One of the buildings in the Carillon Historical Park in Dayton, Ohio is the Dayton Cyclery. In 1892, the Davis Sewing Machine Company (which would later become the Dayton-based Huffy Corporation) began manufacturing bicycles.
According to the display:
“In the mid-w1800s, the high-wheel bicycle was popular, but dangerous to ride. Only the young and fit dared to take it on. The introduction of the ‘safety’ bicycle in the late 1880s changed all that. With wheels of equal size, it was much easier and safer to ride. Soon everyone was taking up the sport of bike riding.”
According to another display:
“The bicycle’s success in transportation and recreation led to social and technological change. At the same time, Miami Valley bicycle makers rose to the forefront of production and innovation.”
Shown above is the Boneshaker, made about 1865 by the Wood Brothers in New York City. It was also called the velocipede.
Shown above is the Fairy, made about 1896 by the Fay Manufacturing Company in Elyria, Ohio. This was sidewalk tricycle not intended for open roads. It is a child’s bike.
The high-wheel bicycle shown above is the Columbia Expert, made about 1889 by the Pope Manufacturing Company in Boston. The safety bicycle is the Elliot Hickory, made about 1893 by the Elliott Hickory Cycle Company in Newton, Massachusetts.
Shown above is the Columbia Light Roadster, made about 1891 by the Pope Manufacturing Company in Boston.
Shown above is the Ideal, made by the Shelby Cycle Company in Shelby, Ohio.
Shown above is the Dayton Triplet, made in 1896 by the Davis Sewing Machine Company in Dayton. It was used for pacing a one-man safety bicycle racer.
Shown above is the Dayton Ladies, made in 1898 by the Davis Sewing Machine Company in Dayton, and the Pierce, made in 1902 by George N. Pierce & Company in Buffalo, New York. The Dayton Ladies brought many women into the sport of cycling. The Pierce Company became the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company in 1908.
Shown above is the Racycle, made about 1915 by the Miami Cycle Manufacturing Company in Middletown, Ohio. It featured an innovative self-oiling crank with internal ball bearings which resulted in a smoother ride.
Shown above is the Silver King, made about 1936 by the Monarch Cycle Company in Chicago. It is an all-aluminum bicycle.
Shown above is the Dayton, made in 1917 by the Davis Sewing Machine Company in Dayton. This was the first Davis model to use a coaster brake (the Wright brothers introduced the coaster brake in 1896).
Shown above is Cygnet, made about 1899 by the Stoddard Manufacturing Company in Dayton.
According to the display:
“The Cygnet gets its name from its unusual swanlike frame with a netting guard to prevent flowing skirts from getting entangled in the chain and spokes. The frame was built to provide a smoother, comfortable ride. The Stoddard Manufacturing Company, a major producer of farm implements and automobiles, made bicycles only a short time, from 1895 to 1899.”
Shown above is the Dayton LaFrance, made about 1920 by the Davis Sewing Machine Company in Dayton. It is styled after a motorcycle.
Shown above is the Dayton Twin-Flex Cushioned, made in 1938 by the Huffman Manufacturing Company in Dayton.
Shown above is the women’s version of the Dayton made by the Huffman Manufacturing Company in Dayton.
Shown above is Folding Military, made about 1944 by the Huffman Manufacturing Company in Dayton. This was produced for World War II paratroopers.
Shown above is the Huffy Convertible for girls, made in 1951 by the Huffman Manufacturing Company in Dayton.
Shown above is the Huffy Convertible, made in 1949 by the Huffman Manufacturing Company in Dayton.
Shown above is the U.S. Olympic Trial Bike, made in 1984 by the Huffy Corporation in Dayton.
Shown above is the Huffy Radiobike, made in 1955 by the Huffman Manufacturing Company in Dayton. It featured a radio but was a short-lived fad due to the emergence of the transistor radio.
More museum exhibit photo tours
Ohio Village: Bicycle shop (photo diary)
Carillon Historical Park: A Shaker building (photo diary)
Museums 101: Furniture (photo diary)
Museums 101: Wenatchee General Store (photo diary)
Museums 101: The Big House at Fort Vancouver (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Model railroad in Wallace, Idaho (photo diary)
Museums 101: Railroad Handcars and Motorcars (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Buckaroos (Photo Diary)