TOC Wood Rim Makers Info

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Wood Rim Makers Info ( TOC ) - Info on all the early mfg's

I thought I would share some information on the Wood Rim Makers from the TOC. I will try and give each maker their own area in the thread. This also ties into the Wood Rim makers Mark thread ( http://thecabe.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?56709-All-wood-rim-makers-marks ) for those who are researching their rims. This is the link to help with restoration advice ( http://thecabe.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?57767-Straightening-my-wood-rims&highlight=straightening )

As an FYI here are also some Modern Wood rim makers

Noah Stutzman - from Ohio ..... Stutzman Wheel Shop 330-897-1391 Address: 33656 Cr 12 Baltic, OH 43804. He likes letters even better!

CB Italia - Italy http://www.cbita.it/?page_id=113&lang=en

Cerchi Ghisallo - Italy http://www.cerchiinlegnoghisallo.com/homeeng.php

 

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Fairbanks - Boston Rim Co. & Boston Wood Rim Co

Fairbanks - Boston Rim Co. Info

A C Fairbanks. was born in Sterling, MA 1852 & in 1868 Moved to Boston....he then worked in Quincy market for about a year and in 1870 he decided to join his brothers fountain syringe business until 1879. In 1875 when he was 23 he started manufacturing Banjo's A C Fairbanks-maker, Boston. In June 17 1879 he had a design patent for Rubber Fountain -Syringe granted Pat No D11248. - After he took out the Patent he manufactured these himself for a few years. His son Curtis Stowell Fairbanks is born Oct 25 1879. In 1880 at the age of 28 he began to manufacture Banjo's , Mandolins & Guitars as Fairbanks and Cole at 121 Court St.His Daughter Ethel Conant Fairbanks is born Dec 22, 1881. In 1884 his son Albert Henry Fairbanks is Born June 18 1884. He also takes out a Banjo case Patenet Oct 21 1884 Pat no. 306731. In 1885 he takes out another Patent for a Tuning Peg support July 14 1885 Pat No. 322054 and another on Oct 6 1885 for a bowl shaped metal tone chamber then another on March 29 1887 for a perforated tube tone ring, bracket band, shoe style neck clamp Pat no 360.005. In 1889 his daughter Grace Francis Fairbanks is born May 28 1889. In 1890 A C Fairbanks & Co. introduced the Electric banjo and Fairbanks, Sunburn & Cole - Bicycle Manufacturer was added to his stable. On March 11 1890 Pat no 423.231 metal tone ring, grooved tension hoop and Dec 30 1890 Pat no 443510 Electric & Curtis tone rings were granted.

In 1892 A C fairbanks introduced wood rims for Bicycles & recv'd patents in 1893-1897

in 1893 at the age of 41 A. C. Fairbanks Company, inc recv'd 2 more patents .... One for a tone ring truss jan 10 1893 Pat no 489.470 another in May 9, 1893 for Laminated bicycle rim similar to his multilayer banjo rim and a third in Dec 5 1893 Pat no 510.335 for mandolin body and tailpiece.

He serve on the Sommerville city council & was reelected in 1894 - in this same year he sold his interest in the Fairbanks Banjo Company.

In 1894 Fairbanks Wood Rim Co., was located at 5 Appleton St. and operated as a bicycle company. In this same year he also went to Europe as they also had a plant in England by this time. He was granted another Patenet Dec 1894 Pat no 530172 for a reinforced area of wooden rim to accommodate tire valve.

1895 - he was granted a patent April 9th pat no 537188 for a waterproof cloth covering on wooden bicycle rim.
1896 at the age of 44 he moved to Tonowanda, N.Y and sadly in 1897 Grace Francis fairbanks Died on May 11th.
He was granted another Patent Dec 7 1897 Pat no 594939 for adjustable bicycle hand grips.

In 1904 at the age of 52 a large fire destroys Fairbanks co and it is sold to Vega

In 1906 at the age of 54 he had worked for 13 years at the Water proof Paint co. Watertown, MA & served the last few years as President

In 1919 at the age of 67 he died on Oct 10........ His sons - Curtis Stowell died March 13 1945 and Albert Henry died June 28 1945


http://hschwartz.com/FairbanksBanjos...hronology.html

He patented quite a few things and as you can see is also known for his banjo's .... He even introduced an electric banjo in the late 1890's.

