Western Flyer was an American private label brand of bicycles, tricycles, scooters, play wagons, and pedal cars and tractors, and roller skates, sold by the former Western Auto stores. The trademark brand was first used in June 1931, and the brand of bicycles was sold until 1998. Western Auto had other companies manufacture the bicycles.
| Founded | 1909  |
|---|---|
| Fate | trademark cancelled; products still in-use/collectables |
| Products | bicycles, tricycles, scooters, play wagons, pedal tractors and cars |
| Footnotes / references (not a company, see Western Auto) | |
History
edit
Mail order supplier / auto parts store Western Auto had several companies manufacture bicycles including Shelby, Cleveland Welding, Huffy, Murray and more.[1][2] Western Auto advertised dozens of Western Flyer models; features on later models included front brakes, three-speed gears, luggage racks, and chrome springs.[3] The bicycles were sold and advertised through Western Auto stores and advertising brochures.[4]
"Reproduction-style" (Repop) models
editColumbia Manufacturing Inc. also made bicycles for Western Auto.[5] In the 1980s through 1991, Columbia made reproduction-style Columbia and Western Flyer models, similar to many and identical to none of the classic bicycle "styles" of the classic period (1930-1950) with runs of 5000 and 10000.[5]
Trademarks
editThe trademark for "Western Flyer" bicycles was registered by the United States Patent Office in 1931, it was last renewed in 2002, and was cancelled in 2016 (# 71317910).
References
edit- ^ "Corrections to "The Last Western Flyer" Book". National Bicycle History Archive of America. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
- ^ "Western Flyer Bicycle". American Vintage Bicycles. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
- ^ "Western Flyer". Life magazine. August 11, 1961. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
- ^ "1934 Western Flyer Bicycle Bargains Brochure". Western Flyer. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
- ^ a b Skorupa, Joe (March 1996). "Return of the Cruiser". Popular Mechanics: 52. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
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