The Coleman Company, Inc. is an American manufacturer of outdoor recreation products, best known for its camping gear including lanterns, portable stoves, sleeping bags, chairs, and coolers. Founded in 1902 and currently headquartered in Chicago, the company employs approximately 4,000 people. Coleman is now a subsidiary of Newell Brands and has facilities in Wichita, Kansas, and in Texas.
History
The company was founded by William Coffin Coleman, who began selling gasoline pressure lamps in 1902 in Wichita. In 1905, the company provided a demonstration for the 1905 Cooper vs. Fairmount football game (now Sterling College and Wichita State University).
By the 1910s, Coleman lanterns were being distributed by the U.S. government to support agricultural production during World War I. In World War II, the company developed the Model 520, a compact, multi-fuel burner designed for military use.
Throughout the mid-20th century, Coleman expanded into various home and utility products. By the 1990s, the company refocused on its core outdoor recreation offers.[2]