LOVED BY GENERATIONS
The Stanley brand has a rich 100+ year history. Born from inventor William Stanley Jr. who forever changed the way hot drinks were consumed, in 1913 he fused vacuum insulation and the strength of steel in one portable bottle, inventing the all-steel vacuum bottle we know and love today.
By 1915 William Stanley began mass production of the Stanley bottle. He acquired an empty building, renovated and equipped it with machinery for production of insulated jugs, beverage servers, and desk top decanters.
In 1916, William Stanley died at the age of 57. After his death, a New York City investment company acquired the operation and hired a mechanical engineer, Harry Badger, as General Manager who continued to invent and develop new products which expanded the product line.
In 1921, Landers, Frary & Clark (L.F&C) of New Britain, Connecticut (a household appliance manufacturer) purchased Stanley Insulating Company and added the Stanley line to their appliance and hardware lines.
In 1933, the entire Stanley operation moved from Great Barrington, Massachusetts to L.F&C’s plant in New Britain, Connecticut. During this time, Harry Badger became Chief Product Research and Manufacturing Engineer and in the following years he continued to develop and add more products to the Stanley line.
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In 1949 Harry Badger retired and John Eza became Chief Product Research and manufacturing engineer. From 1949 – 1965 fifteen new products were added and Stanley was now used by airlines, railroads, ocean lines, hospitals and mass feeding institutions.
On March 30, 1961, there was a tender offer to acquire controlling stock of L F & C by J. B. Williams Company, a leading producer of pharmaceuticals. Within six weeks J. B. Williams had ownership of 80% of some 404,000 outstanding shares.
But a year later, in 1965, Aladdin acquired the Universal Stanley Division of the J. B. Williams Company, which made the Stanley thermos bottle in Nashville, Tennessee. All of Stanley’s operations were moved to Nashville and by 1966; the first Aladdin Stanley bottles were shipped.
In 1968 the insulated cup and threaded stopper were designed and manufactured to provide a reduction in manufacturing costs and operating equipment.
In 2002, Stanley was purchased by Seattle, WA based Pacific Market International (PMI). Stanley's manufacturing facilities were then moved to China.
In the century since, his vacuum bottle evolved from concept to icon and has become an essential part of workdays, road trips and outdoor adventures.
The Stanley brand has been part of countless adventures and even more shared memories. We have powered daily coffee breaks and just as many meals in our beloved food and beverage gear. With each passing year we continue to push ourselves to bring timeless, yet modern, solutions to today's outdoor adventure.
Types of Stanley Bottles
A Stanley Bottle is available in the following main styles:
- Stanley Classic Thermos Bottle – The original 1913-style bottle.
- Stanley Vacuum Bottle - The classic thermos from the Stanley Company, the bottle is available in various volumes, the 1.1-quart bottle being the most popular.
- Stanley Stainless Steel Water Bottle - This outdoor bottle is designed by the company to store water. It is marketed specifically to campers and mountaineers.
- Stanley Insulated Bottle - The insulated thermos is apt for storage of hot beverages like tea and coffee and is available in a range of volumes.
Buying Stanley Bottles
When buying a Stanley bottle, the following things need to be kept in mind:
- Material – The Company’s thermos bottles are available in stainless steel and plastic and each material has its set of advantages and drawbacks. While steel bottles are more durable, plastic ones are easier to handle and clean.
- Use – Different bottles of the company are apt for different uses. While some are designed for rough handling during mountain climbing and camping, others are softer and designed for everyday use as beverage storage units for homes and offices. There are different bottles for each use.