# What are some companies that are known for two or more disparate products? (Better explained in OP) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 16, 2026, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927 "2026-06-16T01:13:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/1 "2026-06-16T01:13:30Z")
Michelin is known for tires and … promotion of fine dining. (Yes I know their promotion of fine dining was to inspire travel and thus, the sale of more Michelin tires.) Yamaha is known for motorcycles and watercraft and such … and fine pianos. What are some others? (Let’s exclude holding companies and such.) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/2 "2026-06-16T01:14:55Z")
Bic is known for disposable razors and ballpoint pens. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/3 "2026-06-16T01:18:18Z")
Lamborghini is known for seven-figure cars and … tractors. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/4 "2026-06-16T02:13:33Z")
Just placed an order today at work with CoorsTek for some alumina tooling parts. They of course also make beer under Coors. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/5 "2026-06-16T02:19:12Z")
When I worked for Quaker Oats, in the 1990s, the company made (or had made in the not-too-distant past, before divesting them): - Breakfast cereals (of course) - Rice-a-Roni - Van Camp’s Pork & Beans - Gatorade and Snapple - Marx Toys and Fisher-Price Toys - Jos. A. Bank men’s clothes ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/6 "2026-06-16T02:25:07Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Michelin is known for tires and … promotion of fine dining. (Yes I know their promotion of fine dining was to inspire travel and thus, the sale of more Michelin tires.) Maybe it’s a tire thing. Bridgestone not only make tires they also manufacture a wide range of golf balls. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/7 "2026-06-16T02:25:16Z")
For a long time, [Ball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_Corporation) made mason jars. It was also an aerospace company during some of that time. It spun off the mason jar business 30 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/8 "2026-06-16T02:30:08Z")
Liebherr makes cranes, diesel engines, machine tools, and…refrigerators and freezers. (Of course there are other mega-corporations like General Electric that make both heavy machinery and domestic appliances. But refrigerators and freezers are the **only** domestic appliances Liebherr makes.) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/9 "2026-06-16T03:01:43Z")
Samsung is probably best known for their electronics. But they are also a major ship building company. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/10 "2026-06-16T03:01:56Z")
I’m not sure if this is still true, but Mitsubishi used to make cars, electronics, and pencils. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/11 "2026-06-16T03:03:41Z")
General Mills (the cereal company) created the restaurants Olive Garden and Red Lobster. Oh, and they briefly dabbled in [submersibles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSV_Alvin?wprov=sfla1) and [spy balloons.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Genetrix?wprov=sfla1) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/12 "2026-06-16T03:05:05Z")
Sony is another company that started out in electronics but now they’re probably better known as a media company that produces movies, music, and video games. In their case though, I think they mostly bought existing companies in these areas rather than building them up in house. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/13 "2026-06-16T03:24:09Z")
And aircraft (including military aircraft). And spacelift vehicles and spacecraft systems. And ships (including warships). And armored combat vehicles. And energy generation equipment (both fossil fuel and renewable). And banking (the largest bank in Japan and the third largest in the world). ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/14 "2026-06-16T03:30:39Z")
That seems awfully monopoly-like ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/15 "2026-06-16T03:37:01Z")
Singer is known for their sewing machines and their WWII M1911A1 pistol, > Most famous for sewing machines, Singer was involved with precision manufacturing for the U.S. military, including bombsight and gyroscope production, when they were issued an Educational Order for a 500-piece run of 1911A1 pistols. The results were quite impressive, especially for a first outing, showing a quality of fit and finish comparable to Colt’s pre-war commercial Government Model. While Singer’s output passed muster and was accepted for issue by the Army, chiefly for issue to the Air Corps, increases in output from other 1911A1 contractors made it unnecessary to split Singer’s attention. This makes the Singer 1911A1 both the shortest contract run of U.S. 1911A1 pistols, as well as the only handguns made by Singer Manufacturing. > > This low production number in combination with the high attrition rate of aircrews results in very few surviving examples of this exceptionally well-made pistol. One recently sold for over $400,000. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/16 "2026-06-16T03:52:04Z")
Technically Mitsubishi Corporation is a trading company or Sogo Shosha. Dozens of Japanese manufacturing companies in very widely varying industries use Mitsubishi as their sales/marketing/distribution arm. (Others of this ilk include Marubeni, Itochu, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Toyota Tsusho etc). The manufacturers usually produce exclusively under the trading house’s brand and so the distinction between Mitsubishi owning the manufacturer or being the manufacturers agent is blurred. The view from outside the corporate structure is that Mitsubishi is the controlling entity. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/17 "2026-06-16T03:53:53Z")
Saab - warplanes and cars. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/18 "2026-06-16T03:53:55Z")
Mitsubishi was one of the largest pre-war Japanese zaibatsu (fully vertically integrated corporations) that had a great deal of power before World War 2. Technically, it’s now broken up into several distinct corporations, but they’re still pretty tight. American standards of “anti-trust” and “monopoly-breaking” aren’t very strong there, as it was all imposed by the US during the Occupation, never really a native idiom. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/19 "2026-06-16T04:29:09Z")
Grumman made lunar modules and canoes ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927/20 "2026-06-16T04:43:52Z")
From the 1930s until 2005, General Motors made diesel-electric railroad locomotives as well as automobiles and trucks. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-companies-that-are-known-for-two-or-more-disparate-products-better-explained-in-op/1030927.md?page=2)