Globe had its beginnings in 1887 in Lynn, Massachusetts where the founder, J.D. Cleaver, set up shop as a harness maker. his brother-in-law, Courtland F.H. Freese, purchased the business, moving it to Pittsfield, New Hampshire in 1901. Business operations and manufacturing continue today from this same small New Hampshire town and the business is currently owned and managed by the fourth generation of the Freese family.

Courtland F.H. Freese determined that there were new opportunities making heavy-duty work clothing in a society undergoing fundamental change with people moving off the farm and the invention of the horseless carriage. he obtained a patent for a waterproof coat construction method that is still in use in the fire service today and started selling the world’s first "Firefighter's Suit".

Over the years, Globe has been responsible for introducing many of the materials, designs, and construction methods we now take for granted in firefighter suits. Globe was the first to use DuPont NOMEX® inherently flame resistant materials, first to use 3M SCOTCHLITE® reflective materials, and first to use expanded PTFE technology including GORE-TEX® and CROSSTECH® moisture barriers. Having participated in the creation of NFPA 1971, Globe was the first to make firesuits exclusively to this industry standard and subsequently the first firesuit manufacturer in North America to be ISO 9001 certified.

To handle increased demand and our expanding product offering, Globe recently opened a second manufacturing facility in Ada, Oklahoma. Today, with nearly 400 employees and over 100,000 square feet of manufacturing and distribution facilities, Globe is still the largest and most trusted manufacturer of structural firesuits in the world and manufactures premium performance personal protective equipment for first responders under the Globe Firefighter Suits, Cairns Protective Clothing, Globe Lifeline, Globe CB.Ready and Globe FootGear brands.

Though we make thousands of suits in our factories every week, our "lean Manufacturing" process allows us to customize one just for you. our network of Globe LifeLine Dealers and our Regional Sales Managers look forward to helping you specify the Globe LifeLine gear that meets your special requirements.

Thank you for your interest in Globe LifeLine!

The Freese Family.