Bicycle Spokes, Used by the Wright Brothers, Dayton, Ohio, circa 1900
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Artifact Overview
Wilbur and Orville Wright ran their bicycle business from 1892-1908. Wright Cycle Company operated at five different Dayton, Ohio, locations before settling at 1127 West Third Street in 1897. The Wrights sold and repaired bikes, and they carried a full line of cycling accessories and supplies. For a few years, the brothers even built bicycles under their own brands.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Bicycle Spoke
Date Made
circa 1900
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
2012.127.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Steel (Alloy)
Dimensions
Height: 9.75 in
Length: 0.75 in
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Orville Wright (right) was photographed alongside friend and former schoolmate Edwin H. Sines in the Wright brothers' Dayton, Ohio, bicycle shop. The Wrights' experiences building printing presses and bicycles sharpened their skills in precision machining. These talents were invaluable in their later efforts to build the first successful heavier-than-air, powered aircraft in 1903.
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When Wilbur and Orville Wright established Wright Cycle Company in 1892, they joined a booming business. Americans loved bicycles. By 1895, over 300 manufacturers produced a combined 1.2 million bikes each year. The Wrights sold and repaired cycles and accessories. For a time, they even built bikes under their own brands. Bicycles gave the brothers the skills and resources to pursue loftier goals, and they closed Wright Cycle Company in 1908.