At Colson, they strive to protect and strengthen our legacy of trust and innovation in everything they do. Colson offers over 200,000 different standard caster models, plus the expertise and technology to provide a custom solution for any caster application.

Colson can trace its history back to 1885 when it was founded as Fay Manufacturing in Elyria, Ohio, by Winslow L. Fay (commonly known as W.L. Fay). Original products were the Fay Sulky Scraper and the Fairy Tricycle. In 1891, the company was sold to Arthur L. Garford and renamed Garford Manufacturing Company with George Worthington as president. By 1903, the company was owned by Worthington and renamed to The Worthington Company with Fred Colson as principal owner. The Worthington Company manufactured tricycles, invalid chairs, wheel chairs, carts, and casters made with rubber tread. In 1917, Fred Colson purchased the company and changed the name to The Colson Company. He expanded the caster line, and to the product line was added hospital wheeled equipment & industrial material handling equipment.

In 1953, Chicago-based lawyer and businessman Jay Pritzker & his 26-year old brother Robert, an engineer, bought Colson, and eventually moved the manufacturing and management offices to Jonesboro, Arkansas. In 1964, Colson combined with The Marmon-Herrington Company, successor to the Marmon Motor Car Company, to form the Marmon Group. The Marmon Group of companies is an international association of autonomous manufacturing and service companies with collective sales of over $6 billion.

The next few decades marked worldwide growth of manufacturing facilities, market share and capabilities for Colson Caster Corporation. Finally in 2002, Robert Pritzker purchased a majority interest in all of the worldwide caster companies that were member companies of The Marmon Group. He named the new company Colson Associates, Inc. Mr. Pritzker passed away in 2011; in 2012, the Colson Group – Colson Associates’ caster and hardware companies – was purchased by Sentinel Capital Partners.

As a successful company of history, it is fitting for us to always look to the future. Colson brings a vision steeped in a thriving legacy to our customers, clients, and partners. It is an unparalleled legacy of product, service, and corporate responsibility. It is the legacy of a manufacturing company and its people.

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