19th century bicycling — Corporate sponsorship

An up-and-coming Glens Falls bicycle racer picked up a corporate sponsorship.

“James G. Budd, Glens Falls’ crack bicycle rider, leaves Monday to accept a position with the Lamb Manufacturing Company of Chicopee Falls, Mass., manufacturers of the Spaulding bicycle,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on May 19, 1894. “The company will put him in training at once. He will ride a Spaulding, and is entered for races in Vermont, and at Cohoes, Troy and Albany. He may also be sent to take part in the western national circuit, which ends with the big meet at Denver.”

In other 19th century bicycle news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

• “The number of bicycles seen on our streets increases,” the Warrensburg correspondent reported in The Morning Star on April 28, 1894. “Almost daily some new rider is seen enjoying the pleasure of riding the silent steed.”
• “A bicycle club has been organized here,” the Greenwich correspondent to The Granville Sentinel reported on May 4, 1894. The officers are: President C. Muelen, VP Professor C.L. Morey, Sec A.W. Mandigo, Treasurer Julius Cull.”
• “The fastest time on record in Warren County with a bicycle, considering the circumstances, was made by Henry Wilson, son of C.E. Wilson, of Bolton a few days ago,” The Morning Star reported on May 3, 1894. “Henry is attending the Academy of Glens Falls, and, wishing to come home, started from the railraod station on his wheel. He made the entire distance, twenty miles, in one hour and forty minutes. Ten miles of the road is very rough and hilly.”
• They were headed for the Quaker City.

“Fred and Christopher Chambers (of Glens Falls) started on their bicycles yesterday morning for a pleasure trip to Philadelphia,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on Sept. 23, 1894. “They expected to reach the Quaker City in three days, but it is quite likely that they will be delayed in the rain.”

• “The Boston park police have been equipped with Columbia bicycles. Here is an object lesson for Glens Falls,” The Morning Star editorialized on April 25, 1894.

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