Tech Directions - February 2008 - (Page 11)

He opened a small factory in Wichita, KS, for repairing and modifying the lanterns. The lantern he introduced for sale in 1914 made his company famous. All earlier ones hung from the ceiling, which made them difficult for rural family members to transport from one room or building to another. Coleman fashioned a stronger and heavier base so his lanterns could safely sit on a table. The base contained the fuel, which was pressurized by a small built-in pump. Early lanterns required preheating, but Coleman developed an instant lighting method in 1916. He publicized his product by furnishing lighting for outdoor public events. His business grew rapidly and annual sales zoomed to 50,000 in 1920. Modern Coleman lanterns are most commonly used by people camping outdoors. To date, the company has manufactured over 45 million lanterns. Coleman married Fanny Sheldon in 1901, and they had two sons. A deeply religious man, Coleman pro- vided worker benefits to his 2,500 employees before they were common. He reduced the workday from 10 to 8 hours. He provided paid holidays and medical services, and he offered his employees substantial bonuses. Coleman served on countless boards, and was active with the Rotary, Red Cross, and other civic organizations. He served as a Wichita city commissioner for several years and as mayor in 1923 and 1924. He died in 1957 at the age of 87. References Jarman, Rufus. (1949, September 24). The company that should have gone broke. The Saturday Evening Post, p. 26. Kepos, Paula (Ed.). (1994). International directory of company histories. St. James Press. Walden, Ann, & Reid, Jim. (2006, August). The Coleman Company. Coleman Co. Coleman’s first portable lantern, made in 1914 Coleman’s 1916 lantern, which could be lit without having to preheat it. It strongly resembles the company’s modern lanterns. www.techdirections.com TECHNOLOGY’S PAST 11 http://www.testequipmentdepot.com http://www.testequipmentdepot.com http://www.techdirections.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Directions - February 2008

Tech Directions - February 2008 Technically Speaking Contents Direct from Washington The News Report Technology’s Past Technology Today Mastering Computers How Engineers Engineer—Lessons from My First Big Engineering Project Tips on Creating Complex Geometry Using Solid Modeling Software Press to Test—Shop-Built BJT Checker Is Easy Cable Television Technician International Technology Education Association Conference—Teaching TIDE with Pride Professional Development Opportunities Product Central Free for the Asking More than Fun

Tech Directions - February 2008

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