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1988 Columbia re-emerged from chapter 11 with some of the management purchasing the business from MTD. Their catalog for 88” was titled “A New Beginning”. Unfortunately  creditors had taken their toll on the factory. Much of the equipment including machines to make tubing, rims and other parts of bikes was sold off. There was no chance of replacing what was lost and bicycle production from scratch was no longer possible. Most parts were jobbed out of the factory. The plans to make “high end” bikes never really happened. The “Classic by Columbia” line was promoted for a while but they were never the “bike shop bikes” envisioned. This is where the “1877 ORIGINAL” comes in. It was another attempt to hearken back to the high quality roots of the company. I don’t think it sold very well. I also am not sure how much of it if any was made in Westfield. Still, it sports the “Classics” head badge.

 As a riding machine it’s not very good. It has several design flaws that I suppose were meant to be improvements to the old Penny Farthings it’s intended to resemble. The first is it has a free wheeling front hub. You can leave your feet on the pedals while coasting, a big improvement over the old days, right? Wrong! The only break is a modern caliper type on the small rear wheel. This break has absolutely no stopping power. It wont’ even slow you down very much once you get going. In the old days control was maintained by pedaling slower, not possible with a freewheeling front hub.  It doesn’t take much for the bike to be coasting faster than you can pedal. My opinion, it’s pretty much a death ride! Certainly not for the street. I’m hoping to give it another chance in the spring, maybe a track or other large area. Hopefully in some place there is nothing to hit and lots of room to stop.

 In all, this was the beginning of the end for bicycle manufacture in Westfield. Foreign competition made it impossible for domestic production to continue and eventually all bikes were being imported with the Columbia name. There was one product that continued to be made in Westfield, school furniture.

 The production of tubular school furniture by Columbia began in 1953. Bicycles are a seasonal item and bike manufacturers have always looked for other products to make in the off season. These chairs, desks and combination chair/desks are made with chrome plated steel tubing. This was a perfect match for the facility since it used all the same equipment. The same tubing mills, tubing benders, welding and plating shops could be used not to mention the same employees. Once bicycle manufacture went overseas the furniture became the primary business model for Columbia Mfg. The old factory became mostly deserted . Eventually , a conveyer system was put throughout the old factory and it was used for warehousing furniture until it was ready to ship.

 This bike was really a triumph. The RX-5 had sparked a repro-craze of sorts. Schwinn replicated the Black Phantom, most being imported. Others like the Road Master were remade but not by the company that originally manufactured them. Even the RX-5 had it flaws. Ugly welds on the rims and rough finishes on parts that should have been highly polished separated it from the 1953 version.  The 1941 Columbia Superb was a replica of the model F9T. This was one of the most deluxe prewar bikes they ever made and the reproduction did it justice. Every attention to detail was given to this project. The frames would be made in-house, something they hadn’t done in years. The new powder coating facilities would give this bike a more durable finish than the original. The headlight was more accurately replicated than the strange shaped one on the RX-5. A ladies version was also made replicating the wire skirt guards that were revolutionary for their day.

 Manufacturing for the 41” project was consolidated downstairs in the newer part of the factory. There was a lot of optimism but the problems of this venture took on a life of their own. Columbia was plagued by supply chain glitches and could not deliver bikes on time. There were lots of headlights, chain guards, tanks and luggage racks, all made overseas. The fenders on the other hand were being made by a domestic firm and they were having a tough time making them. They were also having difficulties with the powder coating.  Many of the clocks did not fit in the instrument bezel and often did not work. The headlights did not work on the early bikes, defective bulbs. All bulbs were replaced and tested before going on a bike. Despite all of this, the ones produced were the best of any of the replicas made and is a fine riding bike despite the authentic weight. The last production problem was really the biggest and put an end to it’s manufacture. This was market demand. The market had become flooded with retro cruisers and Columbia was loosing money on each 41” they made. Production was ended. This leads in to the last bicycle produced in the Westfield plant.

 The 125^th ANNIVERSARY CUSTOM DELUXE CRUISER.  This model was touted as “an exact replica of the Golden Anniversary Arch Bar” from 1927.  It was even said by Columbia management to be in the original “Berkshire Blue”. This bike was really an attempt to use up remaining 1941 replica parts with a new market twist. It failed. The aluminum “Coffin” fenders were powder coated on this bike to cover the poor finish on the ones left over from the 41”.  It did not matter, the same supply chain  problems affected this bike and the bikes could not be delivered on time. My opinion for what it’s worth, that’s not “Berkshire Blue”. “Berkshire Blue” was actually a dark green with a hint of dark blue in it. And the frame, it’s not an  Arch Bar. Not even close. I wish they did remake a 1927 Arch Bar but I doubt that would have sold any better. This bike also came in a ladies model and is a nice cruiser. A worthwhile bike to add to your collection if you can find one.

 Now back to the Columbia Museum. This project like the afore mentioned bikes was an attempt to revive the companies bicycle manufacturing. My father Jack Kowal was well known to Columbia’s management and he was asked to help setting it up. I would help when time offered, Now retired, my father could spend a lot of time with the project. He was given use of a workshop and store rooms on the second floor of the old factory, an entire floor to himself. There he would restore bikes for the museum as well as himself and collect more bikes for future displays.  He also was given access to the factory archives. I have literally spent hundreds of hours, maybe thousands scanning old catalogs and other documents.

 Most important to the Columbia management was my fathers work as an ambassador for the company. He would go to bike shows all over the country and promote the reproduction bikes all along the way. Over the years he took thousands of visitors through the museum and old factory. This kind of public relations can’t be bought.

One of the many bikes restored by Jack Kowal for the museum

Jack Kowal working on an old Arch Bar frame

 The museum is now gone. The bikes are in long term storage from what I’m told. The building that housed it was torn down along with several of the other old factory buildings. There are no more tours. I doubt they will ever attempt to make another bike. The end of an era.

 For my part, I was always interested in history. This made the antique bicycle hobby a perfect one for me. I could indulge my love for history and at the same time spend time with my father. I find working on and restoring old bikes relaxing. If you haven’t tried it yet you should. There is nothing that relieves stress more than working on an old bike. It’s a hobby that doesn’t have to be expensive either. Bikes don’t take up much room so almost any cellar or garage will do.

 I of course specialize in Columbia because  it’s what I know best. I grew up only a few miles from the factory. My relationship with the company I have just outlined in previous paragraphs. The reason I reminisce is for what manufacturing in America was all about. Factory work was anything but fun. After an 8 or 9 hour day you came home sweaty and tired. It was sometimes dangerous and often monotonous. But it was a place someone could go to work right out of high school and make a living that could support a family. There was a sense of security, many people worked in the same place from the age of 18 until they retired. There would even be multiple generations working at the same place. Manufacturing in this country built communities. Columbia was all of this. When I was a kid almost everybody in town either had a family member or friend that worked there.

 This is all but gone in America now. The manufacturing has gone overseas and we have lost what  made this country what it was. It’s too bad.

 

Kenneth Kowal