The Kalamazoo Railway Supply Co. was founded in 1882 in Kalamazoo, Michigan by George W. Miller and Horace G. Holmes. Manufacturing railroad equipment, the company operated until the 1990s when its assets were sold to Taylor-Dunn, a larger manufacturer. The original factory was located on Kalamazoo Avenue until it relocated to a larger space on Pitcher Street in the 1890’s. The company was founded with the purpose of producing the velocipede, which allowed workers to traverse railways propelled by pedal power. By 1891, the factory expanded their product line to include other equipment needed for railway maintenance, including inspection cars. The company underwent a series of name changes, originally called “The Kalamazoo Railroad Velocipede and Car Company,” it was renamed to “The Kalamazoo Railway Supply Company” in 1899. Finally, in the late 1950’s the company was renamed to the “Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company.” This name proved to be more accurate, as the company had since moved away from railroad related production at this time.