Fred T. Reid

A Vermont native, Fred T. Reid worked in lumber mills before taking a job at a machine shop. At age 25, he moved to Hartford where he worked at Pratt and Whitney and Pope Manufacturing.

Repair Shop

With Fred A. Law, Reid established the first automobile repair shop in Connecticut. It was located in an old mill on Wells Street, Hartford.

At the time, car registration in the state was only about 200 total. Reid noted the early cars were often in need of repairs however. In particular, the complicated carburetors were a chief source of trouble.

The shop not only fixed cars, it built some. Law sold his interest to Reid and the firm became known as the Reid Motor Company.

It went out of business around 1929.

Hartford Cycle Club

Reid was a charter member of the Hartford Cycle Club. He was known for participating in many arduous bike races.

In 1900, Reid and R. M. Alexander rode a tandem bicycle for 240 miles, touching six states. They started in Brattleboro, Vermont. Cycled to New Hampshire and then Massachusetts. From there they headed to Hartford, where they enjoyed breakfast – the only stop they made. Then on to New York before finishing in New Jersey. It took 21 hours and 15 minutes.

Reid was considered a world champion amateur unicycle rider. He was said to have introduced the unicycle to Hartford. Although he did not hold the record for speed, he established himself as an unofficial champion by riding a unicycle 10 miles, the first to accomplish this feat.