When Karl arrived in Australia, his Red Bird bicycle was already causing quite a stir in the local cycling community. In a letter he wrote to the Canada Cycle and Motor Company* from Sydney on April 4, 1900, Karl sang the praises of his trusty bicycle:
"After some 5,400 miles sometimes through the roughest of country, with eight or nine hundred miles on the railway track in different parts of Canada and the United States... The 600 miles in Australia from Melbourne to Sydney is extremely rough, rocky country and altogether I have ridden over 6,000 miles on this 'Red Bird'. Today it is as good as new except the enamel being knocked off in places, and I would not exchange it for a new wheel of any other make. I am satisfied I can ride the same wheel until my trip is finished."
This wasn't just some casual endorsement. While Karl was in Sydney, a special 3-page "souvenir" program was published honouring his ambitious journey around the world. The program, likely sponsored by the Goold Bicycle Company, boldly proclaimed: "Karl Creelman, the young Canadian world tourist - he is wheeling on a Red Bird Special Model 55 Round the World because he wants to see just what it looks like."
The program included excerpts from news articles published about Karl from Kingston to Sydney, highlighting both his character ("Creelman is certainly plucky to the extreme...") and background ("he comes from good stock, the sort of stock that is counted best in Canada..."). It even featured images of Karl's Model 55 and detailed illustrations of the frame joint to emphasize the quality of this bicycle.
It might seem strange to us today that a bicycle would receive such attention in the news, but we have to remember that this mode of transportation was revolutionary at the time. By 1899, automobiles were still a rarity, horses and carriages were expensive to maintain in cities, and public transportation was often slow and inadequate. The bicycle provided affordable individual transportation for both practical and recreational purposes.
The Canadian Red Bird had already established a foothold in Australia before Karl's arrival. The bicycles were first introduced there in 1896, with Mr. A.J. Knowles serving as the "Australasian representative" of the Goold Company. Within just a few months, approximately 3,000 Red Birds had been sold throughout Australia, their distinctive “crimson” finish making them instantly recognizable on the streets. The Red Birds were gaining popularity after several bicycle races where the winners rode Red Birds.
The demand for these Canadian-made bicycles was so great that by December 1897, journalists reported "lorry loads" of Red Birds being unloaded at the Goold Bicycle Company store at 64 King Street in Sydney. These shipments arrived via the Canadian-Australian steamer Warrimoo. The company's factory in Brantford, Ontario was described as covering over 23 acres, including chain and pedal factories, rim and saddle works, and a rubber mill for their tires.
As demand continued to grow, the company opened another "Red Bird depot" in Newcastle. The new bicycles were described as "a beautiful looking model in its crimson finish" and "the pride of the Brantford factory." The trade journals particularly mentioned the innovative bearing system where each ball was fitted into a separate cage to prevent binding and maintain speed. Further expansion followed with a Brisbane location opening to meet the increasing demand.
By 1900 when Karl arrived in Australia, the Red Bird was becoming recognized not just as a racing favourite but as a "necessity for business rather than a luxury." Karl's journey and testimony provided the Goold Company excellent marketing material for their "gifted wheel."
The Goold Bicycle Company had developed a savvy marketing strategy emphasizing that their bikes were Canadian-made and of superior construction. This resonated particularly well in other 'colonies' like Australia and South Africa.
The Red Bird was such a prestigious bicycle that thefts made the news in Australia. I found a report about Ernest Doddrell from Perth who was charged with being in unlawful possession of a Red Bird bicycle and was remanded for eight days with bail set at £50 – quite a substantial sum at the time!
Karl's endorsement of the Red Bird while travelling through Australia wasn't just good publicity for the company – it reflected a genuine appreciation for a machine that was proving itself reliable through some of the most challenging terrain in the world. When he claimed he "would not exchange it for a new wheel of any other make," I believe he meant it wholeheartedly. The Red Bird had become more than just his mode of transportation; it was his trusted companion to get around the world.
Dear reader, in next week's post I share the full three-page souvenir programme, although some of the details will be familiar, there are some "gems" referenced.
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