I really don't expect an answer to this but I'll ask anyway.
If HOOVER bought Knapp-Monarch years ago and now Whirlpool has bought (and sold) Hoover, who owns Knapp-Monarch (or at least the brand)?
Does Whirlpool just sell off Hoover and keep all the other little companies and brands Hoover picked up along the way?
...It is just one of those crazy questions that drifted into my mind as I drove home from work today...

Good question but i have do idea as to the answer.

Hoover sold off those "little" companies years ago. They quit the housewares business in 1977 to concentrate on floor care. It was a wise move since they made more profit on a more expensive vacuum cleaner than a $10 toaster. The Knapp-Monarch plant in St. Louis was closed a year or so after Hoover bought it in 1969. Production was moved to Holley Springs Mississippi. Old Mr. Knapp tried to keep key Hoover people out of the St. Louis plant as it badly needed updated. (It still had wooden floors in some parts!) He kept them away or distracted until the sale was complete. Then Hoover realized what they bought. It was not very long thereafter that they got out of the appliance business for good. The one good thing that came out of Hoover's attempt to put GE out of business was the Hoover fry pan. It was a good product with technology developed right here in North Canton. I have not seen a KM appliance in a long time.

--Tom

Tom, I always thought the frypan (one of which I have) is one of the cooler of their small appliances. I remember one being demonstrated to my mom many years ago. She didn't purchase it but we both really liked it. I was happy to find one years later at an estate sale in nice condition. When I lived in Minnesota I used to take it on lake trips and would fry fish and breakfast foods in it. I loved keeping some fish warm underneath while frying some more up top.

Does anyone remember this appliance? I remember occasionally seeing these at church rummage sales and garage sales years ago. I haven't seen one in a long time. Were these produced at the KM plant?

Karl... I have a Crepe maker in the box. It was basically just a small fry pan that was circular instead of square. They were also sold as a "mini" fry pan. These were Hoover made here in North Canton. The Crepe maker had another incarnation as the Fondue Mini Fry Pan! You gotta love the '70's!

--Tom

I do have a KNAPP-MONARCH heater which is really cool and still works.
It is very 1950s, thin and slimline but fairly large. Fits nicely against a wall. It heats by running air over electrically warmed rods (likely calrods with fins) Cannot see heated coils per-se. What makes the unit funner is that they painted the inside of the heater red and added a little RED lamp. It glows just like a little fireplace.
I swear the only reason they painted the interior red and added the lamp was to add a little extra appeal and cool-factor to a fairly boring appliance. I miss that.