercial and refrigeration. The first two acquisitions include Atlantic Richfield's ARCO Comfort Products Co. and the Halstead & Mitchell division of Halstead Industries. The next was a "friendly" takeover of McQuay Inc., though some sources indicate it was a hostile takeover. This third acquisition moved SnyderGeneral into the top 3 of the U.S. HVAC/R industry, just behind Trane Company and Carrier Corp. respectively, each owned by large multinational parent companies unlike SnyderGeneral.

1984 - Singer and Singer American Furnace brand names dropped and no longer used; however, "Comfortmaker" brand was kept alive.

Any Comfortmaker product bearing the parent company name "SnyderGeneral" will have been manufactured between 1982-1991

1999 - Inter-City Products becomes wholly owned subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation. Name was changed to "International Comfort Products" at this time (abbreviated as ICP).

Any Comformaker brand bearing the parent company name "Inter-City Products" will have been manufactured between 1991-1999.

Comfortmaker brand remains owned by ICP (International Comfort Products), and is one of many heating and air conditioning brands under the ICP umbrella.

Brand names beginning with "D"

1924 - Daikin is formed in Japan and manufactures radiator tubes for aircraft.

1935 - Manufactures Fluorocarbon gas

1938 - "Mifujirator" refrigeration unit using fluorocarbon gas is delivered to Japanese Navy.

1951 - Japan's first packaged air conditioner is developed for commercial applications.

1958 - Window air conditioner is marketed for residential applications.

1966 - Starts production for industrial centrifugal chillers.

1972 - Daikin Europe is established.

1982 - Daikin develops Japan’s first Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) system. Japan's first multi-split type air conditioner is marketed for commercial applications.

1984 - Daikin markets first inverter type air conditioner for residential applications.

1985 - Daikin markets multi-split type air conditioner with hot water for residential applications.

1988 - Develops and markets a fluorocarbon recovery system.

1988 - SnyderGeneral acquires American Air Filter (AAF), an air filtration equipment manufacturer now with 27 international production facilities and sales coming from more than 100 countries.

1991 - Daikin establishes Daikin America, Inc.

1998 - Daikin adopts R-410A refrigerant for air conditioning equipment,

2000 - Daikin establishes Daikin Institute of Advanced Chemical Technology in U.S.

2006 - Daikin acquires O.Y.L. Industries which owns McQuay International and AAF International (AAF-McQuay Inc. collectively). AAF and McQuay become members of Daikin Group, with global headquarters in Louisville and Minneapolis respectively.

2008 - Daikin enters production agreement with Gree Electric Appliances.

2010 - McQuay acquired HydroKool LLC of Phoenix, Arizona, a designer and manufacturer of pre-packaged, pre-engineered custom HVAC solutions.

2012 - Daikin acquires Goodman Manufacturing. R32 refrigerant is marketed in limited residential applications.

2013 - Daikin dropped the McQuay name, ending 80 years of business for the name. AAF International and Goodman Manufacturing remain as subsidiaries. European operations changed its name to Daikin Applied Europe. Daikin expands use of R32 to India markets.

2015 - Daikin acquires leading chemical manufacturer Solvay, a refrigerant manufacturer. Grants worldwide free access of basic patents for air conditioners using R32 refrigerant.

2016 - AAF Acquires Dinair Group AB to form one of the strongest networks within Europe’s filtration industry. AAF International acquires Flanders Corp. (Flanders Holdings LLC) another leading filter manufacturer in the U.S., and forms new company subsidiary as "AAF Flanders". Daikin Industries Ltd. remains parent company of AAF Flanders and AAF International. AAF Flanders manufactures HVAC filters and air purification products for the residential, commercial, and industrial market segments. AAF International remains focused on Energy/Power and Industrial air quality applications, and similar industrial filtration applications.

2017 - AAF acquires RIS Facility Management GmbH, a leading provider of Indoor Air Quality services in Germany.

1909 - Began business as solar water heater company in Monrovia, California providing 'round-the-clock' or "Day & Night" hot water through early solar technology.

1930's - Company ventures into space heating.

1949 - Bryant, Day & Night, and Payne companies merge to form parent company "Affiliated Gas Equipment" or AGE

1955 - Carrier purchases Affiliated Gas Equipment, bringing Bryant, Day & Night, and Payne brands under the Carrier umbrella.

