F. L. Maytag

Frederick Louis Maytag I (July 14, 1857 – March 26, 1937) also known as F. L. Maytag, founded the Maytag Company, which eventually became the Maytag Corporation which was acquired by the Whirlpool Corporation in 2005.

F.L. Maytag was born July 14, 1857 in Newton, Iowa. The eldest of 10 children born to German/Jewish immigrants, Amelia Tarebun (1837–?) and Daniel William Maytag (1831–?) [the original spelling of their name was "Maitag" prior to immigrating to the United States, and was "Americanized" to "Maytag" upon arrival]. The full set of children were: Frederick Louis Maytag I (1857–1937); Lewis R. Maytag (1859–?); Martha M. Maytag (1862–?); Theodore Henry Maytag (1864–1931); Jacob B. Maytag (1867–?); Emma Maytag (1869–?); Daniel C. Maytag (1872–?); Helena Maytag (1875–?); Anna A. Maytag (1878–?); and Viola Maytag (1880–?). When ten years old F.L. traveled in a covered wagon with his family to a small farm near Laurel, Iowa, in 1867.

F.L. Maytag attended North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, in 1872-73.

In 1893, F.L., his two brothers-in-law, and George W. Parsons each contributed US$600, for a total of US$2,400, to start a new farm implement company named Parsons Band-Cutter & Self Feeder Company. This company produced threshing machines, band-cutters, and self-feeder attachments invented by Parsons.

F.L. Maytag eventually took sole control of the firm and renamed it the Maytag Company. As Maytag grew, F.L. forayed into other businesses such as the Maytag-Mason Motor Company automobiles. In the 1910s, F.L. left the day-to-day company operation in the hands of sons Elmer Henry Maytag and Lewis Bergman Maytag, to concentrate on other business areas including innovations of a washing machine with a gas powered motor branded as the Multi-Motor and a washing machine with an agitator that forced the water through the clothes branded as the Gyrafoam. These inventions proved extremely valuable as by 1927, Maytag was producing more than twice the washers of its nearest competition and had outperformed the industry with growth doubling for five consecutive years.

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