Kenmore started out in the early 20th Century as a brand that had nothing to do with cooking. Within a few decades, though, its scope expanded to the kitchen--earning it a reputation good enough to make it a Luxist nominee in the best grill category.

The first Kenmore product, appearing in 1927, was a laundry machine. Made by Sears, the contraption was the company's first released under the Kenmore brand name. Decision-makers at Sears realized that as the percentage of American homes wired for electricity soared, the demand for appliances would explode. Indeed, Sears sold 1 million Kenmore products by 1936.


By the middle of the century, the Kenmore label began to appear on ranges and grills, as well as a host of other products like dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and trash compactors. Sears extended the Kenmore line to include even more exotic offerings including electric baby bottle sterilizers, electric blankets and even a three-piece barber set with hair clippers.