In August 1955, the Eisenhower administration implemented a 22.5% tariff rate for three out of four categories of bicycles. However, the most popular adult category, lightweight or “racer” bicycles, were only raised to 11.25%. The administration noted that the United States industry schwinn bicycles offered no direct competition in this category, and that lightweight bikes competed only indirectly with balloon-tire or cruiser bicycles. The share of the United States market taken by foreign-made bicycles dropped to 28.5% of the market, and remained under 30% through 1964.
He or she would assess your piece based on the set of factors they believe would truly show it. And probably do comparisons of previously made sales of similar vintage bikes. Knowing when your vintage Schwinn bicycle was manufactured will help a lot in finding its value. For instance, the black phantom bike which was released in 1949 has more value in the vintage bike market than newer models such as the stingray. During the company’s early years, the production of both adult and children’s bicycles was the market focus. However, until cars started to get a lot more affordable to the middle class, sales began to drop.
Broadly speaking the range is split into five main categories. The world of cycling was changing, and Schwinn did not adapt quickly enough through the 1970s and 1980s. Mark Smith has a nice page about his Schwinn bikes , also some good Schwinn Repair and Restoration tips. The Schwinn Web site had a Collectors’ Page with info on dating, serial numbers, etc. but the page is now available only in the Internet Archive.
Here’s another Stingray model which has the same tall seat, and gear knob section but a different style of handlebars. The highly sought-after fastback Stingray bicycle comes in lemon yellow. Its overall style appears cool with its elevated handlebars, wide seat, and its gear.
We’d recommend it to more experienced cyclists who are comfortable with tuning and repair work on the fly. A. Gears allow you to maintain a comfortable cadence whether you’re going along the flat or up and down hills. Road racers and off-roaders are likely to come across a greater variety of inclines or terrain, mongoose bmx bike so, in general, they have more low-gear options. Given Schwinn’s reputation for high quality, you might be surprised to find that its men’s bikes start at around $250, and there are several mountain, cruiser, and folding bikes for under $300. When you’re not using it, the whole thing folds flat for easy storage.