The original Leonard Refrigerator Company had its start in 1881, in Grand Rapids, Michigan when founder Charles H. Leonard began manufacturing cleanable ice refrigerators. Over the years the company grew to be a leader in wooden ice box cabinets.

In 1914, Nathaniel B. Wales, a young inventor with the financial backing of Arnold Goss, then secretary of the Buick Automobile company, developed the first household mechanical refrigerators under the name "Electro-Automatic Refrigerating Company"

After producing a number of experimental models, Wales selected one for manufacturing. He then changed the company name to Kelvinator Company in honor of Lord Kelvin, the discoverer of "absolute zero" - the standard temperature basis for modern mechanical refrigeration.

To house the new electric refrigerator cooling device, Wales used the best cabinet on the market at the time - the Leonard refrigerator cabinet. By 1923, Kelvinator held 80% of the market for electric refrigerators. In 1926, Leonard merged with Kelvinator. Also in 1926, the company acquired Nizer, the largest builder of commercial ice cream cabinets marking its entry to the commercial refrigeration business.

In 1937, Kelvinator was acquired by Nash Motors for added financial stability. The resulting firm’s name was Nash-Kelvinator. ABC (Altorfer Bros.), known for their quality laundry equipment, was acquired by Nash-Kelvinator in 1952. Later, Kelvinator became a division of American Motors Company (AMC.)

Among important Kelvinator industry firsts are: the across the top freezer, two-door refrigerator, foamed in place insulation and the "Foodarama" side-by-side refrigerator.

Kelvinator was purchased by White Consolidated Industries in 1968, and subsequently became part of AB Electrolux in 1986.

Today, Kelvinator offers an assortment of value priced, quality major appliances sold by dealers across the US, in Canada and internationally.