Beacon Cycle was founded in about 1950 by Harry Fluhr (Bob`s and Ed`s father) as Fluhr Manufacturing Company. The company manufactured folding bikes, cranks, chainrings, baskets and other bicycle products. In about 1959 Robert (Bob) and Ed Fluhr took over management of the company and changed the name to Beacon Cycle. Bob spent most of his efforts in the purchasing and product development area, while Ed was the inside guy who had great relationships with the Dealer customers. Ed`s son, Sam Fluhr was a sales rep for the company; he is currently (2011) in the bicycle distribution business in WI. They distributed bicycles from Jeunet & Mercier from France, Sekini from Japan, Junker from Holland and Schauff from Germany. Bob traveled worldwide purchasing bicycles, parts and accessories. While in Japan, Beacon had a working relationship with Maruka Machinery. Katasumata-san was the Maruka person in charge of Beacon`s business. Bob sold Silver Star (Mitsuboshi Belting) tires to WCC for several years and also to Mattel Toys for their bicycle program (Varoom produced by MTD).
Bob was the first USA buyer of bicycles produced by GIANT, the now world famous bicycle producer. At the time the Giant factory was quite small and still had dirt floors. Giant produced BEACON brand lightweight 10-speed bikes. Tony Lo and King Liu worked closely with Bob on the project.
In 1967 Bob and Ed had a new facility built for Beacon Cycle and moved the company into the modern facility.
Beacon Cycle (Bob) developed a full line of packaged parts & accessories for distribution to the mass merchant market; the brand was BIKPAK and Beacon was successful in introducing the line into the K-Mart Stores where Beacon reps were allowed to go into the K-Mart Stores, take inventory of their stock and refill the merchandise as needed. At the time Beacon was the only vendor allowed such privilege by K-Mart.
Bob`s son, Steve Fluhr, opened a retail bicycle store and he continues to manage the store; M&M Cyclery in IL. Carolyn Meyer was one of the Beacon sales reps. She was the first female sales rep in the bicycle industry. Carolyn is a member of the old timers bike people. We meet for a 2~4 hour lunch every month or so in the Denver area. Our next luncheon will be in February 2010. Beacon Cycle was acquired by a large conglomerate, United States Industries (USI), in about 1974. USI moved the company from WI to IL in 1976 and liquidated the company a few years later (1977 or 1978). Bob and a partner, Earnest Slotter, acquired Standard Cycle Co of Chicago from Art Lipski in about 1978.