COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 33992

Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

28companies1882–1992founding years28still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedBrass Eagle Inc.FoundedBrass Eagle Inc.
1882
FoundedAMF Bowling, Inc.FoundedThe Coleman Company, Inc.
1900
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedHuffy CorporationFoundedHuffy Corporation
1928
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedShimano Inc.
1940
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
Foundedadidas-Salomon AG
1949
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedRapala-Normark Group, Ltd.
1960
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedIcon Health & Fitness, Inc.FoundedIcon Health & Fitness, Inc.
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedCallaway Golf CompanyFoundedRollerblade, Inc.
1982
FoundedMacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc.FoundedMacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedJohnson Worldwide Associates, Inc.
1985
FoundedAdams Golf, Inc.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedTearDrop Golf Company
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Brass Eagle Inc. →
Active · founded 1882
Brass Eagle Inc.
Brass Eagle Inc. →
Active · founded 1882
Brass Eagle Inc.
AMF Bowling, Inc. →
Active · founded 1900
1960s:Company acquires various sporting and leisure goods companies, including Harley-Davidson.
AMF Bowling, Inc. →
Active · founded 1900
1960s:Company acquires various sporting and leisure goods companies, including Harley-Davidson.
The Coleman Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1900
The Coleman Company, Inc.
The Coleman Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1900
The Coleman Company, Inc.
Huffy Corporation →
Active · founded 1928
The largest manufacturer of bicycles in the world, Huffy Corporation is the parent company of four wholly owned…
Huffy Corporation →
Active · founded 1928
The largest manufacturer of bicycles in the world, Huffy Corporation is the parent company of four wholly owned…
Shimano Inc. →
Active · founded 1940 · Japan
Shimano Inc.
Shimano Inc. →
Active · founded 1940 · Japan
Shimano Inc.
adidas-Salomon AG →
Active · founded 1949 · Germany
German-based adidas-Salomon AG is the second largest manufacturer of sporting goods in the world.
adidas-Salomon AG →
Active · founded 1949 · Germany
German-based adidas-Salomon AG is the second largest manufacturer of sporting goods in the world.
Rapala-Normark Group, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1960
Rapala-Normark Group, Ltd., through its subsidiary Normark Corporation, markets high quality fishing, hunting, and…
Rapala-Normark Group, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1960
Rapala-Normark Group, Ltd., through its subsidiary Normark Corporation, markets high quality fishing, hunting, and…
Icon Health & Fitness, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Icon Health & Fitness, Inc.
Icon Health & Fitness, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Icon Health & Fitness, Inc.
Callaway Golf Company →
Active · founded 1982
Callaway Golf Company is the premier manufacturer of golf clubs in the United States.
Callaway Golf Company →
Active · founded 1982
Callaway Golf Company is the premier manufacturer of golf clubs in the United States.
Rollerblade, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
Rollerblade, Inc., originator of the sport of inline skating, is a leading manufacturer in the ever-evolving inline…
Rollerblade, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
Rollerblade, Inc., originator of the sport of inline skating, is a leading manufacturer in the ever-evolving inline…
MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc.
MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc.
Johnson Worldwide Associates, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Johnson Worldwide Associates, Inc.
Johnson Worldwide Associates, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Johnson Worldwide Associates, Inc.
Adams Golf, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Adams Golf, Inc.
Adams Golf, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Adams Golf, Inc.
TearDrop Golf Company →
Active · founded 1992
TearDrop Golf Company designs and manufactures a variety of golf clubs and equipment, including putters, irons, woods,…
TearDrop Golf Company →
Active · founded 1992
TearDrop Golf Company designs and manufactures a variety of golf clubs and equipment, including putters, irons, woods,…
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