He was a member and officer of the National Wood Rim Manufacturers Association in the day along with many others.

He owned the Fairbanks Wood Rim Co of Bradford PA, Boston Wood rim Co .

Fairbanks also made rims for Constrictor as part of their European business model

This is from The Wheel in 1898 and Explains how they make their rims.

This gives you an idea of how many rims they made yearly

Expanding into Canada 1897 - 1898 by buying Hurndall Wood Rim Co of Canada.

 

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Lamination vs Single piece

Fairbanks talks about Laminated rims vs Single piece construction.

 

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Art Vs Nature - Wood rim

Here they talk about Laminated Rims and why wood works so well as a material for rims

Here is an article about Quality by the Manager of the Boston Laminated Wood rim ( Fairbanks other co )

 

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Dunlop Deal for Fairbanks

This is about Fairbanks deal with Dunlop and his attempt to break into the English market

Fairbanks Dunlop Ad

Consolidation of offices

 

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E. J. Lobdell - American Wood rim co.

Edward James Lobdell (1859-1925) was one of the biggest employers in Marietta Ohio. Looks like he started the plant in Marietta in 1890. It looks like the plant was located on the Muskingum Riverbank and was about four stories high on Montgomery Street. They produced hundreds of thousands of rims and Chain guards. They also had another plant there they produced wooden handlebars. Looks like he was a big supporter the the bicycle club there as well - reflecting his name. The Lobdell bicycle club. I have lots of article clips on the club itself if anyone id interested.

There was a huge fire at the rim factory December 1st 1897 at the plant that threatened the 2nd biggest employer. He had the city where he wanted them and tried to take advantage of his position by threatening to leave and relocate in another city.

In 1901 E J Lobdell who had operated various manufacturing enterprises in Massachusetts and Ohio relocated his business to Onaway in order to be closer to the Lumber which his American Wood Rim Co relied upon. The reality is that the city gave him an offer he could not refuse. After the 1st fire in Marietta he had sought various offers from other cities to relocate his business to and put the squeeze on the local politicians to sweeten the pie in order for him to stay. This of course was a standard business practise at the turn of the century - I guess very little has changed. At the time of the move American Rim company was one of the leading producer of wooden bicycle rims - he expanded to include wooden steering wheels for the automotive industry at the time. At the time they said 60% of the worlds steering wheels were produced by them. This plant was also destroyed by fire January 14 1926.

Marietta Ohio Plant

July 2nd 1896 Marietta Leader

Kuntz absorbed into American Wood Rim Co

 

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Lobdel bicycle club

Just some clippings of the Lobdell Bicycle Club when the Wood rim plant was there in Marietta Ohio.

A Picture of the club at the Muskingum Boathouse around 1900 - the boat house was destroyed in 1913

 

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Lobdell moves wood rim production to Onaway

This is part of the reason he moved the plant to Onaway:

In 1900 Merrit Chandler already owned 40,000 acres of hardwood timber in the Onaway area. This
hardwood was payment for his service of building part of the Petoskey to Presque Isle area road.
To insure the future growth of the Onaway area, Chandler restricted the sale of his hardwood holdings
to the lumber companies willing to move into the Onaway area and employ the settlers. No industry
was willing to venture into such desolate country; therefore the land was not touched for many
years.

In 1900 the Huron Handle and Manufacturing Company, located in Alpena was affected by the
scarcity of timer. The company accepted Chandler's offer and moved its sawmill and handle
factory to Onaway that fall. By February 1901, the Huron Handle and Manufacturing Company
was ready for operation. The Huron Handle Company had started the Northern Michigan Railroad
and was making broom handles, coat hangers, flooring and dimension stock. Chandler's dream
was becoming a reality.

It was about this time that Lobdell was looking at fierce competition and the American Wood
Rim Company was formed. From here we will bring to you at least three pages of information
from the American Wood Rim Company Catalog.

This catalog was sent out to potential customers. It has no date and no copywrite. This
catalog was printed after the American Wood Rim Co. came to Onaway in 1901. It belonged to the
late Joe Eichorn, (Glen Eichorn's father). Joe's son-in-law Claude Godfrey presented it to
me in July of 1979. Joe signed this book on October 7, 1931.

