magic clean
Well-known member
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- Oct 15, 2004
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From today's paper:
"Garbage disposal developer headed Waste King"
Bertram F. Given
Bertram F. "Bert" Given, 88, who developed the Waste King garbage disposal six decades ago and later became active in charitable causes, died July 7 in Ashland Oregon, of heart failure.
Born in ElPaso, Texas, Givens grew up in Los Angeles, honing his fascination with machines and engineering at his father's Given Machinery Co. He studied architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, but dropped out in 1939 to join his father in the business.
Attuned to what housewives wanted in the kitchens of the new houses proliferating during the postwar boom in southern California, he bagan working on a way to get rid of garbage. What he came up with was the Waste King garbage disposal, one of the first appliances of its kind. In 1946 he established Given Manufacturing Co. to build the devices, which quickly became a must-have item for any new kitchen and many old ones as well.
In continuing study of household needs, Given decided that a way to hide dirty dishes and sanitize them was almost as important as getting rid of food scraps. So he added dishwashers to his line. Later came barbecue grills and cooking ranges.
By 1957, the brand had become so popular that he renamed his company Waste King Corp. The next year when annual sales topped $17.5 million, he acquired Chicago based Cribben & Sexton Co, which made ranges, space heaters, dryers and dishwashers marketed under the Universal brand. By 1960, combined sales totaled more than $37 million.
Given sold Waste King Corp. to Norris Industries, which incorporated his appliances into its Thermador brand, in 1968. He remained with Norris until 1972, when he formed and investment partnership. An indefatigable worker for the American Jewish Committee, Given served on its board and helped raise funds for its projects.
"Garbage disposal developer headed Waste King"
Bertram F. Given
Bertram F. "Bert" Given, 88, who developed the Waste King garbage disposal six decades ago and later became active in charitable causes, died July 7 in Ashland Oregon, of heart failure.
Born in ElPaso, Texas, Givens grew up in Los Angeles, honing his fascination with machines and engineering at his father's Given Machinery Co. He studied architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, but dropped out in 1939 to join his father in the business.
Attuned to what housewives wanted in the kitchens of the new houses proliferating during the postwar boom in southern California, he bagan working on a way to get rid of garbage. What he came up with was the Waste King garbage disposal, one of the first appliances of its kind. In 1946 he established Given Manufacturing Co. to build the devices, which quickly became a must-have item for any new kitchen and many old ones as well.
In continuing study of household needs, Given decided that a way to hide dirty dishes and sanitize them was almost as important as getting rid of food scraps. So he added dishwashers to his line. Later came barbecue grills and cooking ranges.
By 1957, the brand had become so popular that he renamed his company Waste King Corp. The next year when annual sales topped $17.5 million, he acquired Chicago based Cribben & Sexton Co, which made ranges, space heaters, dryers and dishwashers marketed under the Universal brand. By 1960, combined sales totaled more than $37 million.
Given sold Waste King Corp. to Norris Industries, which incorporated his appliances into its Thermador brand, in 1968. He remained with Norris until 1972, when he formed and investment partnership. An indefatigable worker for the American Jewish Committee, Given served on its board and helped raise funds for its projects.
