Fillet-brazing is an alternative method of constructing high-quality lightweight bicycle frames without the use of lugs. It is within these boundary lines that we must analyze the present case. Method of distribution of a single brand of bicycles, amounting to less than one-seventh of the market, constitutes an unreasonable restraint of trade or commerce among the several States. “the decree should similarly enjoin the making huffy mountain bike of any sales to retailers upon any condition, agreement or understanding limiting the retailer’s freedom as to where and to whom it will resell the products.” Schwinn thrived through this hard time building a modern factory and buying other smaller bike firms; this allowed the company to engage in mass production of bikes that could be sold at lower prices. How do you determine the value of vintage Schwinn bikes for sale?
This standard is the foundation of their commitment to creating the best fixed gear, single-speed, road and commuter bikes available today. Refused to adopt per se rules to invalidate vertical restraints on distribution analogous to, but more restrictive mongoose bmx bike than, those involved here. The District Court in this case explicitly followed the directive of White Motor and examined in detail the historical and economic context in which Schwinn’s distribution policies were developed and applied.
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. Various takeover made Schwinn one on the big players, and retailing through mass merchants allowed the Chicago-based company to achieve big sales. In 1928, the in-house brand for motorcycles that had been acquired in 1912 and 1917, Excelsior-Henderson, even ranked 3rd in the national motorcycle industry. Schwinn fielded a mountain bike racing team in the United States where their team rider Ned Overend won two consecutive NORBA Mountain Biking National Championships for the team in 1986 and 1987. Schwinn’s new competitors such as Specialized and Fisher MountainBikes were soon selling hundreds of thousands of mountain bikes at competitive prices to eager customers, setting sales records in a market niche that soon grew to enormous proportions. By the mid-1970s, competition from lightweight and feature-rich imported bikes was making strong inroads in the budget-priced and beginners’ market.
The first hand built bikes used the geometry from the early Schwinns as well. Despite all this “history”, Schwinn did not pick up on the mountain bike trend and many feel it was a major contributing factor to their bankruptcy. If you check out the specification sheets below you will notice that the early Schwinn bikes were Varsity type “gas-pipe” frames with limited gearing, one-piece cranks, super high-rise handlebars and caliper brakes. These were not specs that would excite a mountain biker and made the bikes best suited to town or beach riding. Starting with 1985 I am just listing from the Sierra model and up.
A 1970s Schwinn Grape Krate with mostly original parts in and in good condition sold for almost $3,000 in 2022. A 1971 Schwinn Stingray Grey Ghost sold for almost $4,000 in 2022. One of the best ways identify an old Schwinn bike is to compare the bike you have to advertising images and photographs of other Schwinns. This can give you some clues about the model, the year it was made, and any options it may have. 1950s – Vintage Schwinns from the early 1950s may have a serial number stamped on the frame on the bottom of the crank hanger.
The additional line, known as the Signature Series, featured on their website, are higher-end models marketed through specialty shops. Its bike lines include cruisers, road, hybrids, urban, kids, and electric. 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.
After a series of 1980s missteps in part caused by the globalization of the bicycle industry, the Schwinn Family Business filed for bankruptcy in 1992. The company was purchased by a venture capitalist firm named Zinn-Chilmark in 1992. The venture capitalists knew nothing about running a bicycle business and in 1997 sold Schwinn to Questor Partners Fund.