Leon Dixon Top 25 Collectible Bikes...

[barneyguey]

Leon is an unique individual

I've heard a lot about Leon. I've been told he's got an amazing collection of Schwinn paperwork, literature etc. Barry

 

[tryder]

I saw a bunch of his bicycles and a great old time bicycle movie called "the six day race" (or something close) at the Oakland Museum of Art some time ago.
Good memories... lots of fun....super cool old bikes!

 

[DonChristie]

In regards to missing classics on Leons list, the internet did not exist back then! Some bikes we know of as classics today, might not of even been known about back then. We only had very few printed pieces of literature available, swap meets and old bike shops to talk and see old bikes.

 

[sarmisluters]

I have one of his books, Leon was involved in the car design industry and he wrote a book on the history of a Detroit concept car fabrication shop. The book is called Creative Industries of Detroit from Car Tech press.

 

[CWCMAN]

I’m still waiting for his Balloonatic book to be published. Will probably never happen since he’s been publishing it for the last 35 years.

It would be a great book though.

 

[New Mexico Brant]

In regards to missing classics on Leons list, the internet did not exist back then! Some bikes we know of as classics today, might not of even been known about back then. We only had very few printed pieces of literature available, swap meets and old bike shops to talk and see old bikes.

Don, it is wild to think that no one knew about an Evinrude, Roadmaster Supreme, or Colson Commander back then. When one popped up at an auction or swap it must have blown people's minds! Today these icons are so ingrained in the bicycle hobby and the internet is the primary reason we are informed. I am still baffled no one can comment on what a "Charlie Chaplin" bicycle is?? Does one exist in the Evolution books?

 

[1motime]

So

Don, it is wild to think that no one knew about an Evinrude, Roadmaster Supreme, or Colson Commander back then. When one popped up at an auction or swap it must have blown people's minds! Today these icons are so ingrained in the bicycle hobby and the internet is the primary reason we are informed. I am still baffled no one can comment on what a "Charlie Chaplin" bicycle is?? Does one exist in the Evolution books?

Is Leon reading this thread? What is a Charlie Chaplin Bike?

 

[barneyguey]

Don, it is wild to think that no one knew about an Evinrude, Roadmaster Supreme, or Colson Commander back then. When one popped up at an auction or swap it must have blown people's minds! Today these icons are so ingrained in the bicycle hobby and the internet is the primary reason we are informed. I am still baffled no one can comment on what a "Charlie Chaplin" bicycle is?? Does one exist in the Evolution books?

I almost bought the Charlie Chaplin badge, but I was told it was a repop. I think it must have been copied from another badge if it's called a repop? Don't know for sure?

 

[mr.cycleplane]

I am in contact with Leon-he is alive and well! He is in a semi-seclusion from the bike world and still continues to write for automotive magazines. He continues to work on his bicycle reference book(s)-adding more-refining it-and promises to finish in this lifetime! Trying to condense 80 thousand pieces of bicycle literature into perhaps several volumes is no small matter. I have seen the literature first hand-its unbelievable. I don't know where one would start-maybe that is why the book is taking so long! I wonder if the 'list' would be about the same as it was years ago. Not enough 'Schwinns' on the list to satisfy me!

 

[barneyguey]

I am in contact with Leon-he is alive and well! He is in a semi-seclusion from the bike world and still continues to write for automotive magazines. He continues to work on his bicycle reference book(s)-adding more-refining it-and promises to finish in this lifetime! Trying to condense 80 thousand pieces of bicycle literature into perhaps several volumes is no small matter. I have seen the literature first hand-its unbelievable. I don't know where one would start-maybe that is why the book is taking so long! I wonder if the 'list' would be about the same as it was years ago. Not enough 'Schwinns' on the list to satisfy me!

I can't even imagine trying to put all that information together. I dealt with a very small fraction of the information he has and it took me 4 years. Barry