Polska Fabryka Rowerów A. Kamiński

Polska Fabryka Rowerów A. Kamiński (The A. Kamiński Polish Bicycle Factory) was estabilished in Warsaw in 1924. It was one of the most important bicycle workshops located in the Polish capital city. From the second half of the 1930s, it significantly expanded its sales market to cover most of pre-war Poland. This made it one of the most recognizable domestic brands, which is remembered to this day. The growing popularity of the bicycle in the late 1930s persuaded the company owner, Adam Kamiński, to build a new factory. It was located at 151 Wolska Street. The investment required taking out loans to finance construction and provide salaries for the growing crew during the dead winter season of 1938–1939. Thanks to the preserved documentation related to the loan granting, we can analyze the company’s finances, infrastructure, and equipment for the factory and company store. This is a very rare opportunity due to the scarcity of preserved materials regarding Polish bicycle factories. As primary sources related to the Polish pre-war bicycle industry are scant, this role is fulfilled by preserved bicycles – technical artifacts. The analysis of bicycles and factory data allowed for the characterization of the basic models produced in the factory. The author has attempted to assign frame numbers to years of production and characterized the most important color schemes. The locations related to the factory’s activities and its preserved relics were also discussed.