Eddie Bald
Encyclopedia
Edward Carl Bald, or Eddie Bald, (1874–1946) was an American
racing automobile driver who was retroactively awarded the 1907 National Championship
in 1951 and was a champion bicycle racer in the 1890s with the nickname "The Cannon."
As a cyclist, Bald rode and promoted Columbia Bicycles. In 1904, Bald spent time at the Columbia factory learning about automobiles. Late that year, he was part of the team which re-took the Chicago to New York record of 58 hrs, 35 min, in a Columbia car. Other drivers included Bert Holcomb (who was in charge of the run), Lawrence Duffie (Demonstrator of the Gasoline Dept of Electric Vehicle Company
, which manufactured Columbia
cars, Harry Sandol, and Ray Harroun
. Bald went on to race Columbia cars for several years in both road and track events.
After his racing career, he was an auto salesman from 1909 until he retired in 1925. He was born in Buffalo, New York
on January 27, 1874 and died in Pittsburgh on July 1, 1946 at the age of 72. Bald married Joan Seeley (born October 4, 1873) in 1909 and had one son, Edward C. Bald, Jr. on August 11, 1912. After Bald's death from cancer, his son inherited his estate and was an unpublished music composer until he committed suicide via morphine overdose on June 23, 1951 after learning he had terminal cancer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
racing automobile driver who was retroactively awarded the 1907 National Championship
American Championship Car Racing
Since 1916 there has been a recognized United States national automobile racing National Championship for drivers of professional-level, single-seat open wheel race cars. The championship has been under the auspices of several different sanctioning bodies since 1909. Since 1911, the Indianapolis...
in 1951 and was a champion bicycle racer in the 1890s with the nickname "The Cannon."
As a cyclist, Bald rode and promoted Columbia Bicycles. In 1904, Bald spent time at the Columbia factory learning about automobiles. Late that year, he was part of the team which re-took the Chicago to New York record of 58 hrs, 35 min, in a Columbia car. Other drivers included Bert Holcomb (who was in charge of the run), Lawrence Duffie (Demonstrator of the Gasoline Dept of Electric Vehicle Company
Electric Vehicle Company
-History:The Electric Vehicle Company was founded as a holding company of battery-powered electric automobile manufacturers made up of several car companies assembled by Isaac L. Rice beginning in 1897. It was taken over in 1899 by William C. Whitney and P. A. B...
, which manufactured Columbia
Columbia Automobile Company
The Columbia Automobile Company was a leading early Hartford, Connecticut, United States manufacturer of automobiles.The Columbia Automobile Company was created as a joint venture of the Motor Vehicle Division of the Pope Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut, and the Electric Vehicle...
cars, Harry Sandol, and Ray Harroun
Ray Harroun
Ray Harroun was an American racecar driver, born in Spartansburg, Pennsylvania.-Early driving:As noted in the Columbia Car webpages, Harroun participated in the original setting of the record from Chicago to New York in 1903, and the re-taking of that record in 1904...
. Bald went on to race Columbia cars for several years in both road and track events.
After his racing career, he was an auto salesman from 1909 until he retired in 1925. He was born in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
on January 27, 1874 and died in Pittsburgh on July 1, 1946 at the age of 72. Bald married Joan Seeley (born October 4, 1873) in 1909 and had one son, Edward C. Bald, Jr. on August 11, 1912. After Bald's death from cancer, his son inherited his estate and was an unpublished music composer until he committed suicide via morphine overdose on June 23, 1951 after learning he had terminal cancer.
External links
- On this page are two photos of Eddie Bald in 1904 as part of the team which re-took the Chicago-to-New York Record in a Columbia Car
- On this page are more photos of Eddie Bald in other Columbia cars, plus news items and a link to further material which includes bicycle photos