Mel Boldt & Associates.

Industrial designer Mel Boldt was born in Chicago and attended the Armour Institute (now Illinois Institute of Technology). He left after two years to go to work at Bendix Home Appliances, Inc. in Indiana. During World War II he designed for military needs and then after the war worked as product stylist for major household appliances, including the Bendix post-war washing machine. Returning to Chicago in 1947, he opened his own firm, Mel Boldt and Associates, with Zenith as a key client. For Zenith, the firm designed radios, remote controls, clocks and video recorders. For Amana/Raytheon, he designed microwaves and refrigerators. For National Presto Industries, he designed countless blenders, toasters, irons and specialty products such as egg cookers, butter melters, and a cordless rechargeable toothbrush. His staff generally included about 15 designers. The Boldt firm was one of the most successful design firms in the Midwest from the 1950s into the 1970s.