1974 - Carrier creates BDP Company comprised of Bryant - Day & Night - Payne brands.

1979 - United Technologies Corp. (UTC) acquires Carrier Refrigeration in forced takeover. Carrier becomes a subsidiary of UTC.

1990's - Carrier stops using the Day & Night brand.

1999 - Carrier/United Technologies acquires Inter-City Products whose name was changed to International Comfort Products (ICP). Carrier becomes the parent company of ICP, thus incorporating all ICP brands under the Carrier umbrella.

1684 - Johann von Dietrich acquires the Jaegerthal forge in Europe (France) and founds De Dietrich Thermique
1848 - De Dietrich embraces the industrial era by progressively reducing the production of cast iron products in favor of mechanical and railroad equipment.
1870 - The company turns towards consumer durables including stoves, cookers, wooden furniture, enameled cast iron bathtubs – and urban or industrial equipment such as tramways, distillation equipment, and industry specific wagons
1896 - De Dietrich enters automobile manufacturing. Exits automobile manufacturing in 1905.
1935 - Remeha is founded and becomes Holland's largest manufacturer of heating products.
2004 - De Dietrich Remeha is founded after a merger between Remeha and De Dietrich Thermique
2009 - Baxi merges with De Dietrich Remeha to create BDR Thermea Group

Brand names beginning with "G"

1954 - Harold V. Goodman forms air conditioning contractor business in Houston, Texas. Becomes one of the most successful HVAC contractors by late 1960's.
1975 - Company entered HVAC manufacturing with formation of Goodman Manufacturing, L.P. - started as manufacturer of flexible air ducts and plastic blade registers.
1982 - Acquired Janitrol and began manufacturing central air conditioning systems.
1986 - Expanded product offerings to include gas heating products.
1997 - Acquires Raytheon Appliances (predecessor of Amana Corporation).
2001 - Goodman separates the appliance and HVAC divisions.
2002 - Goodman sold the appliance division to Maytag (now Whirlpool), but retained the furnace and air conditioner division including Amana branded HVAC systems.
2004 - Goodman acquired by Apollo Managment, a private equity firm.
2007 - Goodman acquired by Hellman & Friedman, a private equity firm.
2012 - Daikin acquires Goodman Manufacturing.
2016 - Daikin completes 4.2 million square foot, state-of-the-art facility and consolidates Goodman's HVAC manufacturing, logistics, and customer support under one roof - Daikin Texas Technology Park campus, Houston, Texas.

Brand names beginning with "H"

1984 - Qingdao General Refrigerator General Factory established
1985 - Zhang Ruimin inspected the warehouse and found 76 refrigerators that did not meet quality standards. In a display in front of the employees and the public, he smashed them with a sledge hammer. This has become a historical business topic of discussion, and the sledge hammer remains on display as a reminder of commitment to quality.
1993 - Company renamed Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co., Ltd. and later listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange
2000 - Haier Group E-Commerce Co., Ltd. was established
2001 - Qingdao Haier Air Conditioning Co., Ltd. renamed "Qingdao Haier Co. Ltd"
2016 - The company completes the acquisition of GE household appliances business and assets, and further expanded its global business space
2019 - Qingdao Haier officially changed its name into “Haier Smart Home”
2020 - Haier Smart Home completed privatization of Haier Electronics and achieved initial listing in Hong Kong Stock Market

