Hartford and Westfield manufactured
bikes were sold with thousands of different names on them over the years. Columbia
was always the "flagship" name and eventually would become the name of the company. There was usually a secondary
name for the cheaper line. "Hartford"
and "Vedette" were used
for that purpose in the early years. In later years names from the American Bicycle Company like "Sterling" and "Rambler"
would be used for the same purpose.
There could be only one "Columbia"
dealer per area or town. If another store in that area wanted to sell them they may have gotten the Westfield brand. By the 30's many of the names from the American
Bicycle Company were being resurrected like Tribune,
Pope, Waverly, Seminole,
Crescent, Sterling and Rambler.
Stores could get their own brand put on a head badge if they wanted.
It is interesting to note that there was never
a “POPE” badged bicycle during the life of Col. Albert Pope. The Pope line of bicycles came out
a few years after his death when the company was reorganized as “The Westfield Mfg. Co.”.
Here is some examples of badges used on Pope Mfg., Westfield Mfg. and Columbia
Mfg. Co. made bicycles.
Below are a few badges not from Columbia.