American Bicycle Company Stock Certificate (signed by Colonel George Pope ) New Jersey - 1902

Beautifully engraved certificate from the American Bicycle Company issued in 1902. This historic document was printed by the American Banknote Company and has an ornate border around it with a vignette of an eagle. This item has been hand signed by the Company’s Treasurer, Colonel George Pope and President, and is over 110 years old.




Certificate Vignette




Certificate Signatures




New York Times



Colonel George Pope, of Hartford, was treasurer of the Pope Manufacturing Company and president of the National Association of Manufacturers.

Colonel Pope is the dean of Hartford manufacturers. As treasurer of the Pope Manufacturing Company, which is one of Hartford's largest concerns, he holds an important and influential position in the commercial field in Connecticut's capital city. He was elected president of the National Association of Manufacturers last May after having been a director of the association for several years. He expects to be called upon to testify before the Senate committee, and told The Metal Industry man that he was ready to start the minute the chairman

Pope Manufacturing Company was the largest manufacturer of bicycles in the world at that time. Col. Albert A. Pope was the first to build modern bicycles in America and is considered the founder of the bicycle industry in America. Pope Manufacturing Company dominated the bicycle industry in the United States with its "Columbia" model which was considered top-of-the-line. Pope had a reputation for quality.

Pope believed in the future of the electric car. He had seen an internal combustion car in Paris and deplored the noise and pollution caused by the automobile. Between 1897 and 1899, Pope’s operations produced 500 electric cars and 40 gasoline-powered cars. No other American motor manufacturer at that time was producing as many.

Pope was a pioneer in both the bicycle and the automobile industries. His contributions are many and varied. He introduced the American public to the concepts of personal and recreational transportation.

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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.

1876 - Pope attended the Centennial Exposition where he saw a two wheeled contraption. When he came back he researched and went to Europe.

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.

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.

1879 - Agency systems and a uniform pricing system was established. The model was the "Standard Columbia".

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.

1881 - Larger quarters at 597 Washington St. Boston, Ma. The Columbia Warrant or Guarantee was instituted.

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.

1883 - Model’s "Columbia Racer" and "Three-track Tricycle".

1884 - A Branch House in Chicago was established.

1885 - Model’s "Columbia Light Roadster" bicycle and "Two-track Tricycle".

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.

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".

1888 - Model’s "Veloce Columbia" (rear drive Safety), "Volunteer Columbia", and "Surprise Columbia Tricycle".

1889 - Model’s "Columbia Light Roadster" and "Tandem Safeties".

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.

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.

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.

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.

1894 - Model’s #34, 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39.Erection of a new office building at Hartford, Ct.

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".

History from Columbia Bicycle History.