MR D
Finally riding a big boys bike
Hello all, if this needs to be moved I understand. But, here are a couple things I've been tinkering around with lately.
Winter brings on more time to think about what to ride other than actually riding. So, I spend a lot of time in my garage thinking up bikes to show off when spring arrives. This is the result.
First pictures are a re-pop of a Western Flyer "50's model. Nothing too special about it other than it was in great shape when I got it about a month ago. A little bit of touch up paint and some spit and polish to bring it up to speed. What I thought was missing was a single vertical springer. I don't even know if they made these re-pops with a springer, but I have seen pictures of older models with that type front end on a WF. So, in a recent trip to Memory Lane Classics in Ohio, I was looking around for maybe a Schwinn style springer, and though, naw...I want vertical spring. I happened to browse back into the old used (scavenged) parts in the rear of the building and found a couple shelves filled with old springer's. There were some bee hives, and crusty stuff that were incomplete. I dug out this one, and it was apparently all there. The metal badge housing was even there. It was a Monarch silver king springer (super delux?). Being that all the pieces were present I popped for it. Sure it had 2 springs, but I simply thought, "Heh, two must be better than one...right?"
A little cutting and welding on the longer inner tube and it fit right into place on this Flyer. I think it adds a nice touch to the whole look of the bike, even though the vintages are a good 20 years apart. It's just unique.
The second pictures are a 24" girls bike from "67. I looked around at online Schwinn catalogs and it appears to be a Hollywood. Strange thing is the 24" chrome chain guard (more designed like a sting ray guard). I was told it was rare. "Who cared?" I thought, because something is only rare or scarce if you can't find it! This bike was given to me simply because it was taking up room in someones huge yard! I'll take it...sure! The bike sat around until one day I decided to do something with it. I know...a girls "67 bike...who will want THAT? It didn't matter, because it's still a nice complete bike that can be ridden. That's how I see things. My first intention was to just clean her up and give it to a young girl to ride. That was until I ran across a brand new set of wood grain rims in a local bike shop. I held them up and this is where my EUREKA moment happened. I found a pair of cream walled tires and matched them up, and I loved the look. Being that the girls Hollywood was 24", I put the thoughts together and decided to go for a completely unique build. A girls "Woody"! (sounds bad, I know). I decided the color would be a nice bright green metallic and cream. Another visit to the local shop I found the tank which was chrome and rose colored, the horn was present but the button was missing (of course). I replaced the horn unit on the same trip to the Memory Lane swap meet. I had to order the special anodized paint from an online source. After about a month of gathering the needed small parts to finish the project I did the paint, and assembled the bike. I then picked up some wood veneer and attached it to the chain guard. I ordered the Hollywood decal and did some altering of the layout to fit. Seeing that the bike was now going to be a woody, I put the word "wood" in parentheses. Cute...I guess! LOL The pedals were also another find at the local bike shop. They are "Persons Majestic's" I removed the rubber blocks and had a friend make them out of hardwood. They fit perfectly.
All in all I am happy with how this bike took shape. I may never ride it, but it has already turned a few heads. The comments are, "A girls bike?" "Why?" I say because it's different and unique, plus I didn't have a boys frame at the time! haha.
So, enjoy the pics and comment if you like, or don't like. For some reason my PC can't see the finished picture of the chain guard. If I can get it later I will add it.
Mr D.
Winter brings on more time to think about what to ride other than actually riding. So, I spend a lot of time in my garage thinking up bikes to show off when spring arrives. This is the result.
First pictures are a re-pop of a Western Flyer "50's model. Nothing too special about it other than it was in great shape when I got it about a month ago. A little bit of touch up paint and some spit and polish to bring it up to speed. What I thought was missing was a single vertical springer. I don't even know if they made these re-pops with a springer, but I have seen pictures of older models with that type front end on a WF. So, in a recent trip to Memory Lane Classics in Ohio, I was looking around for maybe a Schwinn style springer, and though, naw...I want vertical spring. I happened to browse back into the old used (scavenged) parts in the rear of the building and found a couple shelves filled with old springer's. There were some bee hives, and crusty stuff that were incomplete. I dug out this one, and it was apparently all there. The metal badge housing was even there. It was a Monarch silver king springer (super delux?). Being that all the pieces were present I popped for it. Sure it had 2 springs, but I simply thought, "Heh, two must be better than one...right?"
A little cutting and welding on the longer inner tube and it fit right into place on this Flyer. I think it adds a nice touch to the whole look of the bike, even though the vintages are a good 20 years apart. It's just unique.
The second pictures are a 24" girls bike from "67. I looked around at online Schwinn catalogs and it appears to be a Hollywood. Strange thing is the 24" chrome chain guard (more designed like a sting ray guard). I was told it was rare. "Who cared?" I thought, because something is only rare or scarce if you can't find it! This bike was given to me simply because it was taking up room in someones huge yard! I'll take it...sure! The bike sat around until one day I decided to do something with it. I know...a girls "67 bike...who will want THAT? It didn't matter, because it's still a nice complete bike that can be ridden. That's how I see things. My first intention was to just clean her up and give it to a young girl to ride. That was until I ran across a brand new set of wood grain rims in a local bike shop. I held them up and this is where my EUREKA moment happened. I found a pair of cream walled tires and matched them up, and I loved the look. Being that the girls Hollywood was 24", I put the thoughts together and decided to go for a completely unique build. A girls "Woody"! (sounds bad, I know). I decided the color would be a nice bright green metallic and cream. Another visit to the local shop I found the tank which was chrome and rose colored, the horn was present but the button was missing (of course). I replaced the horn unit on the same trip to the Memory Lane swap meet. I had to order the special anodized paint from an online source. After about a month of gathering the needed small parts to finish the project I did the paint, and assembled the bike. I then picked up some wood veneer and attached it to the chain guard. I ordered the Hollywood decal and did some altering of the layout to fit. Seeing that the bike was now going to be a woody, I put the word "wood" in parentheses. Cute...I guess! LOL The pedals were also another find at the local bike shop. They are "Persons Majestic's" I removed the rubber blocks and had a friend make them out of hardwood. They fit perfectly.
All in all I am happy with how this bike took shape. I may never ride it, but it has already turned a few heads. The comments are, "A girls bike?" "Why?" I say because it's different and unique, plus I didn't have a boys frame at the time! haha.
So, enjoy the pics and comment if you like, or don't like. For some reason my PC can't see the finished picture of the chain guard. If I can get it later I will add it.
Mr D.
