Emory Upton had a small machine shop in Michigan when his
nephew, Louis, bought a patent for a hand washing machine that
he thought could be electrified. He applied for a patient, number 603058,
and started the Upton Machine Company that grew into the
1900 Corporation and eventually became Whirlpool Corporation,
the world's largest manfacturer and marketer of home applicances.
In 2004 the Company had sales approaching $12 billion dollars.
This goes to show you, you never know what you start today
may become tommorrow.
P.S. I work at Whirlpool Corporation and am a member
of it's Heritage Committee.