That’s why it’s far better to look for clues that’ll help you identify its value. For instance, clues such as the position of the serial numbers along with the numbering system will give you an idea of when it was made. And in turn, it should put you in the ballpark of what it could cost. These badges are one of the clearest indications that your vintage bike is a product of Schwinn. Also, for each year or style of model, the badges are different. One of the most popular models such as the black phantom existed between 1949 &1959 is the black phantom.
The same happened with the mountain-bike culture of the 80’s pioneered by Northern California riders like Michael Sinyard , Tom Ritchey and Gary Fisher. What Schwinn didn’t recognize is that trends are often set by minority thinkers, and not by the Number One. Ignaz Schwinn emigrated to the United States in 1891 and make profit from the late XIXth century’s bicycle boom to create a successful bicycle manufacturing company with an American partner, the Arnold, Schwinn & Co. The turn of the century and the start of the automotive era saw a wave of consolidations in the bicycle business, out of which Schwinn emerged weakened – but even more ambitious.
The Paramount operations were moved to Waterford, Wisconsin, where the Paramount was reborn with a modern factory and workforce. Schwinn then partnered with schwinn bicycles 7-Eleven, establishing a team including Eric Heiden. When 7-Eleven decided to hit the big time in racing, Schwinn went its own way due to a lack of funding.
In exchange for ensuring the presence of the Schwinn name, distributors retained the right to distribute Schwinn bikes to any hardware store, toy store, or bicycle shop that ordered them. W. Schwinn tasked a new team to plan future business strategy, consisting of marketing supervisor Ray Burch, general manager Bill Stoeffhaas, and design supervisor Al Fritz. In 1946, imports of foreign-made bicycles had increased tenfold over the previous year, to 46,840 bicycles; of that total, 95 per cent were from Great Britain. Imports of foreign-made “English racers”, sports roadsters, and recreational bicycles steadily increased through the early 1950s.
The Institute for Supply Management reported that manufacturing expanded in June after contracting the previous two months thanks to renewed hiring, increased orders and expanding production. Schwinn bicycles could be purchased at Hal’s Bike Shop, a dealership located at the intersection of Hill Street and Main Street in downtown Hill Valley. Schwinn, in full the Schwinn Bicycle Company, was a manufacturer of bicycles in 1955. Schwinn Signature bikes are available only at independent bike shops, we invite you to see for yourself, the best of Schwinn. Bring your bike to us and we’ll help you choose the perfect selection of parts and accessories to make your bike shine all year long.