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1871 – twentieth century
Founded: Co-founded in 1871 by John Claus Peters and Henry C. Paul.
Founders: John Claus Peters and Henry C. Paul — Paul appears again in this record as president of the Fort Wayne Electric Works in 1899 (see the Jenney Electric entry).
What it did: Horton developed and produced the first contained washing machine — a self-contained washer that replaced the open tub and washboard — and built the "Horton" washer into a national brand.
Course: By 1924 the company made, by the Fort Wayne Magazine account, half the washing machines in the world. From 1945 to 1949 Horton ran a joint washing-machine venture with Electrohome of Canada; its company newsletter, The Horton Pioneer, survives in the University of Waterloo archives.
Fate: The company's end — sale, merger or closure date — is not established.
Sources:
- Fort Wayne Magazine, May 2017, via fortwayne.com — co-founding 1871; first contained washing machine; the 1924 share claim.
- University of Waterloo Library, archives of the Electrohome fonds — the 1945–49 Horton partnership venture; The Horton Pioneer.