Proctor-Silex

Proctor-Silex is the country's number one distributor of small kitchen appliances, selling over 35 million appliances every year. The company's most famous brands (Hamilton Beach, Proctor Silex, and TrueAir) are found in households across America, Canada, and Mexico.

In 1904, the founders of the U.S. Standard Electrical Works in Racine, Wisconsin, hired a young farm boy named Chester Beach and a former cashier named L.H. Hamilton. Mr. Beach improved the first lightweight, high speed universal motor, meaning it could run on AC or DC power. The new motor, known as the fractional horsepower motor, revolutionized the appliance industry and was the backbone of new product development.

In 1990, NACCO Industries, Inc. had the foresight to bring two powerhouse appliance manufacturers – Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex – together. NACCO merged the two companies in 1990 to create the largest U.S. manufacturer of small kitchen appliances.