(03-07-2016, 05:24 AM)Paulb_imp Wrote: I picked up this Schwinn the other day. This is probably nothing new to you guys in the States but a Schwinn is very rare over here in the UK as they were never officially imported. My bet is that it was brought over by a member of the US military working on the huge American airforce base which existed near here until recent years. This bike dates to 1956 and although it has been modified from new, I like the way it has aged. British bikes in the 50's were really boring and I think Schwinn did an amazing job in recognising what kids wanted and produced a bike which looked like a motorbike. I take old motorcycles to local rally's and festivals where there are always a good selection of American cars and this will fit right in. Happy days!

(03-07-2016, 05:43 AM)Papa Weeley_imp Wrote: Very cool. I'm an old Schwinn collector/refurbisher/customizer myself.
They're made like tanks. My '69 Panther weighs nearly 60 lbs. with fenders and rear rack!
Have fun!

(03-07-2016, 05:28 AM)Capo_imp Wrote:

(03-07-2016, 05:24 AM)Paulb_imp Wrote: I picked up this Schwinn the other day. This is probably nothing new to you guys in the States but a Schwinn is very rare over here in the UK as they were never officially imported. My bet is that it was brought over by a member of the US military working on the huge American airforce base which existed near here until recent years. This bike dates to 1956 and although it has been modified from new, I like the way it has aged. British bikes in the 50's were really boring and I think Schwinn did an amazing job in recognising what kids wanted and produced a bike which looked like a motorbike. I take old motorcycles to local rally's and festivals where there are always a good selection of American cars and this will fit right in. Happy days!

Absolutely love that! Schwinn made some very cool bikes, and I was a proud owner of one of the first Schwinn Sting Rays back in 65 or 66...until it got stolen! Funny, over here, Raleigh 'English Racers' were in demand around that time...shows the Anglophilia that ran rampant in the '60's USA. Enjoy that sweet Schwinn.

(03-07-2016, 06:24 AM)soulmachine_imp Wrote: The irony here is, of the handful of bicycles I have (have two Schwinns from the 80's, one of which is 1989 made in the USA), the bike, if forced to only keep one, would be my 1968 Raleigh World Sports. It's completely utilitarian, but it's the most comfortable bicycle I've ever been on! LOVE my boring Raleigh! LOL

(03-07-2016, 05:58 AM)redbirds_imp Wrote:

(03-07-2016, 05:28 AM)Capo_imp Wrote:

(03-07-2016, 05:24 AM)Paulb_imp Wrote: I picked up this Schwinn the other day. This is probably nothing new to you guys in the States but a Schwinn is very rare over here in the UK as they were never officially imported. My bet is that it was brought over by a member of the US military working on the huge American airforce base which existed near here until recent years. This bike dates to 1956 and although it has been modified from new, I like the way it has aged. British bikes in the 50's were really boring and I think Schwinn did an amazing job in recognising what kids wanted and produced a bike which looked like a motorbike. I take old motorcycles to local rally's and festivals where there are always a good selection of American cars and this will fit right in. Happy days!

Absolutely love that! Schwinn made some very cool bikes, and I was a proud owner of one of the first Schwinn Sting Rays back in 65 or 66...until it got stolen! Funny, over here, Raleigh 'English Racers' were in demand around that time...shows the Anglophilia that ran rampant in the '60's USA. Enjoy that sweet Schwinn.

So true! Christmas 1957 I got a three speed Raleigh Racer. I was nine at the time and all my friends had Schwinns or copy-cat Western Flyer's sold by Western Auto. I wanted an English bike because they were cool and no one else had one.