On my ride into work today, I was stopped at a red light, and I noticed a brick building on which was painted the following slogan...

"The Bicycle With The National Reputation"

I Googled this slogan, but to no avail. Anyone recognize that slogan from a particular manufacturer? This is in the Center City area of Philadelphia.

Boy, this is a good one ! Ross bicycles were manufactured in Allentown , PA and also a firm named BCA was located somewhere in PA. I don't remember any other bike manufacturer in PA. Wonder if it is a Ross bike slogan, although I don't remember it being used in their advertising.

photo of the plant
 

I've been wondering the same thing. This thread is the only hit I found on the web. I took a pic of the place last weekend.

http://static.flickr.com/95/240045217_05df038f2f_m.jpg

If you click on this link, http://www.flickr.com/photos/alankin/240045217/, you can see a larger image. The slogan is below the top set of windows.

Any idea of the age of the building? That might give some leads. There were over 50 manufacturers just in the period between 1920 and 1960. Also possibly a search of old tax records might show who owned it when.

Aaron:)

BCA is now known as Bike USA assembled in Behtlehem Pa they don't actually manufacture anything there though.

Didn't this come up once before?

If you want to do some research, some real estate types (appraisers typically can do public records searches) can find out who owns the building. The current owner or anyone responsible for leasing space in it may know about the history.

And maybe one of the local historical society groups has some info.

That's a pretentious slogan, but then I suppose so is "Capo -- das Markenfahrrad aus Oesterreich." :)

I'd definately date the building to pre-1920's just from the shape of the windows. That arch, at least around here, would indicate something late 1800's-early 1900's to me. Could be wrong though. Very interesting indeed. With that being a bike boom era, theres so many manufacturers it could be... however that slogan makes me think it was one of the larger more established makers. The building could also be older than the sign I suppose.

Just take the address of the building to your library and you can look up what business were there in old phone books.

Whare in philly is this , it looks so familiar? I'm from Kensington moved to Lancaster Pa about 12 years ago.The worst neighborhoods have the coolest photo ops. I think most of the old industrial spaces in town are 1800's, not sure .