Where can i learn more about old bicycles?

Not motorcycles. I'm talking like old Schwins, Western Flyers and others that I have seen with the big baloon tires. I'd like to build one with a 2 speed rear end and wondering what they are called or what bikes had them.

 

I go to http://www.bikeforums.net/ regularly. I have a number of bikes, but I recently got into chopper bikes like these http://www.firebikes.com/fire-home.htm and http://www.jakz.com/page0002.html

Another source for reproduction bike parts is http://www.hiwheel.com/

Fred

 

Heres one....http://www.schwinnbike.com/

 

I don't know if this site is familiar to HAMBers, but it's a really great site for those into kustom balloon tire bikes.

http://bikerodnkustom.homestead.com/

 

For all kinds of reference pics about old Balloon tire bicycles, visit my site... www.nostalgic.net, or feel free to ask your questions here, or PM me! I restore old bicycles for a living, and have plenty of spare parts and project bikes for anyone interested.

DS

 

bike rod and kustom has always been good for me...there are alot of hpv sites out there...(human powered vehicles)...

Just keep looking...

I still want one of those bowden (sp?) space lander bikes...but last i saw they were up into the 20grand range...ouch...alot for some pedals...

 

Fellas,
Dave and Nostalgic.net are THE only references you need...
This fella has both knowledge and talent.
He makes a LIVING restoring antique and classic bikes...
The database at nostalgic.net is packed with photos of classic bikes.

This is a Dave Stromberger restoration:



Another Dave Stromberger restoration:




Dave! Post some pics of the shop!!


..



...

 

Damn Rick, Nice pics. Just an FYI for Michigan, Ohio, and Indy people, the Ann Arbor classic bike show and swap is April 30th. It's one of the biggest swap meets in the midwest.

 

I've used OldRoads.com forums and their picture database, great for help with identifying oddballs. Bought a saddle from Menotomy, the site's sponsor, and the service was first-rate.

http://www.bikeforums.net/ has a Classic/Vintage forum and one for Alt. Bikes, including choppers, swingbikes, lowriders, ratbikes, tallbikes and any other variation you can think of.

 

http://www.memorylane-classics.com/

Here is memory lane classics they have a spring show and a fall show with pretty decent swap meets.Also they have alot of repo and used and nos parts for cruisers and stingrays.

I have about ten or twelve 50's to early 60's schwinn and off brand bikes I am about to sell for parts or restore that are in my way right now if anybody is interested I can send them some pics most are middlewiegts.In this mess I have a boys 26 inch spaceliner its missing the tank but appears quite complete.

Heres a couple I built a schwinn stingray Ole skool lowrider,And pit bike out of left of sting ray parts........

Let me know if ya need anything on your bike projects and I will see if I can help on this end.......

Shoe

 

Don't know by-be your just going to have to wait til Ryan comes up with The Old Bicycle Journal .Com ??????????????

 

...Nostalgic.net is the only place to go for sure!! Post some more pics, Dave! Heres a Elgin in original paint I owned about 10yrs ago...

 

i looked thru these sites and i still cant find any info on my bike. it is a 1941 or 42 penco. my grandfather bought it new in 1942. does anybody know anything about it? here is the only picture i have of it when it still had the original paint. thats my uncle in the pic. he is well over 60 now. i have the bike and can take any pictures that might help in an id.

 

Thanks for the plug Whizzerick and Rockabillyjay.... Hey Dirt, the bike in your photo that you say is a "Penco" is actually built by the Murray company, same company that made many Elgins. I think if you do some searching for Elgin, say 1938-41 you will find bikes that are nearly identicle. Murray, like many bike manufacturers, would badge a bike with any name you wanted. So, hardware stores often had their own brand.

Rick, as you requested, here is a pic of the shop:

 

Oh ya, for anyone interested in a balloon-tire bicycle specific forum, try our new Yahoo group. Lots of knowledgable collectors hang out there.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BalloonTireBicycles/

Also for kicks, download and install the Balloon Tire Bicycle collectors toolbar... it has links to other bicycle sites, and quick searches for finding parts and bikes on eBay. http://nostalgicnet.ourtoolbar.com/

 

..Post some pics of it now! lets see how it's weathered the years!!..and what Dave said...Murray built...should be easy to find parts/restore...

 

cool!!! thanks for the info guys. that would be cool if i could find original parts for it. the only original parts that are left on it are the frame and seat post. i want to restore it with the right parts. i will snap a picture of it in the morning and post it.

 

here is what the bike looks like today.

 

I actualy have 2 old bikes. I have a 1968 Schwinn Stingray, and an old Schwinn Bantamm. I bought the Stingray for 20 bucks from a neighbor who was going to end up throwing it away! and the other bike for 10 bucks.

The stingray didn't have the seat, wheel covers, or the rear view mirros on it though.

 

Speaking of bikes, does anyone know about the bikes with solid tires? I have one I got a few years ago, it's a small kids size. The label says "Hedstrom" PM me if you know about it to save bandwith Thanks!

 

Damn dirt! You didnt tell me that my
garage looked a lot like yours when you saw mine!!!

 

thats why i felt at home in your garage. i think we both need 4 car garages just for the stuff we have now!!!

 

Try searching ebay for "Bendix 2 speed hub". For a beach cruiser you want a 36-spoke, 20" is 28-spoke, red band for underdrive and yellow band for overdrive, I believe. I got my Huffy as an old frame from a friend, got a Murray chick's bike for parts, 45° seat post , and Dyno bars.

Thanks,
Kurt