Louis Upton (1886–1952), Emory Upton, and venture capitalist Lowell Bassford founded the Upton Machine Company in Benton Harbor, Michigan, on November 11, 1911. The firm's first products were wringer washing machines powered by primitive electric motors. Louis Upton's younger brother Frederick Upton (1890–1986) joined the company shortly afterwards.The two Upton’s soon grew the fledging firm to become the Whirlpool Corporation.