History and Culture by Bicycle Part 216: 1960's SCHWINN AMERICAN

Previously this blog author had posted about a Schwinn American bicycle. There is new information found about this bicycle. According to this web site: Re Cycle History and serial number, H141665, it was manufactured on 08/17/1961. Which means later this year the bike will be 50 years old.

The interesting thing is the day after this bike was manufactured there was a strike at Schwinn from 08/18/1961 to 08/27/1961 where no bicycles were built. On 08/28/1961 the strike was over and bicycle production resumed.

In the previous 2 blog posts: History and Culture by Bicycle Part 190; History of a Bicycle Part 2: Schwinn American and History and Culture by Bicycle Part 192; History of a Bicycle Part 2: Schwinn American: Update 1 it was reported the progress of the bike at that point. Now there has been further progress made.

First and most importantly the blog author has decided to not keep the chrome pieces painted silver. The rust has been cleaned off of the chrome and even with the pitting still there the bike looks really great. At some point it will be re chromed. The frame looks well used and worn. There are some bare spots on the paint, but it is mostly intact. As with the chrome some day it will be repainted to it's original look.

The blog author and owner of the bike has also had it rebuilt by the local bike shop. It has 2 new white wall tires with new tubes, new spoke, a new chain and new pedals that are as close to the original as possible for modern pedals. The only things missing from the bike is the head light. the blog author is not going to put that back on as he is still working on cleaning and making it operational. The head light may not be original to the bike and may have been added much later. The same may also be true of the basket which is currently installed on the Schwinn.

The blog author has made an inquiry as to which bicycle shop/dealer/retailer purchased the bike from Schwinn in 1961 after it was manufactured. He will post any updates as they become available.

It is now unknown as to whether or not the bike will be donated to the new local museum. That will depend on what history the blog author can track down and how the museum will display it and what type of exhibit it will be a part of.

Here are the most recent photos of the bike. Enjoy:

History and Culture by Bicycle Part 192; History of a Bicycle Part 2: Schwinn American: Update 1

I have cleaned the entire bike of dust, dirt and rust. Right now the 4 chromed pieces are hanging in my garage drying after I painted them with silver metallic color spray paint to protect from further rusting. It will not be an exact match to the original chrome, but will be very close and still look good, especially for what the bike is going to be used for. I am not going to repaint the frame, fenders or other painted pieces of the bike. It needs to look like it has been well used.

The reason the painted surfaces will not be repainted or the chromed pieces will not be re chromed is the bike is going to be donated to the new Sioux City Public Museum as part of a transportation exhibit. I have been in contact with the Curator and she will gladly accept the bike as a donation.

It will be some time before the museum is ready for the bike. So in the mean time I am working on what refurbishing I am doing and will have the bike shop rebuild it with new white wall tires, chain, etc. I might even take it for a spin just to see how it handles before I turn it over to the museum.

I also have to work on researching the history of this particular bike and the history of bicycle transportation in this area and across the nation, past and present.

Here are some more photo's:

History and Culture by Bicycle Part 190; History of a Bicycle Part 2: Schwinn American

A few years ago I purchased a Schwinn American from a friend of mine. I think he bought it at a garage sale with the intention of refubishing/restoring it and never got around to it so I bought it from him with the same intention. The first thing I did when I bought it is took it apart, scraped the chain, spokes, crank arms and pedals, these items were either in very bad shape or were missing parts/pieces. The bearings, nuts, bolts and other hardware I put into plastic baggies and labeled them so they can be resued, especially the rear hub, bearings and brake assembly. Then it sat in my basement until recently.

I have pulled it out of the basement and am working on refurbishing it. I have washed the frame, fork, rims, handlebars, fenders, etc. I am now working on cleaning the rust off of everything. The headlamp and rims have a lot of rust on them, the frame, fenders, etc. has a little. I am using CLR and steel wool to clean it off with out scratching the metal and it is working great. After I get everything cleaned of rust I will need to figure out how to protect the bare metal from rusting again. One Option I have is chrome colored paint for the chromed pieces, like the rims and headlamp and the correct color for everything else. Once I have that done I am going to take it to the bike shop to have it rebuilt so it can be ridden. Beyond this I do not know what I will do with the bike. I do not think I will ride it. Sioux City is having a brand new air and transportation museum opening soon, perhaps I will donate it to them with a write up about bicycle transportation in this area, both past and present.

Some of the features on this particular bike are it has a working headlamp, painted fenders which are still is good shape and a basket that is is good condition.

Here is a history of Schwinn:
Schwinn History
Ignaz Schwinn

The Scwhinn American was built during the 1950's and 1960's. It came in both boys and girls frames and a variety of colors as well as offered either painted or chrome fenders.

Here are photo's of the model I have as it looks before I started the refurbishing process: