Gifted two Cycle Trucks from my Great Grandfathers Grocery Store

[iknowzeroboutbikes97]

Hello All,

I am very new to this forum and the world of vintage bicycles! I am the keeper of all of my family history, and I was gifted these two bicycles from my Great Grandfathers Grocery store in Chattanooga, TN that he owned and operated from the late 1930s in to the early 1970s.

I am in absolute awe of these beautiful bicycles, and I want to honor my great grandparents history by preserving one bike, and restoring the other. However, I have no knowledge of where to even start. Can someone help point me in the right direction? Any help is appreciated.

 

[sworley]

Welcome! Very cool bikes and story!

It may be obivous but leave the red one alone as it's original paint, decals. Be careful cleaning it, some modern cleaners can do more harm than good, especially on decals and painted parts. Water and a mild, diluted soap bath should be fine.

The black one is prime for a restore as someone spray-painted it black already.

 

[cyclingday]

Welcome to the Cabe, and congratulations on the acquisition of those wonderful family heirlooms.
As stated above, the obvious choice is to preserve the red one with all of its glorious history of the service it provided your great grandfathers grocery store.
The black one is ripe for cutting your teeth on.
By the time you get wherever you want to be on it, you will have learned a lot about the magnificent Schwinn Cycle Truck, and delivery cycles in general.
They were definitely a beast of burden.
Feel free to ask any questions you may have in your endeavor.
There’s a cult like following for these bikes around here, and we’d be happy to help you along wherever we can.
Good luck and enjoy the ride!

 

[volksboy57]

That red one is killer

 

[iknowzeroboutbikes97]

Welcome! Very cool bikes and story!

It may be obivous but leave the red one alone as it's original paint, decals. Be careful cleaning it, some modern cleaners can do more harm than good, especially on decals and painted parts. Water and a mild, diluted soap bath should be fine.

The black one is prime for a restore as someone spray-painted it black already.

Perfect! That’s exactly what I needed and was thinking. I was generally wondering what sort of cleaner would be best to knock off the dirt before I get it mounted in my house!

 

[iknowzeroboutbikes97]

Welcome to the Cabe, and congratulations on the acquisition of those wonderful family heirlooms.
As stated above, the obvious choice is to preserve the red one with all of its glorious history of the service it provided your great grandfathers grocery store.
The black one is ripe for cutting your teeth on.
By the time you get wherever you want to be on it, you will have learned a lot about the magnificent Schwinn Cycle Truck, and delivery cycles in general.
They were definitely a beast of burden.
Feel free to ask any questions you may have in your endeavor.
There’s a cult like following for these bikes around here, and we’d be happy to help you along wherever we can.
Good luck and enjoy the ride!

Thank you so much! I can certainly tell that I will be one of the cult followers by the end of this endeavor! Do you have know of any sources in this thread or else where that provide information on how I can narrow down model year or a step by step guide? Probably an impossible question but who knows! I really appreciate the warm welcome!

 

[GTs58]

Thank you so much! I can certainly tell that I will be one of the cult followers by the end of this endeavor! Do you have know of any sources in this thread or else where that provide information on how I can narrow down model year or a step by step guide? Probably an impossible question but who knows! I really appreciate the warm welcome!

The serial numbers will be stamped underneath the crank or on the left rear drop out above the axle nut.

 

[cyclingday]

This is a pretty good thread that will help get you started.

Cycle Trucks- Post’em!​

Unfortunately I don’t know how to post a link from one thread to another, but that is the exact title, so if you just click on the little magnifying glass search icon, you’ll be able to eventually get there.
Most of the Cycle Trucks in discussion tend to be Prewar models, and yours are both Postwar models.
So you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the differences there.
By the looks of the frame design on yours, I’m pretty sure they are both from the late 1950’s/early 1960’s.
But more to come on that once the serial number guys get ahold of that.
You’ll be able to get a pretty good read on what you’ve got once you scroll through that thread, so be sure and check it out.

 

[Schwinndig]

Click on the link below:

Thread 'Cycle Trucks- Post’em!'

Apr 9, 2023

I keep digging and can’t find a thread for just Cycle Truck pictures! Would love a reference thread to just poke around in and look at pictures for inspiration or to see what parts might be correct.

Currently working on my 1939, trying to salvage the original paint. I can’t find any pictures of another green with red pins! The frame is green too, but taking much more effort to reveal…

• RustyHornet
• Replies: 120
• Forum: All Things Schwinn

• 
• 

 

[Archie Sturmer]

I don't know how to....

On a smart phone (Apple, Samsung, etc.), one might tap the URL - sometimes appearing at the top of the screen (scroll to top);
then an option to copy the link may be presented.

To post the link, sometimes one may have to first type some text such as "xxxxx" - and then tap or double-tap that text, to then be presented with an option to paste the recently copied URL.