THE WENZEL STORY: FROM CHUCK WAGONS TO STATION WAGONS
On an October night in 1866, a sixteen-year-old boy from Germany gathered his belongings, what little money he had, and boarded a Dutch sailing vessel bound for New York. After two long months, the ship was blown off course and arrived in Boston on Christmas Day. With only 50 cents in his pocket, Hermann Wenzel arrived in America.
During his voyage, Wenzel became fascinated with the big canvas sails which powered the boat and was asked by the crew to help repair the sails. Before long, Wenzel landed a job in Springfield, Massachusetts, working with a sailmaker and became interested in canvas awnings. He eventually moved to St. Louis, Missouri and started his awning business in 1887: H. Wenzel Tent & Duck Company.
The company struggled to make a profit in its early years, but with the help of his family, they pivoted from awnings and began manufacturing tents and tarpaulins. The agriculture boom at the beginning of the 20th century sparked large demand for their products as well as wagon covers. A sailmaker by trade, Wenzel knew heavy fabrics and experimented with sewing these fabrics to improve durability and performance without compromising quality for product. Since then, advances in materials and technology have made tents lighter and easier to assemble, but his vision and standard of quality remains to this day.
GENUINE WENZEL: CAMPING FOR EVERYONE
Whether you’re new to camping or a seasoned outdoor vet, we are here to support your adventures. Founded on the belief to never compromise product quality for profit, we still abide by this integrity today, and offer high quality camping equipment at affordable prices. The heritage that drove the Wenzel Company in the 1800s can still be seen in our current products with our line expanding into sleeping bags and furniture. Well into our third century, Wenzel’s primary focus remains: to improve the outdoor experience. We’ve been around for generations and will continue to support families for generations to come.
LET’S GO CAMPING!
WENZEL TODAY: OUR HOME AND OUR CULTURE
Today, Wenzel is a part of a large family of outdoor brands owned and operated by Exxel Outdoors. Located on the foothills of the Colorado Rockies in Boulder, our backyard is literally an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. With access to hundreds of trails, numerous lakes and streams, and powdery snow-capped mountains, we are experts at crafting camping gear because it’s a foundation of who we are. It’s safe to say we take camping season seriously around here!
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