Columbia History at a Glance

Columbia Sportswear began in 1938 as a small family-owned hat company in Portland, Oregon. Over the decades, it evolved into a global leader in outdoor apparel and gear. Known for innovation, Columbia introduced industry-changing technologies like Omni-Heat™, Omni-Tech™, and OutDry™. Still headquartered in the Pacific Northwest, Columbia remains committed to helping people enjoy the outdoors longer, backed by over 85 years of tested toughness and family-led passion.

Columbia Exclusives • History • Blog/News

Credited with many firsts in the bicycle industry

Our mission is to produce and continually develop quality products at a competitive price while fostering a climate where environmental technologies can thrive.  We will always strive to service our customer with the utmost integrity, and to their complete satisfaction. It is our goal to ensure our mission by continuous self improvement, growth in our operations and employees; while maintaining profitability to the benefit of our customers, employees, and community. All employees will work together in combining their efforts and skills to ensure our mission and goals are fulfilled in a courteous manner.

Columbia Manufacturing, Inc. is a privately owned company located at One Cycle Street in Westfield, Massachusetts. Columbia was originally founded in 1877 by Colonel Albert Pope and established itself as a premier bicycle manufacturer that became known as Americas First Bicycle. As a way to diversify its product line and to help keep the factory busy in the slow periods, Columbia started manufacturing school furniture in 1952.

The facility sits on 36 acres and still has the original factory as its core. Over the years it has expanded and currently has approximately 500,000 square feet of usable manufacturing space. The factory is equipped with the latest technology including a zero discharge nickel/chrome plating facility, which has won numerous environmental awards for its recycling abilities and extreme reduction of water usage. Computer assisted designs are utilized when developing or improving our furniture products. These designs take into account the latest ergonomic and anthropodic studies to assure that Columbia’s furniture is not only well made but allows its ultimate customer, the students, to function in a comfortable and safe manner when utilizing our products accomplishing their dreams.

Columbia is known in the furniture industry as a leader in product innovation and second to none, quality. Not only does it provide its customers with the best chroming in the industry, it has also introduced the Spec Flek® advantage, which provides its customers with a variety of color choices while providing a paint finish that is extremely durable and provides years of service.

The final ingredient that puts over 125 years of experience and advanced technology to work in providing America’s Finest School Furniture is its employees. Columbia employees are dedicated, talented and a diversified group of individuals that work together as a team. Columbia’s employment has a long and distinguished history in Westfield. We dare to say you would be hard pressed to walk into any local restaurant or establishment and not find someone who worked or had a family member that worked at Columbia at some time. We pride ourselves in that and are thankful to all the local residents that have helped make Columbia so successful over the years.

Columbia History at a Glance

Credited with many firsts in the bicycle industry

First American made bicycle	First Coaster Brake
First Cushion Tires	First Chain-less bicycle
First Pneumatic Tires on a bicycle	First Spring Fork
First Diamond Frame	First Tandem bicycle
First Twinbar Frame	First “Middleweight” sport bicycle

Highlights

In 1877, Col. Albert Pope founded the bicycle industry in the United States. One of the products manufactured was the Columbia Bicycle.

Pope pioneered improvements in drop forging, metal turning, steel hardening, and metal plating.

By 1897, the Pope Manufacturing Co. held over 50 patents. The Columbia Manufacturing facility was opened in Westfield, Ma. producing bicycles and motorbikes.

In the late 1890’s Columbia was in the Electric Coach building business.

By 1900, Columbia was the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world.

In the early 1950’s Columbia added school furniture to its product line and is the primary product manufactured in the Westfield location today.

In 1991 Columbia re-defined its “Columbia” brand strategy to focus upon adult “infrequent” and “casual” cyclist who are looking for upscale, quality bicycles at prices below specialty bike shops.

Marketing focus for bicycles is on the premium incentive trade and classic reproductions.

Visit vintagecolumbiabikes.com for a more detailed account of the Columbia history.

Columbia Chronology

Although not yet completed, the following is a year by year account of the way things happened. All the information contained in this Chronology is from actual in house documentation or from an outside source that has been verified. The Chronology Department will periodically be adding details to the years listed and those that are not yet listed. No information will be published if it cannot be verified.

The facts will periodically be updated for previous years and added for the later years. Your interest is what has been keeping us going since 1877 – Thank You.

