From the 1920’s until 1938 Arnold, Schwinn & Co. became primarily a producer of heavy-duty juvenile bicycles. Schwinn’s fillet-brazed CrMo models were beautiful and sweet handling, but in the 1970’s bicycle-boom they lost ground to more popular lugged-frame construction, and never recovered. Schwinn never played it conservative with their ad budget, but their best sales agents were always their customers. Popular mid-century models like the Streamline Aerocycle, the AutoCycle, the mongoose bmx bike Continental, Panther, Jaguar, Hornet, Black Phantom, and Sting-Ray all generated word-of-mouth buzz at bike shops, playgrounds, offices, etc. The Chicago factory was basically producing the bicycle equivalent of the Mustangs and T-Birds coming out of Detroit, and the biggest challenge was just keeping up with demand. The Schwinn Bicycle Company emerged during the bicycle boom of the 1890s, a period where over 200 cycle manufacturers and small shops operated in Chicago alone.
Chicago was a major bicycle manufacturing center at the height of the “golden age” of bicycling in the 1890’s. Upon his arrival in America, Schwinn quickly found work with the Hill Cycle Manufacturing Company and rose readily to the level of plant manager. He managed the plant for two years while he searched for the time, place and money to launch his own venture. This he found with the collaboration of another successful German immigrant, Adolf Arnold.
Bicycle manufacturing in America has declined significantly in the past several decades. But Detroit Bikes is eager to bring at least a part of the industry back to domestic soil, where demand for all manner of bikes and other outdoor equipment is booming amid pandemic restrictions. After schwinn bicycles reopening the storefront on Griswold in Detroit, bike sales skyrocketed, quadrupling last year’s sales and selling out some of the company’s more popular models — the A-Type Commuter and the Sparrow Commuter. New inventory for these models is not expected to be available until September.
The Paramount used high-strength chrome-molybdenum steel alloy tubing and expensive brass lug-brazed construction. During the next twenty years, most of the Paramount bikes would be built in limited numbers at a small frame shop headed by Wastyn, in spite of Schwinn’s continued efforts to bring all frame production into the factory. As a result, Schwinns became increasingly dated in both styling and technology.
I appreciate your interest in this special line of Schwinn bicycles, and hope your heart takes a little jump if you see one of the fillet-brazed models out there. First of all, while other Depression-era manufacturers were understandably using cheaper components and increasingly marketing bicycles as “toys”—Schwinn actually went the opposite direction. The company stopped dealing with department stores and worked exclusively with proper bicycle retailers—such as Barnard’s or the Chicago Cycle Supply Company. This helped develop a legion of loyal dealers and customers, all of whom appreciated Schwinn’s focus on quality above quantity. Frank also threatened to start importing parts from Europe if U.S. suppliers didn’t raise their own quality standards, and the tactic worked—the parts remained domestic, but far superior to what most bike companies were using. If scooters are more your speed, you’ll find affordably priced electric scooters through Sam’s Club that you’re sure to love.
Schwinn 570R is one of the best recumbent exercise bikes you can get for the money. It’s packed to the brim with advanced features but you don’t have to break the bank to get it. EMeridian is an adult tricycle with a 350W Bafang motor that can assist you up to 16 mph and a 630Wh battery that ensures a long range. Our mobility and balance can suffer as we age, but that’s not a reason to stop cycling.
Facebook marketplace is the most popular site where you can sell your bicycle. To sum things up, it seems that Schwinn is very much alive and kicking, manufacturing quality bikes in various categories. If you’d like to see or try the bike in person, you can do that at Target or Walmart. Keep in mind that these stores typically stock entry-level models, so if you want something with better specs, you should shop online.
I find it most uncomfortable when riding for 45 minutes or longer, or during classes when I’m not out of the saddle. Insult upon injury, Schwinn had gradually become a stale brand in the eyes of the youth market during the same period. All seemed rosy, but like the last weeks of a summer holiday, colder breezes were moving in.