COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 5091

Sporting and Recreational Goods & Supplies

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

10companies1887–1979founding years10still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedRawlings Sporting Goods Co., Inc.
1887
FoundedShakespeare Company
1897
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedBrunswick Corporation
1907
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedIrwin Toy Limited
1926
FoundedRiddell Sports Inc.
1927
FoundedEllett Brothers, Inc.
1933
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedKesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)
1940
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1955
EconomyDisneyland opens and invents the modern theme park.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedK2 Inc.
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedCobra Golf Inc.
1978
FoundedGT Bicycles
1979
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
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

Rawlings Sporting Goods Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1887
Rawlings Sporting Goods Co., Inc.
Shakespeare Company →
Active · founded 1897
An integral subsidiary of K2 Inc., Shakespeare Company manufactures fishing tackle equipment, marine antennas,…
Brunswick Corporation →
Active · founded 1907
Brunswick Corporation, the oldest and largest manufacturer of recreation and leisure-time products in the United…
Irwin Toy Limited →
Active · founded 1926 · Canada
Based in Toronto, Irwin Toy Limited is a leading Canadian developer, manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of toys.
Riddell Sports Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
Riddell Sports Inc.
Ellett Brothers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1933
A leading national distributor of outdoor sporting goods, Ellett Brothers, Inc.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
K2 Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
A thriving recreational and industrial products company, K2 Inc.
Cobra Golf Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Cobra Golf Inc.
GT Bicycles →
Active · founded 1979
GT Bicycles is the nation's leading supplier of dirt-track racing, or bicycle motocross "BMX," bicycles and one of the…
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