Coleman Company
1909
1909
W.C. Coleman built a factory at 220 N. St. Francis. It served as the company headquarters for most of the twentieth century.
In 1889, Coleman found the lamp that would change his life. The "Efficient Lamp" had mantles, not wicks, and was fueled by gasoline instead of coal oil. Coleman found great initial success with his "No light, no pay" policy. His service eventually expanded as far west as San Diego and Las Vegas.
The first Quick-Lite lanterns were produced in 1916. Billed as the "Sunshine of the Night," the "Q" models became known as the great farm lantern.
Coleman Facts
• Admiral Byrd carried a Coleman lantern on his expedition to the South Pole.
• One of the first night football games in the United States was illuminated by Coleman lanterns suspended from poles along the sidelines.
• During Prohibition, moonshiners liked using the Coleman stoves because there was no telltale smoke to tip off authorities.
• On one occasion, ranchers in western Colorado thought they'd discovered a new star. The light they saw came from a Coleman lantern on top of a fire lookout tower 40 miles away.
• During World War II, "Coleman" in response to the password "lantern" identified an American GI.
Marker is on Mosley near 1st Street, on the left when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
