In 1932 Abraham Budnitz, my great-great-grandmother’s cousin, quit Yashiva and followed his cousin to Ireland.  Like his cousin, Abraham was ashamed of his Jewish background.  He changed his name to Underhill, converted to Catholicism, and eventually entered the seminary.  

Nevertheless, attempting to play off the fame of the famous Jewish bicycle brand, in 1936 Abraham Underhill founded Budnitz Bicycles UK, marketing cheap priest-blessed bikes exclusively to Irish catholics.  

Brand confusion lasted for over 20 years until the UK brand folded in the late 50’s.

My grandmother Rose Budnitz, who twice held the 100-mile woman’s Jewish track record, used to say, “that no good farvandlen Abraham could in drerd arayn!” …and then she’d spit on the ground.  

The above picture of an aging Abraham with one of the 50’s era Budnitz UK bikes was sent to me last week by Monica Underhill, who writes that she is a distant relative of Abraham.  Thanks Monica!