John Inglis and Company
Corporate brand
UnclaimedCanadian industrial manufacturer that became a major wartime weapons producer and postwar household-appliance company, with the Inglis name now retained as a Whirlpool brand.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
John Inglis and Company was a Canadian manufacturing business whose activities evolved from industrial machinery into marine engineering, wartime armaments and, ultimately, mass-market household appliances. Its origins date to 27 July 1859, when John Inglis, Thomas Mair and Francis Evatt established Mair, Inglis and Evatt in Guelph, Ontario. The early business supplied machinery for grist and flour mills and later added steam power equipment. After Daniel Hunter replaced Mair, the enterprise became Inglis and Hunter. In 1881 John Inglis moved the operation to a large site near Strachan Avenue in Toronto and renamed it John Inglis and Sons, reflecting the participation of five of his sons. Under William Inglis, who assumed control after John Inglis's death in 1898, the company shifted away from milling equipment toward marine steam engines and waterworks pumping machinery. It built engines for Canada Steamship Lines vessels including Hamonic and Huronic, and during the First World War manufactured shells, shell forgings and marine engines. Its interwar portfolio included boilers, grain-handling equipment, hydraulic turbines, tugs and several types of pumps. The Great Depression caused severe losses, and after William Inglis died in 1935 the company entered receivership. Major J. E. Hahn acquired the business in 1937 through British Canadian Engineering Limited and restored the name John Inglis and Company. The company's most consequential wartime contract followed in 1938, when British and Canadian authorities selected it to manufacture Bren machine guns. Inglis began production in 1940 and expanded output substantially during the Second World War. By 1943 it was producing a large share of Bren guns supplied to British Commonwealth forces. It also manufactured Polsten 20 mm autocannons, Browning Hi-Power pistols for Commonwealth and allied customers, and machinery associated with Tribal-class destroyers. This period established Inglis as an important Canadian defence manufacturer. After 1945 the company diversified into consumer products, including fishing equipment, house trailers, oil-burner pumps, heaters and stoves. It entered the laundry-appliance market in 1946 by licensing production of a US-designed wringer washer from the Nineteen Hundred Corporation, the company that later became Whirlpool Corporation. Inglis added automatic washers in 1950 and subsequently expanded into dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators and other domestic appliances. By the mid-1960s it had become Canada's leading producer of locally made laundry machines. It also retained engineering interests for a time, including English Electric-related operations and naval steam-turbine production, but progressively divested those activities to focus on consumer products. The company reached a further transition in the 1970s. It produced its millionth automatic washer in 1972 and began selling appliances under the Whirlpool name. It later operated as Inglis Limited, expanded facilities in Ontario and Quebec, and acquired parts of Canadian Admiral Corporation in 1982. Whirlpool acquired a majority interest in Inglis in 1987. The corporate name was changed to Whirlpool Canada in 2001, ending Inglis as a separate operating company while preserving Inglis as an appliance brand, chiefly in Canada and also through US retail distribution. Whirlpool announced in 2002 that it would close the remaining Inglis manufacturing plant in Montmagny, Quebec, transferring production to the United States. The historical Toronto factory site was subsequently redeveloped, and the prominent Inglis billboard that remained there was removed in 2014. Today, Inglis is best understood as a legacy Canadian appliance brand within Whirlpool rather than as an independent manufacturer.
History
John Inglis and Company developed from a nineteenth-century Ontario machine shop into one of Canada's more versatile manufacturing enterprises. Mair, Inglis and Evatt was founded in Guelph in 1859 to build machinery for flour and grist mills. Steam power was added in 1864, and changes in ownership led to the name Inglis and Hunter. In 1881 John Inglis relocated the enterprise to Toronto and renamed it John Inglis and Sons. The company later moved into marine engines, waterworks equipment and other heavy machinery under William Inglis, who led the business after his father's death in 1898. The company incorporated as John Inglis Company Limited in 1913. During the First World War it produced shells, shell forgings and marine engines. Its interwar lines included boilers, turbines, pumps, tugs and grain-conveying machinery, but the Depression caused substantial financial distress. Following William Inglis's death in 1935, the company entered receivership. Major J. E. Hahn acquired it in 1937 and used the name John Inglis and Company. Inglis became a strategically important defence contractor during the Second World War. In 1938 it secured British and Canadian contracts for Bren machine guns and constructed or adapted production capacity for large-scale output. Manufacturing began in 1940, and by 1943 the company supplied a significant proportion of Bren guns used by British Commonwealth forces. It also produced Polsten 20 mm autocannons, Browning Hi-Power pistols and equipment connected with naval construction. The wartime business demonstrated the company's ability to convert engineering expertise into high-volume armaments production. After the war, Inglis sought more stable civilian markets. It made heaters, stoves, oil-burner pumps, fishing tackle and house trailers, then entered appliance manufacturing through a 1946 licence for a wringer washing machine designed by the Nineteen Hundred Corporation. Automatic washers followed in 1950, with dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators added later. Inglis maintained engineering and naval-industrial interests, including English Electric-related operations and production of licensed naval steam turbines, but divested much of that work during the 1960s as household appliances became its central business. The company produced its millionth automatic washer in 1972 and began marketing products under the Whirlpool name. It expanded in Ontario and Quebec and acquired portions of Canadian Admiral Corporation in 1982. Whirlpool bought a majority interest in 1987. The legal corporate identity was ultimately absorbed into Whirlpool Canada in 2001, while Inglis continued as a brand. The closure of the Montmagny plant, announced in 2002 and completed by 2004, marked the end of the brand's principal Canadian manufacturing footprint. Former Toronto industrial land was redeveloped, and a long-standing Inglis billboard was removed in 2014. The name remains associated with Whirlpool household appliances, particularly in the Canadian market.
