I’m the proud new owner of this vintage bicycle. Bought from the original owner whilst on the job. I saw it in his garage and started talking to him about it. His dad got it for him when he was 9 in Florida and he used it only a couple of times to fill in on a paper route. When he asked if I wanted to make an offer, I asked how much he wanted for it and he said $50 and I said “yeah sure”, very calmly, as my head was about to explode with joy.
A little info and history:
This particular model of cruiser, built by Schwinn, came out nearing the end of the great cruiser era (1930’s-50’s). Starting in 1950, Schwinn stopped rebranding its bikes and sold them exclusively with the Schwinn logo in an attempt to build its brand name. This was done with the exception of a few models that were sold in BF Goodrich tire stores. So, my bike was most likely purchased new in a tire store.
This bike, along with stylish frame geometry and paint designs, is equipped with a removable tank (tank holds a battery powered horn), battery powered head light, heart-shaped “skip tooth” chainring and drive assembly, and springer seat. As far as I can tell, this bike is in its original form with nothing missing.
What an experience it is to ride this cruiser! To have a first hand experience of what it was like 60 years ago is a great feeling. Something about the style of this period jumps out and grabs me. I plan on holding on to this gem and slowly restoring it.
GotSpark-Supertino 