# What is the oldest still extant company? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 16, 2002, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002 "2002-11-16T07:17:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/21 "2002-11-17T22:32:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lobsang \* > \*\*By no means the oldest or anywhere near, but surprisingly old considering it’s a well known computer game and console company is Nintendo. It’s over 100 years old. And it’s trademark character Mario is just as old. \*\* Cite? Not that I don’t believe you, I’d just like to know more about this. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/22 "2002-11-17T23:07:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*Don’t know if this is the one you were thinking of, **Bosda** , but according _ **Ancient Inventions** _ by Peter James and Nick Thorpe, the longest-running restaurant in the world is Ma Yu Ching’s Bucket Chicken House in Kaifeng, which first opened its doors in 1153. \*\* Bingo! ---
**Author:** ![substatique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@substatique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/substatique)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/23 "2002-11-17T23:37:32Z")
What about the Roman Catholic church? If you date it from the first Pope, who was the apostle Peter, it’s very close to 2000 years old. Even if you take it from Constatine, that’s still the fourth century. For that matter, what is the definition of a “company”? _An association of persons for the purpose of carrying on some enterprise or business…_ Is Catholicism the only religion that was organized like a firm from the outset? I know this is not really a serious answer to the question, but it brings up the issue of what is a company. ---
**Author:** ![typhoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@typhoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typhoon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/24 "2002-11-18T00:00:55Z")
Regarding Nintendo: [http://www.nintendo.com/corp/history.html](http://www.nintendo.com/corp/history.html) As for Mario, I don’t think he’s a day older than 21, since his first appearance was in the Donkey Kong arcade game in 1981 according to that site. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/25 "2002-11-18T12:38:25Z")
**typhoon** I was told he first appeared as a mascot on cards of some kind (trading cards or playing cards, I don’t know) **Cisco** I was told via word of mouth so I am as much in the dark as you. I will follow typhoon’s link and then have a look around myself. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/26 "2002-11-18T12:53:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Doctordec \* > \*\*The bottle of Lowenbrau in my hand at this moment reads “Since 1383”. \*\* The oldest brewery in Germany (and according to their website, the oldest in the world) is actually ‘Weihenstephan’, which was founded in 1040. Check out their really cool website (available in English also) [here](http://www.brauerei-weihenstephan.de/). ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/27 "2002-11-18T13:03:34Z")
**Lobsang** , according to [this site in Japanese](http://www.chara-navi.net/500/571.htm), Mario was designed in 1983 by Shigeru Miyamoto. This [bio of Miyamoto](http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman/bio/) (in English) states: > [@](#): > > Donkey marked the birth of Mario (who at the time didn’t have a name,) and became the launching pad for Nintendo’s radical success in the videogames. [This other Japanese page](http://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/9908/syutuen/index.html), from Nintendo, which lists every game appearance by Mario confirms the 1983 date, for Donkey Kong and Mario’s birth. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/28 "2002-11-18T21:09:50Z")
Actually, Mario and Donkey Kong both date to 1981. From the ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/29 "2002-11-18T21:14:10Z")
Oops - hit the wrong button As I was saying: From the [Nintendo](http://www.nintendo.com/corp/history.html) web site: > [@](#): > > 1981 - Developed and began distribution of the coin-operated video game “Donkey Kong.” This video game quickly became the hottest selling individual coin-operated machine in the business. and > [@](#): > > 2001 - Beloved Nintendo characters Mario and Donkey Kong celebrate their 20th anniversaries. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/30 "2002-11-19T03:19:37Z")
Lest we newbie Americans be left out, I offer you the finely wrought [Yuengling](http://www.yuengling.com/) family of fine brewed products. Oldest brewery in the United States of America. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/31 "2002-11-19T04:18:16Z")
Wow! I was aware of the Hudson’s Bay Company (of course) and the Japanese company, but had no idea about the others… ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2002, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/32 "2002-12-01T15:08:31Z")
What about prostitution? 😃 Oh, wait, you mean legitimate business…Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2002, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/33 "2002-12-01T15:19:52Z")
[Ye olde Trip to Jerusalem](http://www.showcaves.com/english/gb/misc/Nottingham.html) claims to be the oldest pub in Britain (?world) - it opened in 1189. ---
**Author:** ![Donovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@Donovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donovan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2002, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/34 "2002-12-01T17:31:47Z")
Just to continue the Mario hijack - from [http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hov/p4\_02.html](http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hov/p4_02.html) 1981 Donkey Kong. Nintendo Does It Right Given an opportunity to convert a large number of unsuccessful Nintendo video arcade games into something that will earn money, Nintendo artist Shigeru Miyamoto creates Donkey Kong. The hero, originally called Jumpman, is a squat carpenter racing to save his girlfriend Pauline from a crazed monkey. Jumpman is later named Mario by Nintendo of America’s staff, in honor of his resemblance to their landlord Mario Segali. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2002, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/35 "2002-12-01T23:06:40Z")
Let me drag the Nintendo hijack a little farther– Since one of my first toy computers was manufactured by a company that started life as the [Connecticut Leather Company](http://www.digitalcentury.com/encyclo/update/coleco.html), I’m hoping someone can confirm or dispel my suspicion that there is some historical connection between the [Tandy Leather Company](http://www.tandyleather.com/) and the Tandy that gave the world the joy that was the TRS-80. Are there any other companies that started life as leather-workers and then shifted the “brand” to electronics? What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2002, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/36 "2002-12-01T23:47:18Z")
Indeed there is, Mudd! Try the [Radio Shack Website’s corporate history page](http://www.radioshackcorporation.com/about/history.shtml): > [@](#): > > The story of RadioShack begins in 1919 in Fort Worth, Texas, with a chance meeting of two friends, Norton Hinckley and Dave L. Tandy (1889-1966). During their visit, these ambitious young fellows decided to pool their resources and go into business together. Their venture, which the two gentlemen named the Hinckley-Tandy Leather Company, sold leather shoe parts (soles, heels and shoelaces) to shoe repair shops in the Fort Worth area. > [@](#): > > Charles Tandy, who had become intrigued with consumer electronics, saw the small RadioShack chain as an excellent opportunity for rapid growth. He bought the essentially bankrupt company in 1963 for the equivalent of $300,000 cash, and embarked on a plan… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/37 "2002-12-01T23:53:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*Lloyds began as a coffee house in 1687; the patrons frequently dealt with financial matters over their drinks and so it all started… \*\* Just to amplify: [Historical overview of Lloyd’s](http://www.lloyds.com/index.asp?ItemId=2622). The first known mention of Edward Lloyd’s coffeehouse by the Thames dates to February 1688 in the _London Gazette_, but no one knows exactly when it was established. > [@](#): > > Lloyd himself was not involved in insurance. He provided premises, reliable shipping news and a variety of services to enable his clientele of ships’ captains, merchants and ship owners to carry on their business of insuring ships and their cargoes. The wealthy individuals in the coffee house each took a share of a risk, signing their names one beneath the other on the policy, along with the amount they agreed to cover. For this reason they were known as “underwriters”. And thus was modern insurance born… ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/38 "2002-12-02T00:37:25Z")
Thanks, **Nametag**! ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/39 "2002-12-02T02:08:22Z")
A lot of this depends on exaclty what you mean by “a company”. Something with Stockholders? A place of buisness with a continuos real-world location (ie, the same factory for 100 years). Or somthing else? You could end up finding some family in Iran that have been sheep herders for the past 5000 years, each father would pass that same flock to his son. Although informal, how is it less of a buisness? ---
**Author:** ![Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-still-extant-company/137002/40 "2002-12-02T02:44:16Z")
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