Founded in 1911 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, by Louis and Emory Upton as the Upton Machine Company, Whirlpool began by producing electric wringer washers. Known initially for durable laundry equipment, the company became a major supplier to Sears, Roebuck & Co. in 1916. Following a 1949 merger, it became the Whirlpool Corporation, later pioneering energy-efficient appliances.