1933 - Heat Controller, Inc., was founded, but can trace its roots to the formation of the Wingert Furnace Company in Montpelier, Ohio, in 1907
1949 - Heat Controller, Inc. moved to Manitou Beach, Michigan
1955 - Heat Controller was sold and moved to a new plant in Jackson, Michigan, which remains the company's headquarters today. Shifts its production emphasis from furnaces to include room air conditioners, central air conditioning, and dehumidifiers under the Comfort-Aire brand name.
1960's - Heat Controller restructured its furnace line, focusing on residential
gas-fired and oil-fired furnaces, while still maintaining an emphasis on the air conditioning portion of the business.
1972 - Manufactures the first ductless mini-split for the American market - the Comfort-Aire Twin Pak.
1975 - Heat Controller acquired the Century® brand name and assets, and incorporated those product offerings and market distribution into the Heat Controller family. Century's history dates back to 1917 and continues today to offer a complete line of residential and light commercial heating and air conditioning products.
1995 - December 1995, Addison Products was acquired by Heat Controller. The new company was called "Addison Products Co., a division of Heat Controller Inc."
2000 - Heat Controller acquired Aiton's Equipment of Canada, providing increased market penetration in North America. Comfort-Aire and Century brand names were distributed under the new Aiton's of Canada umbrella ("by Aitons") throughout Canada.
2004 - Addison Products Co. a division of Heat Controller Inc. was acquired by Fedders and the name changed to Fedders Addison Co., becoming a new business unit under Fedders Commercial HVAC.
2013 - MARS (Motors and Armatures, Inc.), a leading commercial and residential HVACR motors and components supplier, acquires Heat Controller, Inc. and forms a merger between the two companies.
Current (2024) - The Heat Controller name was eventually dropped (circa 2016) resulting in two divisions of MARS - the motors and components (parts) division for which MARS was known for, and the MARS equipment division selling under the previous Heat Controller private label brand names of Comfort-Aire, Century, and Allied Commercial. The product lines include an impressively broad selection of HVACR equipment including heat pumps, split system air conditioners, air handlers, furnaces, geothermal, PTACs, portable room air conditioners, dehumidifiers, window air conditioners, ductless systems, commercial Rooftop units, packaged units, and more.
About MARS - Founded in 1945, MARS is a family-owned and operated supplier of motors, components, service/installation parts, and equipment for the HVACR industry. Originally launched as a motor repair company, MARS continually evolved its business throughout the years to meet the needs of customers. Now the MARS Motors and Components Division distributes an extensive line of MARS and JARD branded aftermarket replacement products, as well as original equipment components of leading manufacturers. MARS Equipment Division offers residential and commercial heating, cooling, and dehumidification equipment under the Comfort-Aire and Century brand names in the United States and under the Comfort-Aire by Aitons brand name in Canada. MARS Motors and Components Division operates from Hauppauge, New York, with distribution facilities in Earth City (St. Louis), MO and Halton Hills, Ontario. The MARS Equipment Division operates out of Jackson, Michigan, the former headquarters of Heat Controller, Inc.

¹Excerpts from various industry sources

Brand names beginning with "I"

Inter-City Gas Corp. was formed circa 1980 from a number of Canada utility acquisitions originating back to 1951. Headquartered near Toronto (Richmond Hill, Ontario), ICG acquired several HVACR companies and brands during the 1970's and 1980's.

1986 - Purchased Heil-Quaker from Whirlpool Corp.

1987 - Inter-City Gas Dropped Whirlpool name and created "Tempstar" brand in it's place.

1990 - ICG's Energy Products Division -(which included Heil-Quaker, Keeprite, Lincoln, Unifin, and Tempstar brands)- was consolidated into a new company as "Inter-City Products Corp."

NOTE: Any product bearing the ICG or Inter-City Gas insignias or namesake will have been manufactured prior to the 1990 consolidation.

1991 - SnyderGeneral was sold to Inter-City Products. Both Comfortmaker and Arcoaire brands were part of SnyderGeneral.

1999 - Inter-City Products becomes wholly owned subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation/Carrier. Name was changed to "International Comfort Products" at this time (abbreviated as ICP).

ICP (International Comfort Products) has the largest North American distribution system in the industry. ICP is the parent company of many heating and air conditioning brands resulting from varied history of a number of previous company mergers, buyouts, and spinoffs which are now under the ICP umbrella including:

Airquest
Arcoaire
Comfortmaker
Day & Night
Heil
KeepRite
TempStar
Lincoln (formerly)
and manufacturer for Kenmore brand heating and air systems

1991 - SnyderGeneral sold to Inter-City Products. Both Comfortmaker and Arcoaire brands were part of SnyderGeneral.

1999 - Inter-City Products becomes wholly owned subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation/Carrier. Name was changed to "International Comfort Products" at this time (abbreviated as ICP).

