The story
In 1891, Carl Graham Fisher (1874–1939) opened a bicycle shop with his two brothers. Regarded as a promotional genius, Fisher was also involved in bicycle racing and stunts.
Around 1900, the national bicycle craze turned to a newer invention: the automobile. In partnership with his friend Barney Oldfield, Fisher converted the bicycle shop to handle automobiles, telling his fellow racer, "I don't see why the automobile can't be made to do everything the bicycle has done."
Promotion
Fisher promoted the automobile dealership as he had his bicycle shop with carefully planned stunts. He floated an automobile over Indianapolis supported by a hot air balloon, and pushed another off the roof of his four-story building in downtown Indianapolis.
Sale
Fisher Automobile Company was sold to Gibson Automobile Company in 1911. Fisher re-incorporated a new Fisher Automobile Company in 1913, but little is known of its fate.
From Wikipedia’s article on Fisher Automobile Company, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3