- 2002
Montmagny plant closure announced
[1]Whirlpool announces the planned closure of the last Inglis manufacturing plant in Canada.
- 2001
Corporate identity becomes Whirlpool Canada
[1]The separate corporate name is replaced by Whirlpool Canada, although Inglis remains an appliance brand.
- 1987
Whirlpool takes control
[1]Whirlpool Corporation acquires a majority interest in Inglis.
- 1972
One-millionth automatic washer and Whirlpool-branded production
[1]Inglis produces its millionth automatic washer and begins manufacturing and selling appliances under the Whirlpool brand.
- 1950
Automatic washer introduced
[1]Inglis expands from wringer washers into fully automatic laundry appliances.
- 1946
Entry into washing machines
[1]The company begins licensed production of a wringer washer for the Canadian market.
- 1940
Wartime firearms production begins
[1]Inglis begins manufacturing Bren guns for British Commonwealth requirements.
- 1938
Bren production contract awarded
[1]British and Canadian authorities contract Inglis to produce thousands of Bren machine guns.
- 1937
J. E. Hahn acquires the business
[1]Major J. E. Hahn purchases the distressed company through British Canadian Engineering Limited and restores the Inglis name.
- 1913
The company reincorporates
[1]The business becomes John Inglis Company Limited.
Products and positioning
Historically positioned as a vertically capable Canadian engineering and manufacturing company, first serving industrial and marine customers, then becoming a major wartime supplier and finally a value-oriented domestic-appliance producer. The surviving Inglis brand is associated primarily with practical household appliances sold in Canada under Whirlpool ownership.
Industrial machinery · 1859
Industrial and milling machinery
The company's original business supplied machinery for grist and flour mills. It later produced steam-powered equipment, grain elevators and conveyors, boilers, pumps, hydraulic turbines and related heavy machinery for industrial and municipal customers.
Marine engineering · 1903
Marine engines and naval equipment
Inglis manufactured marine steam engines for commercial vessels and later produced licensed naval steam turbines and machinery. Its marine work included engines for Canada Steamship Lines ships and equipment associated with Canadian destroyer programs.
Military firearm · 1940
Bren machine gun
During the Second World War, Inglis became a major producer of the Bren light machine gun for Britain, Canada and other Commonwealth forces. Production began in 1940 and expanded to a substantial share of Commonwealth wartime requirements.
Military firearm
Browning Hi-Power
Inglis manufactured Browning Hi-Power pistols for Commonwealth nations and other allied customers, including the Nationalist Chinese Army, during the wartime period.
Laundry appliance · 1946
Automatic washing machines
Beginning with licensed wringer washers in 1946 and fully automatic machines in 1950, laundry appliances became Inglis's core postwar consumer business. The company later added dryers and sold products under both Inglis and Whirlpool branding.
Home appliances · 1946
Inglis household appliances
The surviving Inglis brand covers practical household appliances, historically including washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, stoves and related domestic equipment. Products are marketed primarily in Canada under Whirlpool ownership.
Brand decisions
2002
Closure of the Montmagny manufacturing facilityStrategyBackground
Whirlpool announced a restructuring of its Canadian appliance manufacturing network.
Action taken
The Montmagny, Quebec, plant was scheduled to close by 2004, with production transferred to facilities in the United States.
Aftermath
The decision ended the brand's principal Canadian manufacturing presence and affected approximately 500 workers.
2001
Corporate consolidation under Whirlpool CanadaStrategyBackground
Whirlpool had controlled Inglis since 1987 and was consolidating its Canadian operations.
Action taken
The corporate name was changed to Whirlpool Canada, with Inglis retained as a product brand.
Aftermath
The independent company ceased to operate under its historic legal identity, but the Inglis name remained commercially visible.
1987
Whirlpool acquires majority controlM&ABackground
Inglis had become primarily a consumer-appliance manufacturer after divesting much of its engineering business.
Action taken
Whirlpool Corporation acquired a majority interest in the company.
Aftermath
Inglis became part of Whirlpool's Canadian appliance operations, while the name later survived as a brand.
1946
Diversification into consumer appliancesStrategyBackground
After wartime production ended, Inglis sought civilian markets to replace defence demand.
Action taken
The company licensed a US wringer-washer design and built a broader domestic-appliance business.
Aftermath
Appliances became the company's central activity and ultimately defined the Inglis brand.
1938
Commitment to large-scale Bren productionProduct launchBackground
British and Canadian governments required expanded domestic production of the Bren machine gun before the Second World War.
Action taken
Inglis accepted contracts for 5,000 guns for Britain and 7,000 for Canada, with production commencing in 1940 and later expanding.
Aftermath
The contracts transformed Inglis into a major Commonwealth armaments supplier during the war.
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