The Van Cleve was the bicycle brand under which the Wright brothers sold the machines they assembled at the Wright Cycle Company in Dayton, Ohio. It was introduced in April 1896, named for the Van Cleve family, among the first settlers of Dayton, in the year the city celebrated its centennial. The Wrights bought most frames, handlebars, seats, cranks and tires from other firms and made only their own wheel hubs, which held oil and kept dust out. The brand was priced above the Wrights' cheaper St. Clair line, and when they dropped the St. Clair in their 1900 catalogue they offered everything as a Van Cleve, in Standard and Special grades. They built about 300 bicycles in all, and after the brothers turned to aeroplanes they sold the remaining parts and the Van Cleve name to W. F. Meyers, who sold bicycles under the name until 1939.
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Has Vehicles
Source Wright Cycle Company (Wikipedia)
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Source Wright Cycle Company (Wikipedia)Wright Cycle Company (1894-1909)Quote, Wright Cycle Company (1894-1909)
They sold the more expensive Van Cleve, and the cheaper St. Clair.
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Source Wright Cycle Company (Wikipedia)Lead, Dayton, OhioQuote, Lead, Dayton, Ohio
successively occupied six different locations in Dayton, Ohio
Sources
1. Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company: Wright Bicycles (Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company and Museum of Flight)
Wright Brothers Aeroplane CompanySelling the Business
Meyers continued to sell Van Cleve bicycles until 1939.
Manufacturing Bicycles
They introduced the "Van Cleve" on April 24, 1896.
View the Source Wright Cycle Company (Wikipedia)
Lead, bicycles of their own design
In 1896, they began manufacturing and selling bicycles of their own design, the Van Cleve, named after an early settler of Dayton, and the St. Clair, named after a territorial governor.
Lead, Dayton, Ohio
successively occupied six different locations in Dayton, Ohio
Part Of: Cycling, Lead, bicycles of their own design (mode)
In 1896, they began manufacturing and selling bicycles of their own design, the Van Cleve, named after an early settler of Dayton, and the St. Clair, named after a territorial governor.
In Group: Bus, Truck and Bicycle Makers, Lead, bicycles of their own design (group)
In 1896, they began manufacturing and selling bicycles of their own design, the Van Cleve, named after an early settler of Dayton, and the St. Clair, named after a territorial governor.
Has Vehicles: Wright Van Cleve, Lead, the two bicycles
In 1896, they began manufacturing and selling bicycles of their own design, the Van Cleve, named after an early settler of Dayton, and the St. Clair, named after a territorial governor.
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