Bicycle Museum of America

1955 Huffy Radiobike

1946 Bowden prototype "Bicycle of the Future"

1897 Elliott Hickory - all wood frame, wheels and spokes.

The Crown Store

If you like old bicycles, and you like to travel, have I got a place for you!  I don't remember how I found out about the Bicycle Museum of America, but it wasn't too far out of my way so I stopped in one afternoon.   The museum is in New Bremen, Ohio, about 10-15 miles east of I-75 and the same distance south of St. Mary's.  In other words, it's in the middle of nowhere.  Sorry New Bremenites!

Before the Bicycle Museum of America was the Bicycle Museum of America it was the Schwinn family bicycle collection.  The collection, which makes up about half the 300 plus bikes in the museum, made its way to The Crown Equipment Company (they make lift trucks) which is based in New Bremen.  It wasn't clear to me whether the museum is part of The Crown Equipment Company, or if The Crown Equipment Company set up the museum as a non-profit.  The Crown Equipment Company owns the museum building and seemingly most of the other buildings downtown. 

The town is a little creepy because The Crown Equipment Company has been renovating the buildings and putting mirrored glass in all the windows.  Souvenirs for the museum are available for sale in The Crown Store (this, apparently, is said reverently by all who mention its name.  Also, your humble traveler got dirty looks when we asked questions about The Crown Equipment Company.)  In addition to bicycle museum souvenirs (Your humble tourist bought beautiful, expensively made, postcards, a baseball hat, and a water bottle.  The latter isn't a water bottle that fits on a bike, but its a handsome water bottle nonetheless.) one can buy all sorts of prissy polo shirts, polartec fleece pullovers, and pewter paraphernalia all handsomely embossed with The Crown Equipment Company logo and/or name.

Despite my misgivings about the borg-like qualites of The Crown Equipment Company, the museum is a treat.  There are bikes from the early-19th century, boneshakers from the 1870s, high-wheelers from the 1880s, kids bikes, adult bikes, touring bikes, and racing bikes.  Pretty much an example of every sort of bicycle that was ever made.

Next up:  A visit to a big rock!

Comments

[Anne]

I am from New Bremen. When I lived there, it was still a town with independently owned stores and a k-12 school. Crown has done a lot for the city, no doubt, but it has also lost a little of its character in becoming a planned community. Anyway, I am glad to hear good reviews on the bicycle museum. I'll check it next time I am down I-75.