Schwinn American - May 2, 1958

[Schwinn Sales West]

That's interesting. A Google search shows that Diamond is still in business, but it looks like their products are all geared towards industrial applications. Maybe they were like a lot of the U.S. tire companies, when the competition from the far east got serious bicycles weren't enough of a market to be worth the trouble.

The Diamond Chain Company | Roller Chain Manufacturer | Indiana

Diamond Chain manufactures roller chain from the highest-quality materials, designing, fabricating, and assembling each component to exceed standards.

diamondchain.com

Correct, Maybe I should speak more inclusively.

When I said Diamond Chain went away, I was referring to the fact that the company exited making the #65 1/2 x 1/8" chain for the bicycle industry. I'm certain there was more profit potential making industrial chain. It would be nice if they still made some "3/16 by 1" and "Block chain" for the restorers, but you know that not going to be their priority. Even then, they were under pricing pressure from off shore. Union of Germany ended up with a lot of Schwinn's business. Union was a quality company, but for an early restoration Diamond is the correct part.

General Motors is still in business, but they no longer manufacture New Departure coaster brakes.

John

 

[Oilit]

Correct, Maybe I should speak more inclusively.

When I said Diamond Chain went away, I was referring to the fact that the company exited making the #65 1/2 x 1/8" chain for the bicycle industry. I'm certain there was more profit potential making industrial chain. It would be nice if they still made some "3/16 by 1" and "Block chain" for the restorers, but you know that not going to be their priority. Even then, they were under pricing pressure from off shore. Union of Germany ended up with a lot of Schwinn's business. Union was a quality company, but for an early restoration Diamond is the correct part.

General Motors is still in business, but they no longer manufacture New Departure coaster brakes.

John

That makes sense. I've got Goodyear bicycle tires on a couple of old bikes, but I doubt anyone at Goodyear these days has ever even considered making such a thing.

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

My first ever restoration was a New World frame just like your photo. The time frame was around 1959, I was a kid, with a bare frame that looked cool to me, and I wanted to build a derailer geared bike. I figured I could squeeze some 27" alloy rims on it by using some short reach 500 side pull brakes. I could not figure out a fork, or a headset that fit. I knew the headset looked like a Schwinn deluxe, but the cup diameter was smaller. Our local Schwinn distributor Harry Wilson Sales did not have the parts. I went to the Schwinn factory (my family was a Schwinn dealer) and told Keith Kingbay my problem. He walked into the factory parts and gave me a New World head set and a new tubular fork to match. As I remember the lower head bearing was a #73 like the top, and not a #2557 like used on the newer Deluxe headsets. That was my first road bike, The next road bike was an Olmo lugged frame, after that it was always Paramount's.

Look at the hand reach on your bike. People must of had huge hands. Big thick grips, and very long reach brake levers. That was one of the CPSC items we had to check assembling bikes during the 1970's. The handle bar gauge could be used sideways to check maximum brake lever reach. The CPSC also nixed the Shark Fin on your front fender. They saw it as a knife edge cutting up small people. That's Government for you, they need to protect you from yourself.

John

 

[Oilit]

My first ever restoration was a New World frame just like your photo. The time frame was around 1959, I was a kid, with a bare frame that looked cool to me, and I wanted to build a derailer geared bike. I figured I could squeeze some 27" alloy rims on it by using some short reach 500 side pull brakes. I could not figure out a fork, or a headset that fit. I knew the headset looked like a Schwinn deluxe, but the cup diameter was smaller. Our local Schwinn distributor Harry Wilson Sales did not have the parts. I went to the Schwinn factory (my family was a Schwinn dealer) and told Keith Kingbay my problem. He walked into the factory parts and gave me a New World head set and a new tubular fork to match. As I remember the lower head bearing was a #73 like the top, and not a #2557 like used on the newer Deluxe headsets. That was my first road bike, The next road bike was an Olmo lugged frame, after that it was always Paramount's.

Look at the hand reach on your bike. People must of had huge hands. Big thick grips, and very long reach brake levers. That was one of the CPSC items we had to check assembling bikes during the 1970's. The handle bar gauge could be used sideways to check maximum brake lever reach. The CPSC also nixed the Shark Fin on your front fender. They saw it as a knife edge cutting up small people. That's Government for you, they need to protect you from yourself.

John

CPSC is Consumer Protection (something) (something)?

 

[razinhellcustomz]

Correct, Maybe I should speak more inclusively.

When I said Diamond Chain went away, I was referring to the fact that the company exited making the #65 1/2 x 1/8" chain for the bicycle industry. I'm certain there was more profit potential making industrial chain. It would be nice if they still made some "3/16 by 1" and "Block chain" for the restorers, but you know that not going to be their priority. Even then, they were under pricing pressure from off shore. Union of Germany ended up with a lot of Schwinn's business. Union was a quality company, but for an early restoration Diamond is the correct part.

General Motors is still in business, but they no longer manufacture New Departure coaster brakes.

John

Since when did gm own New Depature? It's no wonder their such a POS if they designed these brakes..

 

[Olds442]

New departure was a division of GM since the 20s. They are responsible for your beloved coasters. In the 60s or early seventies they where streamlining and folded all the bearing companies into one.

 

[Oilit]

An ad in the April 1947 issue of American Bicyclist:

 

[Olds442]

Generous Motors

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

CPSC is Consumer Protection (something) (something)?

Consumer Product Safety Commission
Lots of changes were made in the 70's to your old models to bring them into compliance with CPSC standards.
Government always wants to help us out, to protect us from ourselves.

John