Evolution of the Schwinn Repair Stand (Park)

[Xlobsterman]

So the schwinn grips make it a Schwinn stand?

I have this double arm model. Identical to the catalog except for the clamp grips.
View attachment 1787187

Not just the grips, if I remember correctly, it had Schwinn stickers on it also! LOL

Here is a pic of my tools I purchased back in the day for working on my bikes at home. Most of these tools were made by Park, and the only difference was the Schwinn branding on the tool, and in some cases the color.

 

[schwinnderella]

I also have a double arm version which I purchased from Del Lamb in 1980 when he was closing up his Milwaukee Bike Shop. Del was an Olympic speed skater and lived to 95 years old!

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

Since we are talking bicycle tools in general now, Snap-0n made some of the Schwinn shop tools.

The large open end wrench #N8263 that fit the 1 3/16" head lock nut and the 1 1/4" crank lock nut was made by Snap-On, and stamped Schwinn.

The Schwinn "stamped" open wrenches were made by Snap-On. Snap-On made several different finishes. They had the top of the line 100% polished and chromed like sold on their tool trucks, then they had an industrial finish which was only highly finished in the middle of the handle (This was the early Schwinn finish), and the last version of the Schwinn/Snap-On wrenches were stamped Schwinn and were blasted then chromed, "but not polished". The last version had the "Schwinn Approved" in block letters, not the script. All were high quality wrenches, only the finish and Schwinn logo changed.

All of these Snap-On wrenches were stamped Schwinn Approved.

It's just my opinion that the early Schwinn cone wrenches were made by Snap-On, but the later ones were made by Park Tool. Just a guess. There's a big difference in the finish quality.

John

 

[Xlobsterman]

Since we are talking bicycle tools in general now, Snap-0n made some of the Schwinn shop tools.

The large open end wrench #N8263 that fit the 1 3/16" head lock nut and the 1 1/4" crank lock nut was made by Snap-On, and stamped Schwinn.

The Schwinn "stamped" open wrenches were made by Snap-On. Snap-On made several different finishes. They had the top of the line 100% polished and chromed like sold on their tool trucks, then they had an industrial finish which was only highly finished in the middle of the handle (This was the early Schwinn finish), and the last version of the Schwinn/Snap-On wrenches were stamped Schwinn and were blasted then chromed, "but not polished". The last version had the "Schwinn Approved" in block letters, not the script. All were high quality wrenches, only the finish and Schwinn logo changed.

All of these Snap-On wrenches were stamped Schwinn Approved.

It's just my opinion that the early Schwinn cone wrenches were made by Snap-On, but the later ones were made by Park Tool. Just a guess. There's a big difference in the finish quality.

John

Yes, Snap-On did make some of the wrenches for Schwinn. Here is a pic of one of the older Headset wrenches with both the Snap-On and Schwinn baranding on the wrench.......

 

[koolbikes]

By 1972 Schwinn Dealer Tool Catalog they were Schwinn Approved ...
Park Tool

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

By 1972 Schwinn Dealer Tool Catalog they were Schwinn Approved ...
Park Tool

View attachment 1787404

View attachment 1787405

Pictured are the early version wrenches. They have the Schwinn Script logo, the later wrenches had the block letter logo.

Also note the Snap-On part number N________ stamped on the pictured cone wrenches, I've not seen that on the Park cone wrenches.

Eventually all Schwinn tools numbers were #74_____. Some early tools were not stamped with the Schwinn part numbers.

The best Schwinn tool ever was their Pedal wrenches. Until the Schwinn wrenches came out, we used stamped Terry Pedal wrenches which were coated black. They worked OK, but would round out and we would toss them out and grab a new one, they were cheap. Eventually Park developed their Pedal Hatchet with both metric and American sizes on one wrench, it was then the standard shop tool.

John

 

[cyclingday]

My experience early on, was that most local bike shops didn’t generally sell tools.
They wanted the customer dependent on the service department.
It wasn’t until the Performance Bike Shops came around, that you could buy just about any tool in the Park Tool catalog, right off the shelf.
I loved it, because I always wanted to do my own maintenance anyway.
1st tool I bought, was a Park Tool, Work Stand.

 

[ogre]

My Chineseum "bicycle repair stand" sucks in so many ways! I covet & will have a Park stand, maybe, someday.

 

[detroitbike]

My Chineseum "bicycle repair stand" sucks in so many ways! I covet & will have a Park stand, maybe, someday.

I have Several of the flat base with the locking slotted arm Schwinn / park repair stands that I would sell . I would only bring it to a show ; ML or Monroe if someone was interested. Red vinyl frame clamp was Schwinn & blue of course for park branded. .

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

My experience early on, was that most local bike shops didn’t generally sell tools.
They wanted the customer dependent on the service department.
It wasn’t until the Performance Bike Shops came around, that you could buy just about any tool in the Park Tool catalog, right off the shelf.
I loved it, because I always wanted to do my own maintenance anyway.
1st tool I bought, was a Park Tool, Work Stand.

Marty, That's because you are old, almost as old as me, LOL.

Shops did not sell "pro level tools" because they were really expensive, and consumers were not ready to make the investment. We sold the common "specialty bicycle" tools like freewheel removers, crank extractors, cone wrenches, etc. in our shop.

As a bicycle salesman I was making a dealer visit one day. The dealer had a glass fish bowel sitting on his service counter. It was full of those "cheap hex shaped" spoke wrenches. The sign on the bowel said FREE TAKE ONE. I had to ask, what's the deal here? He said he never been so busy in the repair shop truing and relacing wheels. It seems everyone thinks they know how to true a wheel until they actually try to do it and finds it's more than just turning nipples. Just more sick bike dealer humor.

John