Nearly 100 years ago, a young man with an entrepreneurial spirit and a good idea began manufacturing lanterns in Wichita, Kansas. His name was W.C. Coleman®. And the company he founded would change life in America. A fascinating saga, if we do say so ourselves. One filled with historical significance, amazing innovations and delightfully fun things to know.

If you have a few minutes, the story is here - or most of it anyway. Settle back and discover how Coleman® came to be a way of life in America. And why it still is.        A man with poor eyesight but remarkable vision   The Saturday Evening Post said, "Except for Thomas A. Edison, Mr. Coleman® may be responsible for the creation of more bright light than any other man." Here's the scoop.       The sunshine of the night   Life on the farm - for anyone who worked outside - would never be the same.     Coleman® hits the road   With the advent of the automobile, America gets travel fever. And Coleman® goes along for the ride.     A little industrial complex on the prairie   By the 1930s, Coleman® had the largest number of working lathes west of the Mississippi. And they were humming.     The heat of battle   Deemed one of the most important noncombat pieces of equipment to come out of WWII, here's the story of a real hero: the Coleman® GI Pocket Stove.     Tapping into America's outside interests   Blowing soap bubbles inspired Coleman® engineers to develop an American family staple: the plastic cooler.     Climbing mountains and fording streams   By the time the '80s drew to a close, the little lantern company was turning out 15 million products a year for in-love-with-the-outdoors Americans.     Never a dull moment on our drawing board   What's new, now and later.

 
 

© 2001 The Coleman® Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy         This site is best viewed at 800*600      This site uses Macromedia Flash 4 Technology