Looking to have a conversation about Schwinn Middleweight bicycles (pics added)

[Oilit]

The American you posted has the King Size frame which is fairly rare, one reason why pictures are needed. But you're right, the condition is pretty spectacular.

 

[blakekennedy]

Regardless of the model, you’re in them very right to double your money on nearly every one. If they are all that condition or near that is. Middleweights are definitely on the rise, at least from what I have seen. I’m buying every nice one that I can get my hands on. Just for reference, my last two middleweight purchases were $375 and $300 respectively. And there is still a little meat on the bone to even make money on these if I really wanted to. Similar condition bikes. If they’re anything like what you’ve already posted, you’ll have no problem flipping them.

 

[Misterotis]

Here are pictures of one of the bikes that I am getting, all the other bikes are in the same condition. This is not my bike yet i still have to make the 14 hour drive to go get all of the bikes.
I just don’t want to end up underwater and having to store ten more bikes in my collection, and the market is terrible right now for almost all bikes.
But when I see any old bike in this good shape I figure it has to have value. I just want to feed my balloon tire prewar collection and I was hoping that selling these would help.

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What percentage of a regular Schwinn Middleweight was American made? I’d think most of it.

 

[bloo]

Maybe not as much as you would think. Front hubs, spokes, pedals, chains, brake calipers, freewheels, derailleurs were all probably European more often than not. Maybe the rear hub too if it was single speed or 5 speed. 3 speed hubs were presumably English.

The "American" model did use all American parts.

 

[GTs58]

Maybe not as much as you would think. Front hubs, spokes, pedals, chains, brake calipers, freewheels, derailleurs were all probably European more often than not. Maybe the rear hub too if it was single speed or 5 speed. 3 speed hubs were presumably English.

The "American" model did use all American parts.

History tells us that the early Americans weren’t 100% American. That’s why the name was dropped for 2 1/2 years from 1959 until mid 1961. The speedster took its place for 2 1/2 years. I’ve been told it was either the spokes or the chain that was not American. And that could only have been for maybe one or two years when diamond went out of business or Torrington or whoever it was that was supplying the parts.

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

History tells us that the early Americans weren’t 100% American. That’s why the name was dropped for 2 1/2 years from 1959 until mid 1961. The speedster took its place for 2 1/2 years. I’ve been told it was either the spokes or the chain that was not American. And that could only have been for maybe one or two years when diamond went out of business or Torrington or whoever it was that was supplying the parts.

My 1962 KS American is 100% American made even the chain. I have read that the issue arose with the use of German made chains being used. Do you know of other parts that were not american made being used? I'm just curious if other non american parts have been documented being used.

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

@marc x like mentioned the KS you show is a very desirable middle weight. The more options on them the more they are worth. Spring forks, tanks, racks, lights ,5 speeds and most importantly originality. There can be a huge difference in price from bike to bike within the same year, even if they are the same bike if it is missing parts or has incorrect parts can hurt the price.

 

[GTs58]

My 1962 KS American is 100% American made even the chain. I have read that the issue arose with the use of German made chains being used. Do you know of other parts that were not american made being used? I'm just curious if other non american parts have been documented being used.

I doubt there were any other parts that were not American other than that one part that somebody noticed and reported the false claims. It could’ve been for a six month run a one year only deal when the regular American suppliers disappeared. I’ve never actually read or heard the whole story of details on what exactly happened.

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

I doubt there were any other parts that were not American other than that one part that somebody noticed and reported the false claims. It could’ve been for a six month run a one year only deal when the regular American suppliers disappeared. I’ve never actually read or heard the whole story of details on what exactly happened.

I thought the chains were the main culprit as the USA manufacturer could not keep up so the snuck some German made Union chains on them. I would be interested to know of any other non USA parts had been used.

 

[marc x]

I just read through all 86 pages on the King Size American on the everything Schwinn page here on the Cabe. I learned a LOT and I’m still digesting everything that I read, I feel considerably more knowledgeable now. The only problem now is I have CRS and I lack my short term memory as well as a considerable amount of bike knowledge that I had when I was younger.
I wanted to thank everyone for responding to me and helping me with my decision.