1940s bicycle restoration story part 4 is the last video on the four part video series.
This video clip covers more on the old bicycle owner’s story and what it was like living in the Tumut Riverina NSW region of Australia during the 1940s and 1950s.
1940s Bicycle Restoration Story Part Four.
HEALING Brand Bicycles.
Healing Cycles”Alfred George Healing was born in 1868 in the suburb of Richmond, Melbourne (VIC).Starting in the cycle industry as a cycle builder and repairer in 1898, he obtained the Victorian agency for the English “Haddon” bicycle located on Bridge Road, Richmond. With many years behind him in the bicycle industry in 1907 he opened a small shop from borrowing £50 from his sister and began operating as A.G Healing.Importing bicycle parts Healing was quickly gaining a reputation for his quality and service among the cycling community, with steady business growth,
Healing stumbled across an error that had been made in a recent order which resulted in twice the number of bicycle parts received.With no finances to pay for them, Healing decided to cycle around Victoria selling these parts to make the money he needed to fix up the order.As Healing traveled across Victoria he found that there was such a large market place for cycling gear that the order was soon fixed.
It became apparent that Healing needed to open cycle shops in various locations.By 1912 Healing decided to open up his own proprietary company in Niagara Lane, Melbourne (VIC), the company was surging with enthusiastic cyclists and commuters and other branches began to spread all over state of Victoria.In 1921 Healing’s son Keith joined the firm and became an apprentice bicycle maker and Healing cycles grew more popular and at peak production 25,000 bicycles were made per year.
Shops under the name of Healing were now operating across Australia.The business was now transferred to another location of Melbourne House, Post-office place (MELB).In 1926 Duncan and Co. wholesale and retail distributors of automotive parts was absorbed and was occupied in a larger building in Franklin Street (MELB) to maintain the warehouse operations. A.G Healing was now a public company.
By 1933 the firm also began to specialize in importing radios and later began to make their own.One of the many Champions who rode on a Healing cycle was W.K “Bill” Moritz.His achievements included winning all major events in Australia and New Zealand during the years of 1936-37 path racing season.
In 1936 Healing released a lightweight cycle that would rule in their supreme line-up, built from the lightest possible materials, the frame and forks were chrome plated, stripped for racing weighed exactly 16 1/2 lbs.
It was fitted with special “Osgear” three-speed gear and built specially built for D. Byrant.By 1937,
Healing cycles were being ridden by many, at the exhibition board track Jack Molloy won the Victorian ten-mile amateur championship, Bill Moritz captured the five mile professional, and Tassle Johnson the five-mile amateur scratch race. These wins brought up the total championships won in one week by Healing cycles to six.”……………….
Read more …………………….Source: http://www.aussievelos.net/healing-cy…