1967 Orange Krate
On Training Wheels
Hi Robert,
I had one of the first 1000 Krates. Just got lucky back in 1967, as the Orange Krate was not even in the Schwinn catalog yet. After my Wards/Higgins 24" 5-speed was stolen, my folks got about $50 insurance for it, and were willing to go an extra $50 for me. Went down to the bike shop planning to buy a Fastback or RamsHorn. The shop had one Orange Krate on featured display. We talked with the owner, who told us they just put it together two days before, that it was only one of two in the whole San Francisco Bay Area, and only 1000 had been made so far. No more to be out for about another month. Verified all that info with another large Schwinn dealer in the area who couldn't get one yet. Went back right away to the first store and bought it before it was gone.
I don't recall exactly the month I got it. It may have been as early as November. A fellow local to me had a Dec. 1967 Orange Krate, and it had slightly different details than mine – so I'm not really sure if December frame bikes were one of the first 1000 Orange Krates. Someone else here might know if there was a bigger run that came out just in time for Christmas. I seemed to have heard something to that effect a few years ago.
Anyway, here was the setup on the bike that you might go by if you want to replicate a true first run 1000: Both the other fellow's '67 and mine had AS bolts (not S bolts) on both the springer top and the seat post clamp. My seat post clamp (and I think his) was cadmium plated – not chrome. Of course, the knobby rear tire with the orange stripe. All $800 worth.
Mine differed from his December bike in that it had a different round 'Schwinn Quality' decal on the seat post tube. His had the round circle around the outside like all the later Krates had. Mine had the one you'd see on earlier Stingrays where the outer circle had a sprocket tooth design. It was placed pretty low on the seat post tube - roughly about 3" higher than the top of the chain guard.
If you can before repainting it, definitely try to establish the fact that it was actually a '67 Orange Krate, and not another '67 5-speed that used the same frame. That would authenticate the rarity. If there's some original paint to be left inside the bottom bracket, inside the steering tube, and especially behind the head badge, that would be good to leave on. If you can't save any original paint, authenticate it as best you can with photos.
Photo below shows where I believe my 'Quality' decal was originally placed. Next post will show the type of decal.
Best regards,
Jeff
I had one of the first 1000 Krates. Just got lucky back in 1967, as the Orange Krate was not even in the Schwinn catalog yet. After my Wards/Higgins 24" 5-speed was stolen, my folks got about $50 insurance for it, and were willing to go an extra $50 for me. Went down to the bike shop planning to buy a Fastback or RamsHorn. The shop had one Orange Krate on featured display. We talked with the owner, who told us they just put it together two days before, that it was only one of two in the whole San Francisco Bay Area, and only 1000 had been made so far. No more to be out for about another month. Verified all that info with another large Schwinn dealer in the area who couldn't get one yet. Went back right away to the first store and bought it before it was gone.
I don't recall exactly the month I got it. It may have been as early as November. A fellow local to me had a Dec. 1967 Orange Krate, and it had slightly different details than mine – so I'm not really sure if December frame bikes were one of the first 1000 Orange Krates. Someone else here might know if there was a bigger run that came out just in time for Christmas. I seemed to have heard something to that effect a few years ago.
Anyway, here was the setup on the bike that you might go by if you want to replicate a true first run 1000: Both the other fellow's '67 and mine had AS bolts (not S bolts) on both the springer top and the seat post clamp. My seat post clamp (and I think his) was cadmium plated – not chrome. Of course, the knobby rear tire with the orange stripe. All $800 worth.
Mine differed from his December bike in that it had a different round 'Schwinn Quality' decal on the seat post tube. His had the round circle around the outside like all the later Krates had. Mine had the one you'd see on earlier Stingrays where the outer circle had a sprocket tooth design. It was placed pretty low on the seat post tube - roughly about 3" higher than the top of the chain guard.
If you can before repainting it, definitely try to establish the fact that it was actually a '67 Orange Krate, and not another '67 5-speed that used the same frame. That would authenticate the rarity. If there's some original paint to be left inside the bottom bracket, inside the steering tube, and especially behind the head badge, that would be good to leave on. If you can't save any original paint, authenticate it as best you can with photos.
Photo below shows where I believe my 'Quality' decal was originally placed. Next post will show the type of decal.
Best regards,
Jeff
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