Coleco

Coleco, originally the Connecticut Leather Company, was an American toy and video game company founded in 1932. It started as a manufacturer of leather goods before pivoting to toys in the 1950s. Under the leadership of Leonard Greenberg, Coleco became a significant player in the toy industry, known for its innovative and popular products.

One of Coleco's most iconic creations was the ColecoVision, a home video game console released in 1982. The ColecoVision offered impressive graphics and sound for its time, competing directly with Atari and Mattel. It featured a strong library of arcade ports, including popular titles like Donkey Kong and Pac-Man, which contributed to its success. The console's robust design and high-quality joysticks were also well-regarded.

Beyond video games, Coleco achieved massive success with its Cabbage Patch Kids dolls in the early 1980s. These dolls, with their unique, customizable appearances, sparked a nationwide phenomenon, leading to production shortages and widespread demand. Other notable Coleco toys included the Donkey Kong tabletop game and the R2-D2 interactive robot.

Despite its successes, Coleco faced financial difficulties in the mid-1980s, partly due to a downturn in the video game market and an overestimation of demand for certain products. The company eventually filed for bankruptcy in 1988. While the original Coleco no longer exists, the brand name has seen revivals and licensing over the years.