When Peter Gendron was a young boy in 1860's he worked in a wagon shop owned by his father. It was working here that he conceived the idea of the wire spoke. You might say that he saw the problem exactly the opposite as those before him. Solid spoke wheels of both wood and metal are designed to support the load from underneath. Unique was that Master Gendron's design had the axle "hanging" from the rim above like modern spokes.

In 1871 he arrived in Toledo Ohio and opened shop. his first venture didn't last long but as you can see, he wasn't to be stopped. Peter's Gendron Wheel company grew to become one of the largest manufacturers in Toledo employing over 3,000 people and are still in business today.

This is a Gendron #2 a cycle built for a very privileged young lady that today would cost $1200

The tires are steel.


30 122 by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr


30 127 by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr


30 126 by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr


30 125 by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr


30 123 by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr