Wright Cycle Company facts for kids
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Wright Cycle Company & Wright and Wright Printing Offices and Shop
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Rented by Wright Brothers, 1895-97
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| Location | 22 South Williams St., Dayton, Ohio |
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| Built | 1886 |
| Architect | Abraham and Joseph Nicholas |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000236 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 13, 1986 |
| Designated NHL | June 21, 1990 |
The Wright Cycle Company was the bicycle business started by the famous Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur. They opened their first shop in Dayton, Ohio, in 1892. This business was very important because the money they earned from selling and fixing bicycles helped them pay for their amazing experiments with flying machines.
The brothers started by repairing and renting bicycles. They also sold bikes. Before this, they had a printing business, which they continued for a while. In 1896, they began making and selling their own bicycle designs. They named one model the Van Cleve and another the St. Clair. The Wrights were also inventors! They created a special self-oiling hub for bicycle wheels. They also figured out a clever way to make sure the pedal on the left side of the bike wouldn't unscrew while someone was riding.
The building at 22 South Williams Street in Dayton is very special. The Wrights worked there from 1895 to 1897. It's the only one of their original bicycle shops that is still standing in its first location. They even had their printing shop on the second floor of this building. Today, this historic building is part of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.
The money from their bicycle company was key to funding their dream of flight. In 1901, they even used a bicycle to test ideas for airplane wings! They added a third wheel horizontally above the front wheel of one of their St. Clair bikes. They also built a six-foot wind tunnel on the second floor of their last bicycle shop at 1127 West Third Street. Here, they tested over 200 different wing shapes to see how air would flow over them.
In that same building, they designed and built their first successful airplane, the Wright Flyer. It cost less than $1,000 to build. The bicycle shop closed in 1909, and the brothers focused entirely on their aviation company. Later, in 1937, the building at 1127 West Third Street was moved to Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, by Henry Ford.
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Wright Brothers' Bicycle Shop Locations
The Wright brothers had several bicycle shop locations in Dayton, Ohio. Most of them were very close to each other, usually within one block. The only exception was the West Second Street location, which was across the Miami River.
- 1892: Wright Cycle Exchange at 1005 West Third Street.
- 1893: Wright Cycle Exchange moved to 1015 West Third Street.
- 1893 to 1894: Wright Cycle Exchange moved again to 1034 West Third Street. This is where the name changed to Wright Cycle Company.
- 1895 to 1897: Wright Cycle Co. operated at two places. The main store was at 22 South Williams Street. They also had a branch store downtown at 23 West Second Street, which closed in 1896.
- 1897 to 1909: The final location for the Wright Cycle Co. was at 1127 West Third Street.
Starting the Bicycle Business (1892–1893)
After Orville and Wilbur bought their own bicycles in the spring of 1892, they became very good at fixing them. Because many people needed bicycle repairs, they decided to open their own shop. In December 1892, they rented a space at 1005 West Third Street and officially started the Wright Cycle Exchange.
They sold bicycles that cost between $40 and $100. They also rented bikes and sold parts and accessories. Soon after, they moved their shop to 1015 West Third Street. By the end of 1893, the shop moved one last time to 1034 West Third Street. At this location, they changed the name from Wright Cycle Exchange to Wright Cycle Company.
Growing the Company (1894–1909)
In 1895, the Wright Brothers moved their main shop to 22 South Williams Street. This is the only one of their six locations that is still standing today! It has become part of the National Aviation Heritage Area. They also opened a second branch store at 20 West Second Street in 1895, but it closed the following year.
In 1896, the Wright Brothers started selling their own bicycles. They had a more expensive model called the Van Cleve and a cheaper one called the St. Clair. Orville added his own inventions to the bikes, like the Oil-Retaining Wheel Hub and Coaster-Brakes. This was a very successful time for the Wright Brothers' bicycle business. They worked at 22 South Williams Street from 1895 to 1897.
In 1897, the Wright Brothers moved their shop to 1127 West Third Street. This was the sixth and final location for the Wright Cycle Company. In 1900, they even created a catalog for their famous Van Cleve bicycle, which now came in two different models.
As the brothers became more focused on their flying experiments, especially with the Wright Glider, they made fewer bicycles after 1902. They stopped making them completely after 1904. In 1909, the shop at 1127 West Third Street was fully converted for their airplane work. The Wright Brothers then sold the bicycle company to W.F. Meyers, who continued to sell Van Cleves until 1939. This marked the end of the Wright Cycle Company.
See also
