Old Catalogues to Find Our First Bikes

[Kevin B]

I found two sites that archive old department store catalogues. They are great for looking back in time.

Wish Book Web

Christmas Catalogues and Holiday Wish Books

I found my first bike of page 191 of the 1968 J.C. Penney Christmas Catalogue. Mine was the $39 bike but not as shown. Mine was the flamboyant olive variant. Cheater slick, banana seat, sissy bar and "Swinger frame." My buddies had Raleigh's and Schwinn Stingrays. I really put some miles on my "Swinger." The chain guard was the coolest.

 

[Vroom]

Very cool, my first bike was a Rail type muscle bike but not a Huffy?
I remember how hard it was to pop wheelies with the longer frame lol.

 

[bear bear]

something was made by Colombia that had a long frame.

 

[Vroom]

something was made by Colombia that had a long frame.

I think maybe it was a Deelite, a rebranded company.

 

[MazdaFlyer]

My first bike was a 24” JC Higgins with tank. I remember removing the tank and rear rack cause they weren’t neat...wow.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

A couple of years ago, I found someone selling the exact same bike as my first REAL bike. Downloaded the pics Still remember the first time I took mine down a flight of stairs.

*My shock was upgraded with a Stumpjumper takeoff before I ever saw it. Not appearing in any catalog really made identification interesting

 

[HuffyBrad]

I found two sites that archive old department store catalogues. They are great for looking back in time.

Wish Book Web

Christmas Catalogues and Holiday Wish Books

I found my first bike of page 191 of the 1968 J.C. Penney Christmas Catalogue. Mine was the $39 bike but not as shown. Mine was the flamboyant olive variant. Cheater slick, banana seat, sissy bar and "Swinger frame." My buddies had Raleigh's and Schwinn Stingrays. I really put some miles on my "Swinger." The chain guard was the coolest.

View attachment 147695

I have bike at the top left it is all original but the tires still has the original jcpenny grips