Eddie Bauer timeline

1899: Eddie Bauer is born on Orcas Island.

1920: Bauer opens Eddie Bauer's Tennis Shop, a racket-stringing business inside a sporting-goods store in downtown Seattle.

1934: Company secures U.S. and Canadian patents on the Bauer Shuttlecock, which remains the standard for the sport today.

1936: Eddie Bauer manufactures innovative goose down insulated jacket, the Skyliner.

1942: U.S. Army Air Corps commissions the Eddie Bauer B-9 Flight Parka. More than 50,000 jackets were made and worn for warmth during altitude flights.

1945: Eddie Bauer issues first mail-order catalog.

1963: Eddie Bauer outfits Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest.

1968: Founder Eddie Bauer retires, selling business to trusted friend and partner William Niemi and his son.

1970s: Company's focus shifts from expedition gear and apparel to casual lifestyle apparel.

1971: Food conglomerate General Mills buys company for more than 300 million shares.

1983: Eddie Bauer begins partnership with Ford to produce Eddie Bauer Edition Ford vehicles.

1988: Spiegel purchases Eddie Bauer from General Mills $260 million in cash.

1993: Eddie Bauer expands internationally. 1996: Eddie Bauer launches www.eddiebauer.com.

2003: Spiegel files for Chapter 11 reorganization.

2005: Eddie Bauer Holdings spins out of Spiegel reorganization, becoming a stand-alone company for the first time in 34 years.

Dec. 22, 2006: Discloses offer from holding company to pay $286 million in cash, or $9.25 a share, and assume $328 million in debt to take over Eddie Bauer.

Feb. 8, 2007: Shareholders reject buyout offer; Chief Executive Fabian Månsson resigns next day.

July 9, 2007: Retail veteran Neil Fiske becomes CEO.

Jan. 29, 2009: Eddie Bauer announces elimination of 193 jobs, including 71 at its downtown Bellevue headquarters.

March 18: Eddie Bauer says it lost $165.5 million in 2008 after losing $101.7 million in 2007; announces attempts to restructure loans.

May 14: Eddie Bauer reports losing $44.5 million in the first three months of the year.

June 17: Files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection; says it has buy offer from Rainier for $202 million in cash, plus assumption of certain liabilities.

Source: Eddie Bauer and Seattle Times staff