Columbia Bicycle Advertisement, "Chosen by the Government," 1896

01

Artifact Overview

The U.S. War Department began testing the military utility of bicycles in the mid-1890s. The Pope Manufacturing Company used this patriotic connection to help sell bikes. This ad from 1896 encouraged civilians to buy a Columbia -- even if it seemed expensive at $100 -- because it had been chosen by U.S. Government experts.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Advertisement

Date Made

1896

Subject Date

1896

Creator Notes

Made for Pope Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Connecticut

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

87.14.23.2

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of G. Donald Adams

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8.875 in
Width: 5.875 in

Inscriptions

Text reads in part: Chosen by the / Government / The War Department proposes to test the / bicycle thoroughly for army use ... / Columbia / Bicycles / STANDARD OF THE WORLD /.../ POPE MANUFACTURING CO.
Columbia Bicycle Advertisement, "Chosen by the Government," 1896