With roots tracing back to the Philadelphia Textile Machinery Company founded in 1885, Proctor & Schwartz Electric Company was formed in 1920. The company had many firsts: the first silent toaster, first electric glass coffeemaker, first cord-attached iron, first toaster oven/broiler, first pop-up toaster/toaster oven, first adjustable automatic iron, first snap-apart line of serviceable kitchen appliances, and first see-through steam iron water tank.

In 1960, Proctor & Schwartz Electric Company merged with a manufacturer of irons and coffeemakers, the Silex Company, to offer consumers an even wider array of appliances. The new company was known as the Proctor-Silex Corporation.