You can usually tell how old a person is or where they are from by the names they give certain items. For example, my midwestern family calls Coke, “pop”, where the East and West Coasters call it “Soda”. I continue to call my I-pod my walkman.. and say junior high as my kids roll their eyes at me and say “ugh , you mean middle school?” Same goes for JACUZZI. Someone called the shop the other day asking about our JACUZZI and our young employee had never heard the term. We had to explain that this term was something that was used back in the olden no cell phone days of the 70’s and 80’s, and it meant the same thing as hot tub or home spa. It got me to thinking. Who was this Jacuzzi and where are they today?
After doing some searching on the web, I came across a couple sites that had information on the Jacuzzi name. The Jacuzzi Family were Italian immigrants who settled in Berkeley California in the 1900’s. The large family had seven boys who all became machinists in different specialties. Some of these boys worked on a unique aircraft propeller while a few others invented a new type of water pump for irrigation. The boys also invented a monoplane which was used in the war and also has gained them fame at the legendary Smithsonian Museum for their work on this plane. They became quite successful for this particular aircraft, however when one of the brothers was killed in a an airplane crash, the family stopped making the propellers and went back to what they knew best, hydraulic aircraft pumps. These pumps were so exceptional that they were awarded a Gold Medal for them at the California State Fair in 1930.
Their expertise in pumps led Candido Jacuzzi to develop a submersible bathtub pump for his son who developed rheumatoid arthritis and suffered from constant pain. Candido realized that their agricultural water pumps could be adapted to give his son soothing whirlpool bath treatments in the tub at home. This son who was receiving these hydrotherapy treatments for his arthritis eventually took charge of the company.
In the mid 1950’s, the firm decided to market the pump to bath supply shops. The Jacuzzi was marketed to the tired housewives and stars like Jayne Mansfield offering testimonials of the bubbling tub and soon thereafter the Jacuzzi whirlpool bathtub started to acquire its status.
In the late 1960’s, Candido Jacuzzi fabricated a tub that incorporating jets into the sides. The Jacuzzi became a symbol of a luxurious lifestyle. The bulk of their business still came from water pumps and swimming pool equipment.
In the early 1970s, the company produced larger units with built-in heating and filtration systems. This was the beginning of the home spas industry as we know it today, and it firmly associated the JAZUZZI name with the tubs. The spas were easy to install and could be moved anywhere., and thus thousands of homeowners installed the units.
What a name these boys made for their family! Intelligent young men who worked hard for their American Dream.
In 2006 the JACUZZI brand was bought out by a private equity firm. They are headquartered in Chino Hills, CA.
