A bit of bicycling history

[harrisonpatm]

In case anybody else is curious, I live near the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, and visit often. Walking the village today, I was thinking that some might be curious about the original Wright cycle workshop they have there (looking at you @Chalo , though to be fair I'm not sure what your thoughts on antique bikes actually are).




And the back of the shop, where they worked on the flyer:



Just posting in case it tickles the fancy of others besides me!

 

[neptronix]

Damn, that's cool, on my bucket list!!!

 

[Chalo]

Awesome. I would love to see that, along with whatever is on display in Dayton.

 

[harrisonpatm]

Awesome. I would love to see that, along with whatever is on display in Dayton.

Quick google search tells me that Dayton has something called the Dayton Aviation Heritage, which I'm sure has plenty to do with the flight, and little to do with the bike business... as the actual bike shop was dismantled, move to Dearborn, and reassembled where I saw it today. So if you're interested in the bike part of the Wrights over the flight part, let me know when you're in town and we can go together!

 

[gromike]

I love the pictures of that overhead shaft driven machine shop. What kind of engine drives it? I see it sitting there, but can't tell if it's gasoline or steam. Also, that wheel hook rod thing is cool. Are all the bikes fixies?

 

[harrisonpatm]

I love the pictures of that overhead shaft driven machine shop. What kind of engine drives it? I see it sitting there, but can't tell if it's gasoline or steam. Also, that wheel hook rod thing is cool. Are all the bikes fixies?

Considering the time period and the size of the shop, the engine driving the workshop was likely steam powered. There are several workshops on display from similar periods, some huge, including Edison's Menlo Park complex, and all the other ones were steam-engine powered machine shops.

Not sure whether all the bikes are fixies, I'm far from an expert on the subject. You'll have to come and see for yourself!

 

[gromike]

What! And leave my bubble?
I saw an overhead shaft driven salmon cannery in south Naknek. It was originally run by a big old single-cylinder diesel (that had a huge flywheel). It was converted to an electric motor drive, but they still had that old Fairbanks standing there looking all tall and pretty.

 

[PaPaSteve]

Fascinating museum indeed.
A rare experience in that besides the main building full of cars, planes, trains, buses, the outside grounds also includes a dozen or two of birthplaces or history making buildings that were purchased, moved, preserved to the site.
Luther Burbank, Thomas Edison, Wright Brothers Dymaxion House, etc.
So much to see it takes more than one day, which unfortunately was all the time we had.
The Wright Brothers building was a highlight.

Over the years of doing cross county RV road trips we've visited many car and motorcycle museums across the USA.
They often have a few bicycles in the mix.
2 of the top "must see" are :

Museum of American Speed in Lincoln NE

BarberMuseum in Birmingham AL

Happy trails to you !

 

[crunchysteve]

We need a heart emoji! Like doesn't cover the starting post! And, of course the first successful powered flight engineers were cyclists! The original weight weenies

VERY cool pics.

 

[Superb_Raccoon]

Considering the time period and the size of the shop, the engine driving the workshop was likely steam powered. There are several workshops on display from similar periods, some huge, including Edison's Menlo Park complex, and all the other ones were steam-engine powered machine shops.

Not sure whether all the bikes are fixies, I'm far from an expert on the subject. You'll have to come and see for yourself!

The freewheel was from the 1860, so probably any bike of quality would have one.

Planetary geared hubs were not common yet, with the two men who would become the venerable Sturmey-Archer company each inventing a 3 gear system the same year as the first flight. Earlier less practical hubs did exist, but probably only on the most expensive bikes.