The Vintage Schwinn bicycle is a true collectors item. If you don't believe me, simply do a search on the Internet and see what kind of results you see? Yes, the Schwinn bicycle is without a doubt one of the true gems in American bicycle history.
Schwinn, was founded in 1895 by Ignaz Schwinn and became the dominant manufacturer of American bicycles throughout the rest of the 20th century. The bicycle craze that originated in Chicago, Illinois saw 30 factories producing over 1,000 units per day! But the with the advent of the automobile, popularity of the bicycle waned - output dropped 25%. What followed were many turbulent years brought on by Schwinn's insistence that their distributors sell and service only Schwinn bicycles. This led to many battles that ultimately resulted in Schwinn loosing a Supreme Court decision in 1967. This did not affect the demand of the "vintage Schwinn" and its legacy lives on today. Even though the name Schwinn still remains strong today, the term "vintage Schwinn" may be even more popular!
The 1960's and 1970's saw the 10-Speed and the popularity of the Varsity and Continental grow. These two models still remain one of the most sought-after vintage Schwinn bikes today. The mid 1970's also saw the the Paramount, a heavy-weight bicycle popular with the wealthier riders looking for a high-end bicycle.
The mid 1970's saw the oil crisis force many people to use the bicycle as a major means of transportation and recreation. That period also saw Schwinn merge efforts with Panasonic. The big models to come out of the Schwinn/Panasonic partnership are also two of the more popular vintage Schwinn's today, the World Traveller and World Voyager.
Probably one of the biggest Schwinn bicycle to to maintain a high "vintage" status is the Banana bike... and they made a ton of them in the 1960's and 1970's. Does Stingray ring a bell? How about Apple Krate? The Krate model actually saw 6 color models derived from the period between 1968 and 1973, Apple Krate, Orange Krate, Cotton Picker, Lemon Peeler, Grey Ghost, and the Pea Picker.
Without a doubt, the "vintage Schwinn" remains one of the biggest names on the bicycle collector's docket. Their long-standing tradition of excellence keeps the name Schwinn a true collector's item.
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