What was the name of the Wright brothers’ bicycle shop and manufacturing company in Dayton?

The Wright brothers’ Dayton bicycle business was called the Wright Cycle Company.

Wilbur and Orville Wright operated bicycle sales, repair, and manufacturing businesses in Dayton, Ohio. Their best-known shop and workshop at 1127 West Third Street became an important base for their aeronautical experiments. Bicycle work gave them practical experience with lightweight structures, chains, bearings, metalwork, and precise mechanical adjustment.

The brothers did not invent the bicycle, but they built and sold bicycles under names including the Van Cleve and St. Clair. Profits from this business helped finance their glider experiments, wind tunnel, engines, and aircraft construction. The shop also provided tools and a workspace for developing aviation hardware.

A common mix-up is calling the business simply the Wright Brothers Bicycle Shop. That phrase is understandable, but Wright Cycle Company is the historically recognized company name. The Dayton shop is preserved as part of Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.