In 1956, bikes were simple machines, requiring simple repairs. A wrench set, a screwdriver, and a small handful of specialty tools were enough to fix just about anything that rolled into Hazel Park Radio and Bicycle Shop, a small Schwinn dealer in St. Paul, Minnesota. These were the days when bicycle service was seen as just one aspect of the typical “fix-it shop”, alongside other handyman services such as skate sharpening, radio tube testing, and key cutting.

The shop’s owners, Howard Hawkins and Art Engstrom, did all these jobs and more. Howard and Art were hands-on guys with a knack for creative thinking and problem solving. One problem they encountered was the lack of a convenient, ergonomic way to work on bikes. Typically, a mechanic would flip the bike over on the ground and crouch down to access the drivetrain or pull a wheel. This was a crude and cumbersome arrangement, especially in an era when bikes were bulky contraptions made of solid steel.