Once in a while, we still see vestiges of American manufacturing excellence, like Viking Appliances. Few companies match the status or quality of Viking stoves. When so many companies manufacture overseas and import goods, Viking is nevertheless based within the US. If you spend just a little more cash now on a Viking stove, you’ll know where that money went.
Viking Appliances – an old fashioned success
Viking Appliances got its start when founder Fred Carl was building a home, and his wife desired a commercial style range stove and oven, according to the Viking Appliances website. She had been particularly enamored of the Chambers stove that her mother had owned, and the stainless steel construction of a restaurant stove appealed to him. So he set about designing a commercial style oven that was practical and safe for the home. There wasn’t anything like it at the time, so he had to come up with it himself.
Viking pillages kitchens
After years of perfecting the design, Fred Carl finally had a design approved, and production began by January of 1987. Viking Ranges are a high end line of kitchen appliances ever since. After going through a number of factory location, a permanent facility was opened in Greenwood, Miss. Fred Carl’s hometown. Today, Viking products are sold in over 80 countries, and offer high end refrigerators, grills, and even high quality cutlery.
Struggles with the modern world
Many manufacturing sectors within the United States have struggled within the last few decades, and Viking Appliances is no exception. They aren’t running for a bailout, but there has been fallout. They aren’t exactly bleeding money like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but there are losses due to drops in demand, as outlined by MSNBC . Output dropped to half of 2005 levels, though the company doesn’t disclose financial info. You will find occasional optimistic examples of American companies, and Viking Appliances are one. Let’s hope they can stick around for a lot longer.
Article resources
Viking Site
http://www.vikingrange.com/consumer/global/content.jsp?id=cat30019
Chambers Oven
http://www.chamberstoves.net/
MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37094337/ns/business-us_business/
