Rochester Bicycle Workers Union

Category: Union Workplace

At 24 Spring Street stood Eaton & Oakley's Palm Cycle Company, a union shop which custom built and repaired bicycles. George Oakley was vice president of the Rochester Bicycle Workers Union and Hiram Eaton was financial secretary. Around the corner the Rochester Cycle Manufacturing Company, started in 1889, was the city¹s largest bicycle maker. By 1897 they employed a large number of skilled mechanics and produced 15,000 bicycles a year. They occupied a six-story building on Exchange Street, between Court and Spring streets: 6th floor: nickelling, buffing and polishing; 5th floor: braising, filing and tube cutting, enameling and striping; 4th floor: assembling and stockroom; 3rd floor: machining (sprockets, hubs); 2nd floor: sales and offices; 1st floor: shipping