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E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency

In an attempt to control supply and limit competition, 42 manufacturers (later over 75 companies) formed the American Bicycle Company (A.B.C.), known familiarly as "the trust."

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Edward C. Stearns continued to design important components for his bicycle line in much the same manner as he designed tools for his hardware enterprise, E. C. Stearns & Company.

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William Martin, a famous professional bicyclist and winner of the Madison Square Garden races, was hired by E. C. Stearns & Company in April 1896 to ride the Stearns bicycle in Paris, France.

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Both Stearns and Maslin were in the employ of A.B.C., known as the "trust," when they purportedly entered into a conspiracy; part of which was to purchase through Doubleday the capital stock of the Stearns Bicycle Agency from A.B.C., which bought it when they acquired the interests of E. C. Stearns & Company.

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By June 1900, the American Bicycle Company demanded that company founder, Edward C. Stearns, Herbert E. Maslin and Mrs. Avis Van Wagenen, of Syracuse, execute an agreement not to engage in the manufacture of bicycles in competition with A.B.C., who claimed they made an agreement with the Stearns company when their factory was sold to the combination.

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Olga Nethersole endorsed the 1896 Stearns bicycle when she wrote a letter to the company;

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Because the company believed the name Stearns was used on the stage more extensively than any other bicycle, they were working on an advertising campaign in 1896 which contained the photos and testimonials of such stars as Olga Nethersole, Loie Fuller, Cora Urquhart Brown-Potter, Cissy Fitzgerald, Richard Mansfield, Robert Hilliard and John Drew, among others.

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C. Stearns Bicycle Agency, established several other manufacturing plants in Syracuse including E. C. Stearns & Company, Wholesale Bi-steam Carriage Company and Stearns Automobile Company or Stearns Steam Carriage Company.

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Local cyclist, John Wilkinson's first job was as machinist for E. C. Stearns & Company where he stayed a short three months before moving on to Stearns competitor, Syracuse Bicycle Company where he was employed for four years.

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The Stearns Bicycle Agency, located at 315 Warren Street in the Herald Building was the sales agency for the E. C. Stearns & Company bicycles and components.