Hey all,
My memory isn't too far off on this. Here's a letter I got from the Wright Brothers Bicycle shop (restored) at Carillon Park, in Dayton, Ohio (their home town):
It should be noted that there is a picture of a 1930 Van Cleve and a Van Cleve headbadge (nameplate) on page 185 of G. Donald Adams' "Collecting and Restoring Antique Bicycles". According to the book, "W.F. Meyers of Dayton, Ohio purchased the Van Cleve name from the Wright brothers who had manufactured the St. Clair and Van Cleve during the period when they were developing their first airplane" The bicycle in the picture is a Schwinn styled "moto-bike" with an double top tube-- the upper one is angled.
I guess this mean that there are "real" Wright Brothers bicycles, produced by them at their shop, and mass produced bikes built in the '20s and '30s?
Wouldn't you love to find a Van Cleve in a shed somewhere? I know the Bicycle Museum of America would give anything to get it!
Dear Mr. Hammon,
In regards to your question about the Wright Cycle Company produced bicycles, we have the following information:
* There are 5 known bicycles in to exist: 2 Van Cleve bicycles at Carillon Historical Park, 1 ladies Van Cleve bicycle at the United States Air force Museum, and Greenfield Village owns 1 Van Cleve and one
St. Clair bicycle. We know of no others in the hands of private collectors.
* There are 180 Wright bicycles documented by their ledgers, but some say as many as 200 were produced.
* The "Circus Bicycle" you mentioned could not be documented through the
ledgers or through any other source. At one time the National Park Service was interested in possibly acquiring it, but they were not able to prove that it had a Wright connection.
Sincerely,
Nancy Horlacher
Director of Curatorial Services
Carillon Historical Park