The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-25

/ the Sport shop. There is no more at
tractive Sporting goods store in the
state Of Kansas than the Keller-Dus-
tin Sport shop. Founded on an al
ready successful venture, the Shawnee
! Cycle company, the new business has
/ grown by leaps and bounds during the
few months ii has been in operation
and with the continued support OF the
public, Topeka may soon have an in
stitution unique in its completeness
and facilities for offering service to
the trade to which it caters.
First Bicycle Received in 1884.
In 1854 William Taylor, who now
operates an automobile garage at 424
Jackson street, was the proprietor OF
| the Ninety-Nine Cent store at AIT
Kansas avenue, and received shipment
! of his first bicycle. This was import
| ed from England and was one of those
fearful and wonderful Vaccinations of
the devil with an enormous front
! wheel and a little rear wheel as a
trailer. Those who have never ridden
one of these old high wheelers
knows naught of the means exhausted
in those times for the accomplishment
of pleasure and pastime. That a
vehicle so dangerous and so absolutely
devoid of comfort could have been
used for pleasure and much sought
after for that use. is entirely unbe-
iievable.
The bicycle just then entering the
craze stage became so great part
of his other merchandise and moved
his bicycle stock to as East Seventh
street in 1890. Here he engaged in
an exclusive bicycle business for sew
enteen years. During this time he
sold the Cleveland, Columbia, Victor
and Rambler bicycles On account of
sickness. Mr.. Taylor sold this busin ess
to w. NJ. Cap" Long in the spring
of 1907. In August, 1910. A. B. Kirk
patrick and Erwin Keller bought the
business to become a part Of the auto
mobile business in which they were
then engaged and for which the build
ing now occupied by the Capital Auto
&c supply company was then being
built.
In July, 1911. Keller took over the
bicycle end of the business and has
been either senior-partner or proprie-
tor for all of the intervening time. In
1911 the Harley-Davidson motorcycle
was added to the bicycle line and the
name Shawnee Cycle company adopted.
The business had been moved to III
East Seventh the preceding year and
remained there in enlarged and i'm
proved quarters until the spring of
1916 when it was moved across the
street to ia East Seventh to make
way for the remodeling of the re-
mainder of the Kirkpatrick block. In
1918 W. n. Gramrnon, now deceased,
took an interest in the business and
the two partners added the Fisk Tire
agency which they called the Shawnee
Tire & Repair company located at 116
East Seventh street. The following
year, Grammon was forced to retire
on account of his health and the Fisk
agency was sold to Dean +. Rogers.
who still operates it as the Shawnee
Tire company.
Immediately before sailing for serv-
ice abroad, another partner was taken
into the business by Keller. e. J.
Dustin, the new member of the firm
was left in active charge of the bust
ness for the following fifteen months
during the absence of Keller. The two
following years saw the sale of more
Harley-Davidson motorcycles by the
firm than any like previous or later
period.
In May, 1921, a decision was reached
to enlarge the store and add a line
of Sporting Goods. The store number
then occupied and the room next ad-
joining was thrown in the new store
and was ready for occupancy the fol-