Airquest
Arcoaire
Comfortmaker
Day & Night
Heil
KeepRite
TempStar
Lincoln (formerly)
and manufacturer for Kenmore brand heating and air systems

1919 - Began as International Oil Heating Company in St Louis, MO - manufactured oil burners and coal to oil conversion heating systems. Company later became International Oil Burner Company
1930's - Introduced heating systems for manufactured housing
1940's - Introduced first forced air distribution system for manufactured housing
1950's - Introduced central air conditioning systems for manufactured housing
1967 - Ralph R. Papitto founded Nortek, Inc. which successively acquires numerous companies and entities of various industries over the years.
1969 - International Oil Burner Co. (International Thermal) becomes Intertherm
1971 - Introduced first sealed-combustion residential oil & gas furnaces
1977 - Nortek Air Solutions was established
1985 - Intertherm acquired by Nortek
1987 - Becomes Nordyne, Inc with acquisition by Nortek
1998 - Nordyne started marketing under Electrolux brands Frigidaire, Philco, Tappan, Kelvinator & Gibson. Also making Maytag brand under license
2012 - Airtemp name revived by Nordyne under private label
2015 - Nortek subsidiaries NORDYNE LLC, and NORDYNE International are renamed Nortek Global HVAC LLC and Nortek Global HVAC Latin America, Inc., respectively
2022 - Company relaunch as NGH (Nortek Global HVAC)

Brand names beginning with "L"

Lum & Abner brand existed from 1931 to 1954

1931 - Brand started by Norris-Goff Mfg. in Waters, Arkansas. Produced Jenny and Peabody model heating systems.

1934 - Models began being sold by distributor in Chicago, Illinois

1935 - Introduced Edwards model heating system. Models were added by distribution company WLW in Cincinnati, OH.

1936 - Production facility moved to Pine Ridge, Arkansas

1940 - Introduced Hot Spring line heaters

1948 - Introduced Low N Ranger line of radiant air heaters

1951 - Introduced innovative Jot'em Downflow warm air model

1954 - Company ceased traditional warm and radiant air systems production, though stockpiles were sold well into the 1960's.

Brand names beginning with "M"

Early 1900's - Started as McQuay Radiator in Minneapolis, MN and manufactured radiators for the Ford Model-T.

1933 - Incorporated as McQuay Inc. and initial HVAC success was built on the first classroom unit ventilator and the first hermetic compressor for air conditioning use.

1941-1945 - McQuay manufacturing facilities were converted to support the U.S. war effort. McQuay designed and manufactured self-sealing fuel tanks and extended bomb release shackles for the Doolittle Tokyo Raider's B-25s.

1946-1950's - McQuay products and sales grew as the demand for commercial air conditioning increased. The U.S. manufacturing facilities were expanded to meet this demand. McQuay quickly became the world's largest supplier of heat transfer coils.

1951 - Created the Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC)

1960's - McQuay became a multi-national corporation by beginning overseas sales and licensing operations in Canada, England, Scotland, and Australia.

1965 -McQuay established a new division in Italy near Anzio, McQuay Europa, to manufacture 50 Hz equipment.

1968 - Daikin Applied Europe is founded from a 50/50 joint venture between McQuay International USA and an Italian partner, the company rapidly grew in the ‘70s, establishing as a European leader in the market.

1970's - McQuay product line grew to include more types of commercial HVAC and large capacity equipment, as air conditioning became viewed more as a requirement than a luxury in buildings of all types.

1971 - Created Dual Centrifugal Compressor Chiller

1980's - McQuay Europa became a wholly owned subsidiary of McQuay International Inc.

1984 - SnyderGeneral completes 3 major acquisitions to diversify beyond residential and into commercial and refrigeration. The first two acquisitions include Atlantic Richfield's ARCO Comfort Products Co. and the Halstead & Mitchell division of Halstead Industries. The next was a "friendly" takeover of McQuay Inc., though some sources indicate it was a hostile takeover. This third acquisition moved SnyderGeneral into the top 3 of the U.S. HVAC/R industry, just behind Trane Company and Carrier Corp. respectively, each owned by large multinational parent companies unlike SnyderGeneral.

1995 - Created custom modular commercial air handler

2002 - Created first commercial water-source heat pump using R-410A

2004 - Created frictionless magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller

2006 - McQuay International was acquired by Daikin Industries, a global manufacturer of both commercial and residential air conditioning equipment based in Osaka, Japan.

