Let’s see some late 70’s/early 80’s Cruisers and Spitfires

[koolbikes]

Great score, curious why the changed the girls seat?, weird how they use universal type fenders on the girls ( they don't fit right and rear goes to the axle ) oh well friends don't let friends put fenders on Spitfire/Cruisers!

Alan said his wife felt the Seat to be too "big", didn't fit right? ... Schwinn Dealer's attempt to satisfy customer with those fenders.
They are Schwinn middleweight fenders, just wrong braces which are too narrow for Schwinn Studded Balloon tires.
The "Cruiser" bicycle was meant to be fenderless, but they do look nice with the correct "Balloon" fenders too.

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

Road Trip Today for these His & Hers 1981 Schwinn Cruiser Bicycles.
Found them on FB, they were located in Kalkaska, Mi lakefront Manistee Lake.
Their condition is quite remarkable, I purchased them from the original owner Alan whom is 74 years old. He told me that the bicycles were a gift from a family member of his belated wife, they received them in the early '80's when they purchased their lakefront cottage to use for those local trips. He told me that they were used very little and said they have been hanging in their attached garage for years, the tires were flat and he assumed inner tubes were no good. I pumped them up and they are holding air just fine. Took them out for a quick ride!
Beautiful Black Finish, Decals are Fantastic! ... Original WW Schwinn Studded Balloon Tires. Also included were both the Schwinn Cruiser Manuals, dealer stamped and the original NOS Seat from the women's bicycle that was removed from new!
The bicycles were bought at Cherry Hill Schwinn, womens has Livonia and mens has Dearborn Hts, MI., Schwinn Dealer decals, both about five miles from my residence.
Women's Cruiser ... MR543xxx ... Bdg # 1471 ... May 27, 1981
Men's Cruiser ... MR522xxx ... Bdg # 0751 ... March 16,1981
The fenders on both are Schwinn middleweight, very tight fitting ... The fenders will be removed, they have to go!

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So here's the side bar on your Cherry Hill Bicycle Company "MIchigan" Cruisers.
Cherry Hill Bicycle Company was a Schwinn Dealer located in Michigan. It was owned by Ralph, and I cannot remember Ralph's last name. They sold the Schwinn store, and moved to Scottsdale, AZ. and built a building and reopened a new Schwinn Dealership. They called it the same name, Cherry Hill Bicycle Company and it was located on Scottsdale Road, just south of Shea Blvd. They ran the Arizona location for several years before they sold the business and retired. The business was sold to Landis Cyclery and was still in operation as the Landis Scottsdale location the last I knew. I believe Dave was the Landis store manager.

Why do I have this stuff still stuck in my mind? Well, I was standing in the Scottsdale Cherry Hill Bicycle Company dealership making a dealer visit with Ralph when I received a call from Schwinn Sales West. It seems. I was on the short list of Schwinn people under consideration for the vacant Sales Manager Position. I left Cherry Hill Bicycle Company, drove home and packed my bag, and was sitting in Edward Schwinn's office at 217 Jefferson the next day for interviews in each department. My bicycle career changed in Cherry Hill Bicycle Company.

Edit, Ralph's last name was Graden, Ralph Graden.

They might just be dealership stickers on these bicycles, but there's a story behind every sticker.

John

 

[koolbikes]

So here's the side bar on your Cherry Hill Bicycle Company "MIchigan" Cruisers.
Cherry Hill Bicycle Company was a Schwinn Dealer located in Michigan. It was owned by Ralph, and I cannot remember Ralph's last name. They sold the Schwinn store, and moved to Scottsdale, AZ. and built a building and reopened a new Schwinn Dealership. They called it the same name, Cherry Hill Bicycle Company and it was located on Scottsdale Road, just south of Shea Blvd. They ran the Arizona location for several years before they sold the business and retired. The business was sold to Landis Cyclery and was still in operation as the Landis Scottsdale location the last I knew. I believe Dave was the Landis store manager.

Why do I have this stuff still stuck in my mind? Well, I was standing in the Scottsdale Cherry Hill Bicycle Company dealership making a dealer visit with Ralph when I received a call from Schwinn Sales West. It seems. I was on the short list of Schwinn people under consideration for the vacant Sales Manager Position. I left Cherry Hill Bicycle Company, drove home and packed my bag, and was sitting in Edward Schwinn's office at 217 Jefferson the next day for interviews in each department. My bicycle career changed in Cherry Hill Bicycle Company.

They might just be dealership stickers on these bicycles, but there's a story behind every sticker.

John

John, Thank You for that added history ... You ask? ... "Why do I have this stuff stuck still in my mind?"
Very invaluable recollection, I'm thinking BOOK Worthy as I would buy one for the experience. Great moments of a bygone time!

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

I did not realize that the ladies Cruisers were kind of hard to come by. I picked one up a few years ago from @kirk thomas and parted it out for some of my own bikes. Last October I donated my beautiful 1961 Hollywood to my wife's charity auction event and was bumming as it rode so nice and was a step through. Well I have been running around to my storage and retrieving the parts to build it back. Maybe if I ever get an afternoon for myself I can get it rolling again. I figure with my advancing age and fleeting agility a step through should always be kept available.

 

[Xlobsterman]

I did not realize that the ladies Cruisers were kind of hard to come by. I picked one up a few years ago from @kirk thomas and parted it out for some of my own bikes. Last October I donated my beautiful 1961 Hollywood to my wife's charity auction event and was bumming as it rode so nice and was a step through. Well I have been running around to my storage and retrieving the parts to build it back. Maybe if I ever get an afternoon for myself I can get it rolling again. I figure with my advancing age and fleeting agility a step through should always be kept available.

Or you can get yourself a nice trike!

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

Or you can get yourself a nice trike!

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Oh trust me if I only had the room.

 

[koolbikes]

I did not realize that the ladies Cruisers were kind of hard to come by. I picked one up a few years ago from @kirk thomas and parted it out for some of my own bikes. Last October I donated my beautiful 1961 Hollywood to my wife's charity auction event and was bumming as it rode so nice and was a step through. Well I have been running around to my storage and retrieving the parts to build it back. Maybe if I ever get an afternoon for myself I can get it rolling again. I figure with my advancing age and fleeting agility a step through should always be kept available.

The women's Schwinn Cruisers are hard to come by, the last of the Schwinn USA built Women's Balloon Tire Bicycles.
In the 1981 Schwinn Brochure there is not much mention, but a photo and it's listed in the 1982 Schwinn brochure ... Women's ... model CC9 26" wheels (coaster) ... Colors ... Black, Blue, Chestnut & Red.
I'm sure there were many parted for men's Cruisers.
1983's were Schmurray's with tube Fork.

 

[WillWork4Parts]

I've got the Chestnut Lady's version, took it to a couple swap meets, didn't even get a second glance. I need to start getting rid of some, even the Spitfire. By all means if anyone is interested, PM me.

 

[Xlobsterman]

Oh trust me if I only had the room.

Yes, they do take up a bit of room in the garage. But on a positive note, the basket is a great spot to store stuff................LOL

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

Yes, they do take up a bit of room in the garage. But on a positive note, the basket is a great spot to store stuff................LOL

While I can still ride on 2 wheels my Cycle Truck holds that spot.