The manufacture of bicycle wood rims was started 21 years ago, and in less than three years
this entirely displaced the all-steel rim by its merit. The wood rim is resilient and springy
and enhances the life of the tire and, when made properly of fine selected straight-grain maple,
has proven a very serviceable and lasting construction for bicycles.

Manufacturers of wood rims multiplied very fast. There was a total of 24 factories during an
interval of six years manufacturing wood rims, some of which made a cheap rim out of elm wood.
There were various styles of construction, but the three leading manufacturers of fine quality
wood rims were The Fairbanks-Boston Rim Co., Bradford, Pennsylvania, The Kundtz Bending Co.,
Cleveland, Ohio, and E. J. Lobdell, Marietta, Ohio. The rims manufactured by these three concerns
were used on nearly all the high-grade bicycles manufactured in the United States.

The competition became fierce and The American Wood Rim Company was organized and
comprised the following wood rim manufacturers: The Indiana Novelty Co., Plymouth, Indiana,
The Fairbanks-Boston Rim Co., Bradford, Pennsylvania, The Kundtz Bending Co., Cleveland, Ohio
and E. J. Lobdell, Marietta, Ohio.

Hence the American Wood Rim Company formation

It became necessary to purchase a large acreage of standing hard rock maple in Michigan in
order to secure a strictly high-grade, straight-grain selected maple suitable to manufacture into
high-grade wood rims. The owners of the American Wood Rim Company organized The Lobdell-Emery
Mfg. Co., purchased 28,000 acres of the finest standing hard rock maple forest in the southern
peninsula of Michigan, and erected a very large saw mill and woodwork manufacturing plant in
Onaway in 1901. There was an annual cut of 20,000,000 feet of hard rock maple per annum, so
as to manufacture from this timber straight-grain hard rock maple rim strips suitable for the rim
work.
The percentage of straight-grain maple suitable for bicycle wood rim strips for each 1,000 feet of lumber
cut, did not exceed from 12 to 15 percent. Therefore it was necessary to install a large woodworking
manufacturing plant to work up the balance of the lumber after selecting the wood rim stock from it. It
required 20,000,000 feet of hard maple to select a sufficient quantity of straight-grain maple strips to supply
the trade of The American Wood Rim Company in the United States.The American Wood Rim Company was able to produce the high grade fine quality finish of wood rims at reasonable
prices because they have to did not pay freight on raw material, the same being at their door. There was also no
fuel expense to run their 1,250 horse power wood rim plant owing to the reuse of waste from their large saw mill
and woodwork manufacturing plant, and because of their overhead being at a minimum cost owing to the selling force
and the office force of both companies being combined.

The price of raw material for bicycle wood rims had advanced 40 percent in five years, but The American
Wood Rim Company stockholders owning a large acreage of standing hard maple timber were protected in their
supply for the next 12 to 15 years to come.

The rock maple forests at the time were controlled and owned by a very few large lumber concerns, and the
finest quality of hard rock maple is in the northern half of the southern peninsula of Michigan. The use of
this wood has increased very rapidly over the course of 10 years for other manufacturing purposed and without
this production of raw material The American Wood Rim Company would be unable to manufacture the large output
which they were furnishing to the bicycle manufacturers and jobbers and the automobile manufacturers.

Another Fire on Jan 14 1926...... Lobdell moved again this time to Alma.

Within days, thousands of persons picked up their personal belongings and set out in search of new employment. The company announced that they would not rebuild in Onaway because it would take too much time and instead relocated in the vacant building s in Alma. Everyone who worked in the Onaway plant was offered a job if he or she followed the company in its move.

 

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Lobell Bicycle rim materials and quality

LOBDELL BICYCLE WOOD RIMS

Just what constitutes a good, serviceable rim?

In the first place, a rim must be made of correct material and by proper methods to stand up under hard
work it is subjected to. Lobdell Rims had a reputation as the best rims made. In the old days they were made from second-growth hickory, but when this material was exhausted, something else had to be used. Straight-grained maple was the best material known to the lumber industry for making bicycle wood rims. It was the most expensive maple cut. We do not believe any other rim manufacturer in this country used as good as material or as careful and thorough methods in producing rims as The American Wood Rim Company.