2010 - McQuay acquired HydroKool LLC of Phoenix, Arizona, a designer and manufacturer of pre-packaged, pre-engineered custom HVAC solutions.

2013 - Daikin dropped the McQuay name, ending 80 years of business for the name. European operations changed its name to Daikin Applied Europe.

Brand names beginning with "N"

1919 - Began as International Oil Heating Company in St Louis, MO - manufactured oil burners and coal to oil conversion heating systems. Company later became International Oil Burner Company
1930's - Introduced heating systems for manufactured housing
1940's - Introduced first forced air distribution system for manufactured housing
1950's - Introduced central air conditioning systems for manufactured housing
1967 - Ralph R. Papitto founded Nortek, Inc. which successively acquires numerous companies and entities of various industries over the years.
1969 - International Oil Burner Co. (International Thermal) becomes Intertherm
1971 - Introduced first sealed-combustion residential oil & gas furnaces
1977 - Nortek Air Solutions was established
1985 - Intertherm acquired by Nortek
1987 - Becomes Nordyne, Inc with acquisition by Nortek
1998 - Nordyne started marketing under Electrolux brands Frigidaire, Philco, Tappan, Kelvinator & Gibson. Also making Maytag brand under license
2012 - Airtemp name revived by Nordyne under private label
2015 - Nortek subsidiaries NORDYNE LLC, and NORDYNE International are renamed Nortek Global HVAC LLC and Nortek Global HVAC Latin America, Inc., respectively
2022 - Company relaunch as NGH (Nortek Global HVAC)

Brand names beginning with "P"

1914 - D.W. Payne and his son began building gravity-type furnaces in a converted barn in Los Angeles. A short time later, the company offered the first floor furnace that could be installed in a home’s conventional crawl space area.

1933 - Introduced the first forced-air, down-discharge furnace. The company also was the first to market a forced-air furnace approved for closet installation.

1949 - Bryant, Day & Night, and Payne companies merge to form parent company "Affiliated Gas Equipment" or AGE

1950 - Payne pioneered perimeter and zone heating. Company also expanded product offerings during the 1950's with addition of remote air conditioning product line.

1955 - Carrier purchases Affiliated Gas Equipment, bringing Bryant, Day & Night, and Payne brands under the Carrier umbrella.

1962 - Payne unveiled the first horizontal forced-air furnace approved for outdoor installation as well as vertical combination heating and cooling units for school rooms, apartments, and other applications.

1974 - Carrier creates BDP Company comprised of Bryant - Day & Night - Payne brands.

1979 - United Technologies Corp. (UTC) acquires Carrier Refrigeration in forced takeover. Carrier becomes a subsidiary of UTC.

1990's - Carrier stops using the Day & Night brand name.

2020 - Carrier completes separation from United Technologies as an independent, publicly traded company - Carrier Global Corporation. The separation process was started in 2018. Carrier retains ICP and their brands. Payne remains "economical" brand of Carrier Corporation, and maintains a simple line of highly efficient and dependable products such as air conditioners, gas furnaces, heat pumps, indoor coils, duct-free splits, and small packaged products.

Brand names beginning with "R"

1967 - Tom Kern and Eric Haas develop first fiberglass entry steps and foam kitchen cabinet doors (coated to resemble wood) for manufactured housing
1970 - Business formally started. Style Crest name created and associated with fiberglass steps. Poly-Foam name created and associated to the kitchen cabinet doors.
1979 - Style Crest carried or produced over 4000 products. Expands truck fleet with creation of PFI Transport to cover the Midwest, East Coast, and South
1981 - Style Crest acquires Anchor-Sur® Products, the primary anchoring system of the manufactured housing market.
1983 - Begins production of vinyl skirting as an alternative to aluminum foundation skirting.
1986 - New division, GMH Enterprises, opened in Fremont, Ohio with a focus on real estate investment, development, building, and leasing warehouses
1992 - Creates Resource Materials Corporation which manufactures RMC Vinyl Siding
2000 - Style Crest headquarters relocated to Fremont, Ohio
2001 - Style Crest Sales was created to support sales of Coleman^® brand (subsidiary of York) HVAC equipment for the manufactured housing industry
2006 - Poly Foam International, Inc. officially changed its name to Style Crest Enterprises, Inc. and consolidates several of its nine divisions under this new name.
2011 - Style Crest unifies its line of HVAC products under the Revolv® Brand, exclusively designed and tested to work together for manufactured housing

