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New member looking for historical info on McCready Bicycle brand
Hello people,
I am doing some genealogical research and have learned that my Great Uncle was in the bicycle manufacturing business, and I am trying to gather as much information as possible.
The brand was McCready Bicycles established during the late 1800's in Ontario. I've gathered that it produced a number of models, and have found 1 ad which curiously doesn't even show a bicycle. I'm certain that there must have been a Logo as well.
There wan't much information kept by my grandmother as there seems to have been some disconnect between the brothers. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Made in Goderich. There are some bikes in the Museum there.
I don't know anything about the name other than it seems to have been a model put out by the Henderson Bicycle Co. along with their "Common Sense" and "Huron" models. As Dave said, they were in Goderich. This is just a guess, but perhaps there was man named McCready who was partnered with or somehow associated with Mr. Henderson.
What was your great uncle's name? I thought it was McCready, but in your post you didn't actually state that.
Here are a few intersting pictures. The more modern picture of the Henderson factory is as of 2013 Google Imagey.
Henderson Ad
The most information I've gathered (which isn't alot) is that my Great-Grandfather was John George McCready and my Uncle was Robert McCready. As I'm in Alberta it's not very practical for me to go to the Goderich museum although I've tasked a friend with going there to see what he can find. There wasn't much in the way of communication between the brothers so whether Robert and John sold out to Henderson or folded the business isn't known. My grandfather had passed before I was born and grandmother didn't record anything so the trail is quite cold. There had been mention of a bicycle model "Flyer" but hardly unique I suspect.
I searched The Globe (later Globe and Mail) and have some answers for you. Your uncle (great uncle?) Robert McCready ran a retail sporting goods store at 149 Yonge, Street, Toronto in the 1890s. In one advertisement in July, 1896, The R.A. McCready Co. Limited stated they were the "largest sporting goods house in Canada".
It was pretty common in those days for sporting goods stores, and hardware stores to market a bicycle with their own name on them. For example, I have in my collection a bicycle made by Crawford in the US, but it has a badge with the name Speed Queen, and E.C.Hill & Co., another Yonge St. retailer like McCready.
From the ad posted above by Dave, it appears that Henderson in Goderich was one of the companies that produced bikes for the McCready store to use with its own nameplate. From a Globe story published on May 20, 1897, we know that by that year the Welland Vale Bicycle Company of St. Catherines was its major supplier of bikes. Sadly, that article reports on McCready's financial difficulties and efforts to negotiate with its creditors.
It's odd that a bicycle retailer would experience financial difficulties in 1897 which was right in the middle of the bicycle boom (instead of at the bust in 1899 when Toronto's Comet Cycle Co. when bankrupt for example). The previous year, McCready moved to a temporary location while 149 underwent extensive renovations (or a new building?). Although this is purely speculation, it's possible that the financial problems were somehow connected to the construction. Maybe it went overbudget, or maybe the temporary location at 219-221 Yonge St. did not carry over the business from 149 Yonge that they had counted on, or maybe even a combination of both. I don't know if the company survived past May, 1897, but if I find anything more, I'll post it.
You mentioned the bike nameplate of Flyer. I found a very nice ad announcing Herbet Cassidy's record breaking ride from Hamilton to Toronto on his 20 pound MCCREADY PINK FLYER "racing machine geared to 76 and shod with racing tires."
In my search, I found one reference to your great-grandfather, John G. McCready. It was an annoucement about a bicycle club or meet, and he was listed as the club's captain. If I can find it again, I'll post it too.
See attached, in order from earliest to latest:
-Brian R
I have been able to gather some additional information, and continue to search for more.
The R.A.McCready company returned to thier original location at 149 Yonge Street after a temporary relocation to accomodate renovations, something which may have become more costly that anticipated and contributed to the demise of the business.
The Welland Vale company indeed took over the business and within a year opened up shop at the same address of 149 Yonge Street, in 1898.
Shortly after, Welland Vale was amalgamated with a few other manufacturers and became CCM.
My present search is hopeful to determine the full product range of McCready Bicycle models and gather as much detail as possible. I am also hopeful of obtaining an actual head tube badge for the family heirloom.
Thank you!