American Tourister
American Tourister is a well known brand of suitcase.
Immigrant Sol Koffler founded American Luggage Works in Providence, Rhode Island in either 1932[1] or 1933[2] with his life savings. He was determined to produce luggage priced at $1 in the midst of the Great Depression.[2] The company's breakthrough came soon after when Koffler devised a new line that was significantly better than that of the competition; he named it American Tourister.[2]
In 1970, American Tourister launched a memorable ad campaign, highlighting the durability of its product by unleashing a "gorilla" (actually a man in a costume)[3] on it. The commercial ran for fifteen years.[3] It was also shown briefly in the 1995 movie, Apollo 13.[citation needed]
In 1993, American Tourister was acquired by Astrum International, which also made Samsonite luggage.[4] Astrum was renamed the Samsonite Corporation two years later.[5]
American Tourister has now become a lower-end version of its Samsonite sister brand.
[edit] References
- ^ Goodwin, George; Ellen Smith, Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association (2004). The Jews of Rhode Island. p. 268. ISBN 1-58465-424-4. http://books.google.com/books?id=J6VleZCF9gkC&dq=Sol+Koffler+%2B+American+Tourister&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0., p. 81
- ^ a b c "American Tourister, Inc. - Company History". fundinguniverse.com. http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/American-Tourister-Inc-Company-History.html. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
- ^ a b "Advertising Mascots - Animals - American Tourister Gorilla". TV Acres. http://www.tvacres.com/adanimals_amtourister.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
- ^ Stephanie Strom. "Wall Street; New Name, New Life, for Astrum. New York Times. September 26, 1993. Retrieved on November 2, 2008.
- ^ "Astrum International to Divide Its Samsonite and Culligan Units". New York Times. April 25, 1995. Retrieved on November 2, 2008.
[edit] External links
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