_{History excerpts from https://www.stylecrestinc.com/about-us-2/history/}

1920 - Company incorporated in Japan
1921 - Launches first tankless water heater product
1923 - Sales and export include tabletop stoves, ranges, gas ovens, and tankless water heaters
1971 - Company changes name from Rinnai Manufacturing Co. Ltd. to Rinnai Corporation
1974 - Rinnai America Corporation is established in Los Angeles, CA
1987 - Rinnai America moves corporate office to Lagrange, GA
1989 - Rinnai direct vent wall furnace is launched
1999 - First tankless water heater is sold in North America
2001 - North American operations relocate to Peachtree City, GA
2001 - First commercial tankless water heaters make their debut
2006 - Begins manufacturing OEM tankless units for Bradford White and GE
2007 - Unveils hydronic air handler designed to work with tankless water heaters
2010 - Rinnai launches at Lowe's retail locations across the U.S.
2012 - Begins manufacturing OEM tankless units for Giant
2013 - Rinnai launches hybrid tank-tankless water heater
2014 - Rinnai Commercial Business unit is formed
2018 - Rinnai establishes U.S. manufacturing in Griffin, GA

_{^1- History excerpts from https://www.rinnai.us/about/history}

1880's - Edwin Ruud, a Norwegian-American mechanical engineer and inventor who immigrated to the United States, began working for George Westinghouse at the Fuel Gas and Manufacturing Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1889 - Ruud engineered a design for an automatic storage tank-type gas water heater that used a bottom gas heater and temperature controlled gas-valve. The design was patented in 1890. In October 1890, he expanded on this first water heater design, under the Fuel Gas and Manufacturing Company.
1897 - Ruud filed a patent separate from the Fuel Gas and Manufacturing Company for an Automatic Water Heater. His new design consisted of a cast iron shell, enclosed burners, heating surfaces (a coil of copper tubing through which water flows), and thermostat controlling gas-valve. The object of the design improvement was, "to maintain the supply of water at the desired temperature at all times."
1898 - Ruud left the Fuel Gas and Manufacturing Company to start Ruud Manufacturing.
1908 - Ruud Manufacturing acquired two local heating and plumbing firms - the James Hay Company, heating and plumbing engineers, and Folsom-Webster Co., heating and plumbing contracting firm. Both owners of the acquired firms became president of Ruud Manufacturing and chief of the Cincinnati branch respectively.
1931 - Rheem began manufacturing automatic gas-fired storage water heaters after 1930 acquisition of Republic Steel who manufactured boilers and related storage tanks.
1954 - Rheem develops "glass lining" for its water heaters.
1956 - Rheem introduces "Rheemaire" central air conditioning and heater systems for homes. This eventually became one of the company's primary business areas.
1959 - Rheem purchased the Ruud Manufacturing Company, further expanding their water heater production and offerings.
1960's - Rheem diversifies further to include manufacture of bathroom fixtures and consumer musical instruments such as electric organs.
1968 - Rheem introduced its "Imperial" forced air gas furnace.
1968 - A plant was opened in Bergum (Burgum in Frisian) in the Netherlands. The plant was initially successful but had to close its doors by the end of 1983.
1970 - Rheem opens its air conditioning division in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.
1971 - Rheem built its water heating division headquarters in Montgomery, Alabama.
1979 - Rheem added heat pumps to its product line.
1983 - Rheem introduced the Richmond Water Heaters brand, aimed at hardware stores and home-improvement centers.
1984 - Rheem was acquired by Pace Industries, Inc. and discontinued manufacture of shipping containers by 1985 - ending 60 years of manufacturing steel drums and similar shipping containers.
1985 - Rheem expands through acquisition of RayPak, Inc., which expanded the business into swimming pool heaters as well as commercial boilers.
1988 - Rheem was acquired by Paloma Industries, Ltd., a privately held Japanese company with headquarters in Nagoya, Japan.
1990 - In a somewhat confusing era and chain of acquisitions, Rheem acquires the "Weatherking" line from Addison Products. Addison's Orlando, Florida operation was not part of the transaction. Addison Products Weatherking Division (Orlando) was later acquired by Heat Controller in 1995, and renamed Addison Products Co., a division of Heat Controller Inc. It was later acquired again and owned by Fedders in 2004 until their bankruptcy in 2008. (See Addison history for further info)
1992 - Rheem introduced the smallest gas furnace line in the industry.
1994 - Rheem was the first residential HVAC company to begin using scroll compressors throughout their lineup, and all air conditioners and heat pumps continue to use Copeland Scroll Compressors.
1997 - The company was first to introduce a 14 SEER remote condensing unit.
1998 - Rheem introduced the Modulating 90 Plus gas furnace. The company also began supplying Home Depot with a line of GE branded water heaters.
2009 - Rheem and Ruud were the first to sell a Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater, which was more than twice as efficient as similar electric water heaters. Also in this year, Rheem was first to produce a complete line of 14 SEER condensing units and heat pumps.
2010 - Rheem introduced a condensing Tankless Water Heater, and the first integrated heating and water heater system with one warranty and manufacturer.
2012 - Rheem launched the first commercial integrated heating and water heater system.
2013 - Acquired Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG), a standalone company which produces the Russell, Witt, ColdZone and Kramer commercial refrigeration brands.

