In 1883 in Wisconsin, USA, John Michael Kohler took a product in his line, heated it to 1700°F and sprinkled it with enamel powder. Placing a picture of it in his catalogue, he called it "a horse trough/hog scalder... when furnished with four legs will serve as a bathtub." The innovative idea marked the company's initial introduction into the plumbing business; a first step in its journey to industry dominance.