Greenville, MS Schwinn bicycles

[Xlobsterman]

I was thinking that, but some I've had said it on a sticker at the bottom of the seat tube. I'll use a hair dyer and see if I can gently remove it anyway. .

I know the Taiwan Giant made bikes had a sticker on the right rear dropout with the date code on them, but never recall seeing any on the Panasonic bikes? But I am going 100% by memory from 40+ years ago, and never really paid that much attention to things like that, because I never thought I would be discussing this stuff on the internet 40+ years later......................

I think some of the earlier LeTours were made in Chicago, but not 100% sure of that?

 

[GTs58]

The alignment on the Murray-built frames is sometimes noticeably off. I'm guessing the tooling had enough wear that getting good results took practice.

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Slanted top bar for the really short kid. lol Bet that took the place of the Camelback frames. I find it hard to believe Schwinn Approved of that saddle.

 

[wheelbender6]

With all the economic rivalry between the North and South, I can't believe there were no distinguishing marks in Mississippi made Schwinns. It makes no sense.

 

[Oilit]

Schwinn started importing bikes during the '70's, and at first they were careful to indicate which were which. In the catalogs, the imported bikes were "Schwinn-Approved", while the U.S.-built bikes were just "Schwinn". But after they shut down production in Chicago, they almost never mentioned where their bikes came from. I've never heard why, but at least part may be that Greenville was just a small fraction of the total. According to "The Fall of Schwinn", a two-part article in Crain's Chicago Business (1993), Giant was producing over 80% of Schwinn's bikes by 1986.

The fall of Schwinn (pt. 1 of 2)

Like the Chicago summer of 1992, Schwinn Bicycle Co.'s negotiations with prospective buyers had turned cold. On Aug. 26, Chief Operating Officer Ralph Day Murray delivered the prognosis to an advisory board that included several Schwinn family members and three outside businessmen. No savior was...

www.chicagobusiness.com

The fall of Schwinn (pt. 2 of 2)

Two distinct odors wafted across the rugged hills of California's Marin County in the 1970s. Marijuana. And burning grease. Both tainted the air when gonzo cyclists roared down Mount Tamalpais on remodeled bikes at speeds topping 40 mph. High from the thrill, and often the dope, they'd wear...

www.chicagobusiness.com

Ed Schwinn may have been trying to do what @SirMike1983 suggested: import lower-end bikes from Giant and build high-end bikes in Greenville and Waterford. But from what I've read, Greenville was continuously plagued by problems, and lost money until it closed.

 

[mrg]

This is what Schwinn said to it’s customers that wanted quality control after Chicago!

 

[wheelbender6]

I think I found a Mississippi Schwinn here in Houston.

1980s Schwinn Le Tour - bicycles - by owner - bike sale

In perfectly working condition. Recently changed tubes. 55cm frame size (fit for someone around...

houston.craigslist.org

 

[Eric Amlie]

'88 model.
I have one also that I upgraded a bit.
I like it.

 

[Oilit]

'88 model.
I have one also that I upgraded a bit.
I like it.

I think I found a Mississippi Schwinn here in Houston.

1980s Schwinn Le Tour - bicycles - by owner - bike sale

In perfectly working condition. Recently changed tubes. 55cm frame size (fit for someone around...

houston.craigslist.org

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An '88 model would be the right age, but how can you tell it's from Greenville?

 

[Oilit]

I think I found a Mississippi Schwinn here in Houston.

1980s Schwinn Le Tour - bicycles - by owner - bike sale

In perfectly working condition. Recently changed tubes. 55cm frame size (fit for someone around...

houston.craigslist.org

View attachment 1285495

I'm guessing that Greenville used different serial numbers than the imports, but I've never seen them documented. Is that what you're going by?

 

[GTs58]

I'm guessing that Greenville used different serial numbers than the imports, but I've never seen them documented. Is that what you're going by?

Did you happen to see this Insert when Eric post it a short time back? I haven't come across any serial number info on the late 80's and up Schwinns that would give someone an idea where the bikes were made or if all the Schwinn tagged bikes followed any special serial numbering format.

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