A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE
The Karbins' new foray into bicycles could not have come at a more opportune moment. Mere months after accepting Schwinn's offer, America found itself in the sudden grips of a bicycle craze with Chicago firmly at the center. The pair decided to drop their hardware and automotive offering and focus their efforts on bicycles.
In 1962, the brothers moved from the west side of Chicago to the city's north side, setting up shop in a new location on Bryn Mawr Avenue. Eventually, the pair decided to drop their hardware and automotive offering and redouble their efforts in the booming bicycle business. Never ones to rest on their success, Harold and Ray began to tinker with new ideas for the cycling industry, including the creation of custom-made bicycles for disabled children to use inside the local area hospitals At this time Lexco® was doing business as Lex Supply.
But it was the idea of using plastic coated wire rope for manufacturing bike locks that would change the course of the company. While it may seem commonplace now, the thought was nothing short of revolutionary at the time. Before coated cable locks, heavy chain links were used to secure bikes and would often cause loud, rattling noises while riding in addition to causing chipped paint, scratches, and dents. The use of coated cable was safer and helped maintain the quality and overall durability of customer bicycles. The brothers would even coat the cables in different colors to match the aesthetics of a given bike to the delight of their customers.