Brand names beginning with "S"

SEISCO no longer in business/discontinued effective December 15, 2017.^*

First U.S. patent recorded in June, 1993, with later patents following in 1999, 2000, 2001, & 2009^*

Prior to January, 2008 Seisco products were made by Microtherm, Inc.^*

Microtherm, Inc. was liquidated on December 31, 2007^*

SEISCO International Limited was founded January 1, 2008 and became the trademark and patent holder for the SEISCO family of products.^*

A.O. Smith acquired SEISCO circa 2017.^*

Despite many apparent accolades from industry sources and special recognition from several government agencies including PATH, HUD, NAHB Research Center, NREL, TVA, DOE, and EPRI, Seisco brand products were discontinued effective December 15, 2017 based on an intra-company news alert post published November 14, 2017 by distributor Hydro Pump Co. ⁽¹⁾ , and no longer available per distributor PlumbingSupply.com ⁽²⁾^*

A.O. Smith will honor Seisco parts and product warranties for as long as they are in effect.^*** (10-year limited/prorated warranty on residential products, and 5-year limited/prorated warranty on commercial products.) ⁽³⁾^*

The Seisco website (seisco.com) remains published and accessible^**; however, Technical, Service, & Sales inquiry emails listed on the company website are currently directed to A.O. Smith points of contact (@hotwater.com)^*

Google maps search indicates company listed physical address as "Permanently Closed" ^*

_{^* Information reasonably believed accurate based on extensive research conducted 10/03/2022.}

_{^** as of 10/03/2022}

^{*** _{According to Hydro Pump Co. website posting (https://www.hydropump.net/seisco-brand-products-to-be-discontinued-as-of-december-15-2017/)}}

^{(1) _{https://www.hydropump.net/seisco-brand-products-to-be-discontinued-as-of-december-15-2017/}}

^{(2) _{https://www.plumbingsupply.com/seiscotankless.html}}

^{(3) _{https://www.seisco.com/warranty-info}}

1851 - I.M. Singer & Co. established by Isaac M. Singer whose patents resulted in commercially viable sewing machine

1856 - First treadle-operated machine produced.

1863 - Firm incorporated as the Singer Manufacturing Company

1867 - Builds first foreign plant in Glasgow

1902 - Builds plant in Podolsk, Russia. Singer also absorbs U.S. competitor, the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company.

1951-1957 - Domestic sewing machine market collapses due to decline in home sewing in the U.S., as well as Japanese imports taking market share. Singer begins to diversify.

1963 - Company was renamed the "Singer Company", and diversifies into electronics and aerospace.

1968 - Singer Company purchases AFCO and places it under the corporation's Climate Control Division - "Singer Furnace Company" .

1970 - Brand became Singer American Furnace

1984 - Singer and Singer American Furnace brand names dropped by SnyderGeneral, and no longer used for HVAC systems.

1986 - Sewing machine business is spun off to a separate subsidiary as SSMC, Inc.

