# What Companies Have Been Successful In One Line, Totally Changed Products And Succeeded? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2012, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806 "2012-01-08T06:48:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/41 "2012-01-08T22:37:37Z")
The Wright Bicycle Company switched in 1903 to making airplanes. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/42 "2012-01-08T22:42:28Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Oh, one other thought: Bally Mfg. used to make pinball machines-they shifted entirely to making exercise equipment. With forays into home video games and casinos along the way. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/43 "2012-01-09T00:30:38Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Kodak is stuck with tens of millions of square feet of manufacturing facilities that are worthless. Worse than worthless, because they cost money to maintain and tear down and remediate. In fairness, they sold off 4 million square feet at the Elmgrove plant, and they’ve leased out a sizable chunk of their unused buildings at Kodak Park. And I’m not sure if they still own the Hawkeye complex or sold it as part of the ITT deal. Kodak doesn’t have a lot of real estate left. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/44 "2012-01-09T01:23:21Z")
Despite its name and reputation as a manufacturer, GE is as much financial services company than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/45 "2012-01-09T01:35:38Z")
3M started as a stone mining company, and now mostly makes adhesives and adhesive based products. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/46 "2012-01-09T01:48:21Z")
Stroh’s Beer became an Ice Cream company. Not sure if they have the same owners or are the same company anymore, but in Michigan, you can get both the ice cream and the beer. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/47 "2012-01-09T01:53:07Z")
I’m curious how many of these aren’t continuing concerns, but just old nameplates bought out for whatever goodwill might remain in them. [Packard Bell](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packard_Bell_(1926)) comes to mind. Starting in the '20s as a maker of radios - sold strictly west of the Rockies - they eventually were bought out of existence and the name purchased for a maker of PC-clone computers - by an Israeli venture team! ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/48 "2012-01-09T01:59:38Z")
Another manufacturer, [Brunswick Corp.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunswick_Corporation), started out making pool tables and billiard equipment, branched out after 1920 into phonographs and radios, then went _back_ into the sporting business - eventually limiting their focus to bowling, boating, and fitness. I’d say they’re not doing too badly, having been a going concern since 1845! ---
**Author:** ![Bartman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bartman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bartman)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/49 "2012-01-09T02:45:13Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > In fairness, they sold off 4 million square feet at the Elmgrove plant, and they’ve leased out a sizable chunk of their unused buildings at Kodak Park. And I’m not sure if they still own the Hawkeye complex or sold it as part of the ITT deal. Kodak doesn’t have a lot of real estate left. Same deal with their facility here in Colorado. They sold off 1,400 acres in 2005 and just this week they sold another 300+ acres with 500,000 of building floorspace, 2 miles of rail lines, and possibly most importantly the associated water rights for the property. I think that largely clears out the property. Not much if any value left there. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/50 "2012-01-09T03:07:47Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > In fairness, they sold off 4 million square feet at the Elmgrove plant, and they’ve leased out a sizable chunk of their unused buildings at Kodak Park. And I’m not sure if they still own the Hawkeye complex or sold it as part of the ITT deal. Kodak doesn’t have a lot of real estate left. Kodak Park is freaking enormous. Elmgrove was a blip by comparison. I don’t believe they’ve leased out 10% of the Park. Maybe not 1%. There’s 3 million sq. ft. for lease right now. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/51 "2012-01-09T04:04:33Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > I don’t think Mitsubishi pencil is closely related to the machinery side. Mitsubishi pencil also sells as Uni-Ball, and their Signo DX 0.38 mm is my favourite pen. Mitsubishi is a huge conglomerate, but Mitsubishi Pencil is not part of it, and never has been. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/52 "2012-01-09T04:12:51Z")
A recent [Planet Money podcast](http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/01/06/144806987/the-friday-podcast-who-killed-lard) explained how Proctor & Gamble originally made candles and soap. With the advent of electric lighting, the candle business was drying up, and they were also stuck with a supply chain of cottonseed oil. So they found another use for it: hydrogenated vegetable oil, which they sold as Crisco. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/53 "2012-01-09T05:00:40Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > Kodak is trying to go from selling film and cameras – which were the core of their business 10 years ago – to selling inkjet printers. It’s a completely unrelated consumer product. I’m curious why you think this is so different. They are already printing to make film. Different inks and different print heads, but the same rules apply. They already have expertise in color. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/54 "2012-01-09T06:15:41Z")
MTV started out showing music. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/55 "2012-01-09T08:40:59Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Similarly **B.F. Goodrich** used to make rubber and tires (they advetised that they were the guys _without_ the blimp). Now they’re a major military contractor, too. > > [Goodrich Corporation - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodrich_Corporation) > Sometimes the other business is spun off as its own business. So Adolph Coors, the beer company in Colorado, got into the alumina crucible business and eventually spun it off as a separate company, because they still make beer. > > [Coors Brewing Company - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coors_Brewing_Company) > > [http://www.coorstek.com/](http://www.coorstek.com/) as i noted, firestone makes missiles under various defense contracts. what’s the connection between making tires and war…? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/56 "2012-01-09T08:45:28Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > I’m curious why you think this is so different. They are already printing to make film. Different inks and different print heads, but the same rules apply. They already have expertise in color. this is like saying a painter should be good at graphic design. related, not the same. having developed my own film AND working on printers, i assure you they are not in the same ballpark any more than mining for gold is akin to running currency mint. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/57 "2012-01-09T10:30:39Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > MTV started out showing music. With the return of Beavis and Butthead, they still do. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/58 "2012-01-09T11:07:51Z")
> [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > this is like saying a painter should be good at graphic design. related, not the same. > > having developed my own film AND working on printers, i assure you they are not in the same ballpark any more than mining for gold is akin to running currency mint. Kodak didn’t develop film though, they made it. They made the ink that went onto the film. They printed the ink onto the film. Granted, they probably didn’t use ink jet printers, but that just requires changing viscosity and surface tension, and presumably they had chemists on hand experienced in developing ink, since that what hey did. ---
**Author:** ![BeaMyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@BeaMyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeaMyra)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/59 "2012-01-09T11:29:09Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > MTV started out showing music. OK you win the prize for best answer 😃 But seriously thanks for the replies, this is really interesting, I didn’t know 90% of them. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806/60 "2012-01-09T12:00:58Z")
> [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > this is like saying a painter should be good at graphic design. related, not the same. > > having developed my own film AND working on printers, i assure you they are not in the same ballpark any more than mining for gold is akin to running currency mint. They are entirely within the same ballpark. They are both used to produce images. Given that Kodak’s customer base is (presumably) made up mostly of photographers, it makes sense for them to produce a line of printers that photographers can use to print photos now that many have switched to digital cameras for various reason. They are trying to capitalize on the brand-recognition from that market. I mean, just look at Canon. Another camera company that produces scanners, copiers, printers, etc., yet nobody looks askance at them for selling printers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-have-been-successful-in-one-line-totally-changed-products-and-succeeded/608806.md?page=4)