Made in Toledo: From Bicycles to Automotives

By Bethany Morgan

Did you know that the bicycle has a long history right in our midst in picturesque Northwest Ohio?

Before Toledo’s industrial heyday designing and manufacturing automobiles, Toledo had been one of the largest producers of bicycles and bicycle parts in the nation. In fact, many inventors, plumbers, tinkerers in the bike industry ventured to design early horseless carriages.

In fact, it was the American Bicycle Company that first developed an early automotive in 1910, called the “Toledo Steamer,” which sported elements of the bicycle such as spokes and tube frames. The ABC became the International Motor Car Co. manufacturing the widely known “Pope-Toledo,” a luxury car known for its racing power that debuted in 1903.

Who knew the simple man-powered mechanical bike perfected in our industrial Toledo preceded such powerful innovation?

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Images via Virtual Steam Car Museum and Toledo Lucas County Library Images in Time. Links below!

http://www.virtualsteamcarmuseum.org/…/toledo_steam_carriag…

http://images2.toledolibrary.org/

[1] Man on bike 1895? TLCPL.; Couple in Steamer c. 1901. VSCM.

[2] American Bicycle Company ad from 1901. VSCM; Draftsmen of American Bicycle Company 1901. TLCPL.

[3] International Motor Car Co. Gas cars 1903 ad. VSCM.