1987 - Singer company acquired by Paul A. Bilzerian who quickly sold off eight of the 12 remaining Singer divisions.

1990 - SSMC Inc. (remnants of original Singer Company) was sold to Semi-Tech Microelectronic's (Far East) Limited. The much-shrunken Singer Company was renamed Bicoastal Corporation.

1991 - Economic conditions hinder financial growth of the SnyderGeneral company. With global economic recession in full swing, SnyderGeneral sets its eyes on international markets to serve as the prime area for growth. SnyderGeneral subsequently sells Comfortmaker and Arcoaire brand lines to Inter-City Products.

2006 - McQuay International was acquired by Daikin Industries, a global manufacturer of both commercial and residential air conditioning equipment based in Osaka, Japan.

2013 - Daikin dropped the McQuay name, ending 80 years of business for the name.

Some sources indicate that Daikin currently produces a line of mini-splits under the Singer name in Thailand.

1968 - Singer Furnace Company (subsidiary of Singer Sewing Machine Company) purchases AFCO and places it under the corporation's Climate Control Division.

1970 - Became Singer American Furnace

1984 - Singer and Singer American Furnace brand names dropped and no longer used; however, "Comfortmaker" brand was kept alive. The newly acquired ARCO comfort products line becomes "Arcoaire".

1986 - Acquires Barry Blower division of Marley-Wylain Co. and Wesper Co., a subsidiary of Paris, France-based Acova S.A. This latter acquisition of Wesper provided SnyderGeneral a large presence and share in the European markets, reaching nearly 1/3 of total sales by 1991.

1988 - Acquires American Air Filter (AAF), an air filtration equipment manufacturer with 27 international production facilities and sales coming from more than 100 countries.

2006 - McQuay International was acquired by Daikin Industries, a global manufacturer of both commercial and residential air conditioning equipment based in Osaka, Japan.

2010 - McQuay acquired HydroKool LLC of Phoenix, Arizona, a designer and manufacturer of pre-packaged, pre-engineered custom HVAC solutions.

2013 - Daikin dropped the McQuay name, ending 80 years of business for the name.

1946 - Founded by Herbert Lindahl as a small entrepreneurial company making coal and wood burning stoves out of a garage in Nashville, TN
1948 - Began making electric water heaters
1954 - Began making gas-fired water heaters
1957 - Began making porcelainized glass-lined tanks (basic design feature still in use today)
1979 - First to use foam insulation to line the space between the tank and outer jacket of the water heater
1996 - Becomes world's largest producer of water heaters with an average production of 10,000 units per day
2001 - Acquired by A.O. Smith®

Brand names beginning with "W"

1962 - Company established by James Whalen in Laurel, Maryland
1972 - Developed vertical water-source heat pump.
1975 - Hurricane flooded their original facility, and they temporarily relocated to Baltimore.
1979 - Newly built facility with new machinery is finished and occupied in Easton, Maryland - where they company headquarters remain today.
1985 - First valve-controlled fan coil unit developed.
1995 - Expanded market into Canada.
1999 - Whisperpack hybrid heat pump introduced
2014 - Developed Inteli-Line slide out coil pack
2017 - ClosetLine packaged water-source heat pump and Whispertherm ERV water-source heat pump introduced.
2017 - Acquired Cold Point Corporation (Adirondack Aire)
2018 - Introduced industry first 2-stage vertical stack heat pump
2019 - Broke ground in Rome, New York for new Cold Point Corporation facility

WeatherKing® History¹

Originally established as WeatherKing of Florida, Inc. as a pioneer in the development of water-source and air-source heat pumps for the warm climate of the South.
1960 - Company acquired by Addison Products.
1965 - Renamed to WeatherKing, Inc.
1990 - In a somewhat confusing era and chain of acquisitions, Rheem acquires the "WeatherKing" line from Addison Products. Addison's Orlando, Florida operation was not part of the transaction. Addison Products WeatherKing [commericial] Division (Orlando) was later acquired by Heat Controller in 1995, and renamed Addison Products Co., a division of Heat Controller Inc. It was later acquired again and owned by Fedders in 2004 until their bankruptcy in 2008.
WeatherKing® remains an active residential brand of Rheem Manufacturing.
See also Addison and Rheem

¹_{Excerpts from various industry sources}