MATERIAL USED IN LOBDELL RIMS

Lobdell Rims were made from straight-grain maple and as one of the largest hard-wood manufacturers in the state
of Michigan, the rim strips were selected from a cut of over 20,000,000 feet of maple lumber each year, these being
from 12 to 15 percent of straight-grain stock suitable for our grade of rim strips, out of this large production
of lumber. The rim material was cured out of doors, and today we have in our yard $150,000 worth of this selected
straight-grain material, which was air-dried 10 months or more before using, ready to make up into rims to the
customers' requirements. This material had advanced in price $8.50 per thousand, which added just so much extra cost to each rim. Regardless of this advance, Lobdell Rims continued to be made of this material and at the same price as heretofore. This selected straight-grain maple lumber steadily advanced in price from year to year, however, the extensive production enables them to use this selected stock exclusively in Lobdell Rims.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE

After the strips were thoroughly air-dried, they were cut to proper length, placed in a steel drum, closed airtight,
and then hot steam was turned into it to soften the strips ready for bending. The strips were then bent and in the bending process the grain of the strip was compressed by end pressure, which does not stretch the outside grain of the strip, thereby toughening the fiber of the wood very materially and this also eliminates any liability to split. This process was adopted and used by the most skillful and scientific wood benders in the United States, and was the only correct process at the time for bending wood so it retains its full strength, resiliency and lasting qualities.

Rim Colors

Rim Joint Patent April 24 1917 Pat no. 1,223,990

The two ends are then clamped together in a low-degree heat dry house, thereby taking all the moisture from
the wood. After a thorough drying the ends are cut off to make the correct size rim wanted, dovetailed and
put together with the best glue we can buy. Steel clamps hold the joint in place until the glue is firmly set.

The rim is then carried to the turning room and fastened securely in a jig on a machine, which forms the outside
of tire seat. The rim is revolved at high speed against cutting tools set to gauge. The next operation is turning
the inside of the rim to form, and is accomplished in the same manner as described above, only the cutting tool is
on the inside of the rim circle. They are next carried to the inspection room, and if the slightest knot or burl is
discovered, the rim is at once discarded and used for crating purposes.

The rims are next sanded. This is done by holding emery paper of fine quality against the rim, revolving at high
speed. The valve hole is then drilled and rims are sent to the finishing department.

The rim is first given a coat of lead mixed with the best grade of linseed oil we can buy. After thoroughly
drying, they are hand rubbed. Then four coats of enamel are applied with a hand rubbing between each, then a final
coat of high-luster varnish. This finish is lasting and withstands the weather perfectly. Next the spoke holes are
drilled by special automatic machines set to the drilling desired. Each hole is correctly spaced, staggered and
countersunk. The machines are absolutely accurate, drilling every hole uniformly. This insures a true-running
wheel, for every spoke is in line, the pull evenly distributed and any possible side strain avoided.

After another careful inspection rims are carried to the shipping department where they are carefully and
securely crated, insuring delivery in a No. 1 condition.

Lobdell Rims are made to fit the various types of tires and in a variety of finishes that take care of the most
exacting requirements.

Specify Lobdell Rims on your bicycles and satisfy your customers.

Lack of space forbids a more detailed description of Lobdell Rims and their production. A careful perusal of this
leaflet will, however, convince you the Lobdell Rims are made of the right material, by proper methods and are the rims
for you to use on your bicycle beyond the vast superiority of Lobdell Rims over all others.

Our branch factory, near Paris, France, produced many thousand wood rims the past season and the demand for wood
rims in Europe is increasing each year. More evidence of Lobdell Rims superiority.

SUPERIORITY OF WOOD RIMS OVER STEEL

Steel rims have no life, spring or resiliency and, when the tire receives a blow in use, ti must stand the entire shock,
which shortens its life very materially.

The wood rim, if air-dried properly, retains its life and resiliency and, when the tire receives a shock, it springs
back, easing the blow, which lengthens the life of the tire. Actual tests made under the following conditions proved our
claim conclusively: Two wheels were employed, one built-up with a wood rim and the other with steel, both fitted with
tires. These wheels were caused to run against a wooden pulley 2-feet wide, having three-quarter-inch round moldings
placed squarely across and at angles on the face of the pulley.

Both pulleys and wheels were run at a high rate of speed with the tire pressure against pulley at about the same
pressure a rider's weight would be on the road. The tire mounted on the wood rim lasted one-third longer than on the
steel.

