| The Coleman Company, Inc. | |
| Type: | Subsidiary |
| Location City: | Chicago, Illinois |
| Location Country: | U.S. |
| Key People: | Jim Pisani (CEO) |
| Industry: | Outdoor recreation |
| Products: | Camping equipment |
| Num Employees: | 4,000 (est.)[1] |
| Parent: | Newell Brands |
| Subsid: | Esky |
The Coleman Company, Inc. is an American brand of outdoor recreation products, especially camping gear, now owned by Newell Brands. The company's new headquarters are in Chicago, and it has facilities in Wichita, Kansas, and in Texas. There are approximately 4,000 employees. Some of the products manufactured are portable stoves, lanterns, coolers, sleeping bags, camp chairs, and shelters.
The company was founded by William Coffin Coleman, who began selling gasoline pressure lamps in 1901 in Wichita. In 1905, the company provided a demonstration for the 1905 Cooper vs. Fairmount football game (now Sterling College and Wichita State University). Coleman gas lamps were provided to play the first night football game west of the Mississippi River.[2] In 1996, the company acquired the French Campingaz. Through a series of acquisitions via Sunbeam Products and Jarden, Coleman is now a subsidiary of Newell Brands.
Throughout its history, Coleman has produced a wide variety of equipment primarily aimed at the camping and recreational markets. A prominent product is the Coleman Lantern, a series of pressure lamps that were originally made to burn gasoline. Current models use Coleman fuel (white gas) or propane and use one or two gas mantles to produce an intense white light.
In the past, the company also produced a range of cooking stoves and domestic irons. Today, Coleman manufactures camp stoves (Coleman produced the original "G.I. Pocket Stove"), sleeping bags, coolers, hot tubs, generators, watches, sandals, tents, dog toys, and backpacks, among other things. They also make a line of small boats, including canoes, pontoon boats, and johnboats. In the past they sold pop-up travel trailers, Skiroule snowmobiles and the Hobie Cat brand of sailboats. The company produces backyard barbecue grills, sold at Canadian Tire.[3]
A separate company, Coleman Heating and Air Conditioning, sells home heating and air conditioning units. Coleman Heating and Air Conditioning is owned by Johnson Controls, and uses the Coleman name and logo under license.[4]
Coleman also produces ATVs and minibikes under the Coleman Powersports[5] brand.