While browsing Craigslist last week an ad caught my eye about a gentlemen who had tons of vintage bicycle parts for sale. My girlfriend and I happened to be in the area and I decided to give him a call to inquire about headlights. He said to come on over so we found the exit and 3 miles later we arrived.
He met us with a handshake and proceeded to lead us to his back shed. Right away he started giving us a history lesson about the property and that his shed was the first poured concrete building in the area built in 1911. He then took us inside past his chrysler crossfire and up a ladder into vintage parts heaven. He had pedal cars a Murray pedal tractor. (one car was one he got for Christmas on his 6th birthday.) Along with this was walls of rims, fenders, racks, and handlebars. Some spread out on the floor. Totes of headlights and speedometers. Some of which were still in the original packaging from the 50s and 60s.
He then took us to this parts bike corral which had some 60s middle weights and British light weights even a ladies spaceliner. Nothing too exciting. Then he took us to an outbuilding next door. He opened the door to a garage full of anything from a 36 elgin tank bike to a complete Schwinn excelsior b6. This was just the intro...
He then lead us to his house and down into his basement. What was behind the door made my jaw drop. He had TONS of tank bikes, balloon tires, prewar skip tooth, wood rim 28s. I had never seen a collection so big. (not much was for sale) he even had a 40s Hudson badged Schwinn with the original bill of sale.
He had so many stories and still had so many things from his past such as his first slot car, his grandma's sewing machine and a wood table his great grandfather built in the 1800s when he was blind.
I may have only left with a raspberry reflector, but talking with this gentleman made me appreciate the fine folks who are in this hobby and how easy it is to make a connection with them. He also invited me back whenever I was in the area. I may take him up on the offer. *will [emoji2]
He met us with a handshake and proceeded to lead us to his back shed. Right away he started giving us a history lesson about the property and that his shed was the first poured concrete building in the area built in 1911. He then took us inside past his chrysler crossfire and up a ladder into vintage parts heaven. He had pedal cars a Murray pedal tractor. (one car was one he got for Christmas on his 6th birthday.) Along with this was walls of rims, fenders, racks, and handlebars. Some spread out on the floor. Totes of headlights and speedometers. Some of which were still in the original packaging from the 50s and 60s.
He then took us to this parts bike corral which had some 60s middle weights and British light weights even a ladies spaceliner. Nothing too exciting. Then he took us to an outbuilding next door. He opened the door to a garage full of anything from a 36 elgin tank bike to a complete Schwinn excelsior b6. This was just the intro...
He then lead us to his house and down into his basement. What was behind the door made my jaw drop. He had TONS of tank bikes, balloon tires, prewar skip tooth, wood rim 28s. I had never seen a collection so big. (not much was for sale) he even had a 40s Hudson badged Schwinn with the original bill of sale.
He had so many stories and still had so many things from his past such as his first slot car, his grandma's sewing machine and a wood table his great grandfather built in the 1800s when he was blind.
I may have only left with a raspberry reflector, but talking with this gentleman made me appreciate the fine folks who are in this hobby and how easy it is to make a connection with them. He also invited me back whenever I was in the area. I may take him up on the offer. *will [emoji2]
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