This is conclusive evidence of the wood rims' merit over steel, in addition to which the rider enjoys ease and
comfort that he cannot secure on any other type of rim.

A bicycle fitted with wood rims last longer, rides easier, has a better appearance and is far superior in every
way.

The above applies to the solid heavy steel rim, which is brazed together. There is, however, great merit in a very light steel lining
(not brazed), mounted on a wood rim. This produces a rim with a light-steel lining, having the same resiliency as the
all-wood. This yupe of rim also has a perfect watershed, is very stiff and remains true under the severest usage.

This wood steel-lined rim has met with a large sale, and is becoming more popular each year. It is made for cement,
Dunlop and clincher tires.

This steel-lined clincher rim made the single-clinch tire possible, and you have Mr. E.J. Lobdell to thank, for he
alone is responsible for this rim, which enables you to sell a bicycle fitted with clincher tires at a reasonable
price.

 

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Lobdell's move to Alma MI in 1926

On the morning of Thursday, January 14, 1926 fire broke out in the company’s sanding machine and spread spontaneously through the blowers to different parts of the room.

In the few hours that followed, Onaway’s main means of livelihood went up in smoke and although the city still exists, it has never reached the proportion it was on that historical day.

With the presence of the American Wood Rim Co. and its sister company, the Lobdell Emerey Manufacturing Co., Onaway experienced tremendous growth in its early year. The big industry, along with the profitable timber business made Onaway the biggest little town in northern Michigan.

According to one report, Onaway had two newspapers, three lawyers, four doctors, three large hotels, 17 saloons, nine churches, two bakeries, a fairgrounds, racetrack and an opera house in the pre-fire days.

The figure varies, but Onaway’s population was approximately 4,000 and the two huge industries employed anywhere from 1200 to 1500 persons.

The Lobdell Emery Manufacturing co. was involved in lumbering, sawmill operations and the making of such products as dowels, broom handles, and coat hanger stock.

The American Wood Rim Co., was the world’s largest and finest producer of automobile steering wheels and bicycle rims. For a number of years the company made all the steering wheels with either malleable iron or aluminum spiders. The aluminum spiders were all molded and finished in the plant while the malleable iron castings were purchased from outside sources.

During its last few years in Onaway, the American Wood Rim Co. introduced the all-wood steering wheel with only the hub made of steel. Some of the automobile rims were made of maple or beech, but the better ones were of black walnut with a black walnut or mahogany finish.

The bicycle rims were made of hard rock maple or beech. All the wood used in manufacturing the wheels and rims was from the surrounding forests owned by Lobdell-Emery.

There was a great interest in the automobile steering wheel business while it was in Onaway. Robert Shaw, in charge of the company’s sales office at the time of the fire, estimated that more than 100 companies were making cars and trucks during that period.

"The automobile was one of the chief subjects of conversation among all people." Shaw recalled. "The virtues of different cars and new improvements being made were prime subjects of discussion and often arguments."

According to Shaw, the American wood Rim Co. sold steering wheels for the Elmore, the Cartercar, the Scripps-Booth, and the Oakland. They also sold their products to Durant Motors who manufactured the Durant, the Flint, the Star, the Sheridan, the Locomobile , as well as the Sampson tractor.

It was William Durant who followed his dream and founded General Motors.

Another automobile company to install Onaway steering wheels was Oldsmobile, the first mass producer of cars in the United States which soon became America’s largest producer. Although it’s impossible to list all of its customers, the American Wood Rim co., which specialized in making wheels for medium and higher priced vehicles, supplied practically all the wheels for trucks and some tractors. During World War I the company supplied the great four-wheel drive trucks.

With this in mind, Marshall Whitshire coined the phrase, "Onaway Steers the World" and received $5 from the Chamber of Commerce for his suggestion. By today’s standards that does not seem like much money, but in those days it represented several work days for the common laborer.

Fred Warner, who was working at the time of the fire, says the top wage for the common laborer at the time was $.40 an hour. "But a dollar in those days was all yours," he adds. Employees of the company worked 10 hours a day, six days a week.

Gladys Warner, Fred’s wife, made $.17 and hour working in the Lobdell store in 1926. The Warners, like hundreds of others, followed Lobdell-Emery to Alma where the company relocated in the former Republic Trucking company buildings.

Lobdell - Emery Plant 1926