Description
Columbia “Volunteer” ca.1888 50-inch Ordinary Bicycle Frame# 448
Albert A. Pope founded the Pope Manufacturing Company in the 1870s. The company was the first to manufacture bicycles on American soil. Pope, who had previously imported bicycles from England, began building bicycles under the trade name “Columbia” in the Weed Sewing Machine Company’s factory in Hartford Connecticut in 1879. By 1890, the company was so successful it purchased the factory from Weed because it needed all the space. The company presented this “Volunteer Columbia” model Ordinary in 1888. Four years later production of Columbia Ordinary machines would cease because of the popularity of the easier to ride Safety models. The machine we present here is in original, unrestored condition and missing only the leather saddle top and the spoon brake lever. Note the low-slung handlebars and the purposeful handgrips; these are original double-grip handles, which were an option. The other options were spade handles or the old-fashioned pear-shaped grips. For more “Volunteer” information you can check out
http://volunteer-445.columbia.american-ordinary-bicycles.ordinary-bicycles.antique-bicycles.net/