1899	Columbia Electric Coach (electric automobile). The Coach was built by Columbia for the New York City Transit and was used to ferry dignitaries from the railroad station to the city offices. A number of units were also to provide a taxi service in the city from 1899 to 1906, when they changed to gas powered units. Charles Murphy “Mile A Minute Murphy” rode a Columbia Tribune one mile in 57 4/5 seconds in Long Island, NY. behind a train.
1898	The GREATEST contribution to cycling and auto’s! They produced the chain-less bicycle. It was shaft driven with bevel gears (another new patent). Chain was the biggest problem with cycles. Men attempted to break them for sport. Major variations in automobiles could not gain speed with chains. The Mark VIII is available. It is comparable in design to modern cars with regards to the chassis and engine position.
1897	Westfield Plant was completed in less than a year. On February 3rd it was expected that the factory will be operating by February 15th. New Tube Mill in operation. Five percent nickel steel tubing a new Columbia Feature. A new building was added to the Columbia plant. Total floor space, 17 1/100 acres under one roof and extended over a mile along the New York – New Haven – Hartford Railway, employed nearly 10,000 people. Col. Pope produced the “Pope Hartford” and was running from New York to Boston, Ma. The Mark III auto was developed. In May ten vehicles were exhibited, sold for $3,000 ea. Gasoline powered Tricycle available. Rental business of Columbia Electric Carriers on a for hire service established.
1896	Large additions to Columbia plant. New Tube Mill Completed. Experimental work was done on auto’s. The Mark I Phaeton Electric Car was completed. Hiram Maxim, an engineer, astonished everyone with operating a gasoline carriage (auto) on the streets of Hartford, Ct. Col. Pope purchased all the rights to the car. Beginning of the Westfield Plant: Lozier Manufacturing Company of Cleveland Ohio is building a factory division in Westfield, Ma. Land was donated by the Noble family, 10 acres on Silver St. and $10,000 to cover a shortage in the subscription. Subscription raised $75,000. August 5th, contract signed, company to build Cleveland Bicycles.
1895	Model’s #40, 41, 42, 43, and 44. Concentration of all interest at Hartford, Ct. Sale of Hartford Cycle Company’s product taken. Started purchasing all competition (over 75 companies) and put them under the “American Bicycle Company” that he owned. Pope put together other companies for the automobile. Built factories, formed “Electric Company.”
1894	Model’s #34, 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39. Erection of a new office building at Hartford, Ct.
1893	Model’s #31, 32, 33. Columbia’s Pneumatic Tires were first successfully applied to road carriages. The Tube Mill was completed and put into operation. A new East wing was added to the factory.
1892	Model #30 (Relay). Century Columbia. Columbia Pneumatic Tire. Started a big growth period. Purchase and enlargement of Hartford Rubber Works, a steel company, the largest nickel plating factory in the world, tube mills, motor carriage factory (auto), bicycle factory – over 1 million per year sold – $200.00 ea. sold in every civilized country of the world. “Trotting” transformed by the application of Columbia Pneumatic Tires and Ball Bearings.
1891	Model’s “Columbia Light Roadster Safety” and “Pneumatic Racing Safety.” Great enlargement of the factory. Erection of a new building for the headquarters at 221 Columbus Ave. Boston, Ma.
1890	Model’s “Columbia Ladies Safety” and “Racing Safety.” Columbia “Cushion Tires” were introduced. Final control and absorption of the Weed Sewing Machine Company took place. Stock went from $5.80 to $75.50. Colonel Pope bought the company for $15.60 and started the Pope Manufacturing Company. “Father of Good Roads” awarded. Instrumental of Congress awarding $10,000 needed for good road construction. M.I.T. started four courses in road engineering.
1889	Model’s “Columbia Light Roadster” and “Tandem Safeties.”
1888	Model’s “Veloce Columbia” (rear drive Safety), “Volunteer Columbia,” and “Surprise Columbia Tricycle.”
1887	The building at 77 and 79 Franklin St. Boston, Ma. was occupied in January. Model’s “Columbia Tandem,” “Columbia Racing,” and “Light Roadster Tricycles.”
1886	Model’s “Columbia Safety” (front drive), “Semi-roadster” bicycle, and “Ladies Two-track Tricycle.” Records of one mile in 2:29 4/5 seconds and 22 miles in the hour were made on a “Columbia Racer” and stood as World’s Records for years to come.
1885	Model’s “Columbia Light Roadster” bicycle and “Two-track Tricycle.”
1884	A Branch House in Chicago was established.
1883	Model’s “Columbia Racer” and “Three-track Tricycle.”
1882	A Branch House in New York was established. Model “Expert Columbia” was the first bicycle ridden across the U.S., from Oakland, Ca. to Boston, Ma. – 103 days, 3,700 miles. Then went around the world. “Columbia Enamel” was introduced.
1881	Larger quarters at 597 Washington St. Boston, Ma. The Columbia Warrant or Guarantee was instituted.
1880	Model’s “Special Columbia,” “Youth’s Columbia,” “Mustang,” and “Youth’s Mustang.” The “Columbia Ball Bearing” was introduced. Started the Wheeling Association to fight for better road and cycling clubs. Still around today.
1879	Agency systems and a uniform pricing system was established. The model was the “Standard Columbia.”
1878	Larger salesrooms and a Bicycle Riding School at 87 Summer St. Boston, Ma. The first American manufacturer of cycles begun with the Columbia Bicycle at the Weed Sewing Machine Company factory in Hartford, Ct. The first regular trade catalogue was twenty pages long. The first bicycles were the 60″ Hi Wheelers and sold for $125.00 when sewing machines sold for $13.00.
1877	The Pope Manufacturing Company was organized. First small beginnings in the bicycle business as importers and makers at 45 High St. Boston, Ma. His first wheel cost $313.00 and the factory was not equipped for mass production. He began looking for a vendor.
1876	Pope attended the Centennial Exposition where he saw a two wheeled contraption. When he came back he researched and went to Europe.
1843	Albert Pope’s date of birth, May 23rd. He ended up becoming a Captain in the Civil War. Came out of the Civil War looking for a job. Later he was referred to as Col. Pope.