Incorporation
Huffman Manufacturing Co. incorporated in 1928 in Dayton, Ohio. Its founder, Horace M. Huffman Sr., began producing bicycles in 1934 as a cheap method of transportation for the depression era. Production averaged 12 bicycles a day.
Firestone and the Huffmans
Tire maker Firestone contracted with Huffman to produce bicycles that would work with Firestone tires, but Huffman struggled to meet Firestone's production needs. In 1938, Horace Huffman Jr., known as "Huff," employed conveyor belts to grow production. In 1940, sales totaled $1.5 million.
WW II and Production
When World War II broke out, Huffy landed an order for 4,000 bicycles from the U.S. Army. After the war, production suffered and the bike line was in financial trouble.
The Huffy Convertible
In 1949, Huffy introduced its Huffy Convertible bike that had training wheels, revolutionizing the bike market. By the 1960s, Huffy was the third-largest bicycle producer in the world and was a publicly traded company.
The Modern Era
By the late 1990s, Huffy made more bicycles than any other manufacturer in the world. However, Huffy suffered setbacks in the 21st century. In 2004, Huffy announced financial irregularities in its earnings and filed for bankruptcy-court protection. It emerged from a restructuring to operate as a private company and sold its 100 millionth bicycle in 2006, according to the company's website.
Article Written By Eric Cedric
A former Alaskan of 20 years, Eric Cedric now resides in California. He's published in "Outside" and "Backpacker" and has written a book on life in small-town Alaska, "North by Southeast." Cedric was a professional mountain guide and backcountry expedition leader for 18 years. He worked in Russia, Iceland, Greece, Turkey and Belize. Cedric attended Syracuse University and is a private pilot.
