picker guide?

[CRASH]

Has someone put together a guide for us new guys to help us out when we're out picking? I ask because before a week ago, I didn't even know there was such a thing as a Hiawatha or a Western Flyer. I still can't tell you what Bendix is, or what other components, frames, parts, or whatever are more valuable than others. I'd like to know.

The reason I ask is so if I... or anyone else... runs across something, I'll know that it's valuable to bring back here and make available to the RRB community.

If there isn't a guide, can we (well, not me) put one together?

 

[Henry morgan]

this is a question for wise old owl, but at this point I am still waiting for him to tell me how many licks it takes
to get to the center of a tootsie roll tootsie pop .. and around here all we have is uncle stretch so we just have to wait
and see if he will impart wisdom on us :shock:

 

[ratina]

This site is a great guide. I've learned most of what I know from here. Watch fresh finds, sale prices, what components the bikes have, etc

 

[Uncle Stretch]

That is funny. How did I get in this? :roll:
I have been here a while and bought quiet a few bikes.
Then I cut them up and stretched them. Everybody hollared.
I started building my own. It seems like the deal on a bike is
whatever you buy that is cheap. Someone will like it if you did.
Hard to make money on bikes. Nobody likes it , but they do bring more.
parting out than whole. Some you don't part. If its a complete whatever
Leave it be . Oh and don't take off the last speck of original paint either.
I'm not sure about the tootsie roll pop, but if you drink a bunch of Pepsie's
eat a bunch of twinkies and ding dongs somebody will tell you your diabetic.

 

[Henry morgan]

That is funny. How did I get in this? :roll:
I have been here a while and bought quiet a few bikes.
Then I cut them up and stretched them. Everybody hollared.
I started building my own. It seems like the deal on a bike is
whatever you buy that is cheap. Someone will like it if you did.
Hard to make money on bikes. Nobody likes it , but they do bring more.
parting out than whole. Some you don't part. If its a complete whatever
Leave it be . Oh and don't take off the last speck of original paint either.
I'm not sure about the tootsie roll pop, but if you drink a bunch of Pepsie's
eat a bunch of twinkies and ding dongs somebody will tell you your diabetic.

see your are owr wise old owl

 

[wheelbender6]

I don't know of any such guide, Chief. You will acquire vintage bike knowledge quickly by regularly reading this site. If you have a smart phone while you are out picking, you can google the bike brands. Just have fun picking and don't get too wrapped around the axle on which brands are the most valuable.

 

[chimichanga]

man do i ever hate that word. the only picking i do is my nose. Wheelbender is correct just keep on reading this site regularly and you will gain lots of knowledge.This whole site is a guide.

 

[Jimmy the Gent]

I want to third the "read the site".....

If I had done what I originally planned; I would've stripped and repainted my frame.

Now; I have a whole new appreciation for the word "patina". Some things just can't be truly faked.

The way I see it; my bike is about my age. I consider my scars a badge of honor. I'm going to make sure my bike keeps the scars, too. Pretty much everything else may be changed; but not those.

Just keep an eye on the right threads; and you can't go wrong.

 

[Uncle Stretch]

One more thing is buying bikes is location specific too. You may live in Kansas and find Elgin
Bluebirds in barns for $200 and then you could live in another part of the US and a Taiwan Schwinn goes for $400. Also all the expensive hard to find parts make a bike worth more. In the end these are just bikes.....Ok I said it ....and they are worth what they are worth to you. If you buy something and don't go "Man that was a deal" then you shouldn't have bought it. :lol:

 

[Walker]

I could share some tactics and tips but....where are you located exactly 8)

You can usually pick up girls bikes for less than a boys version, if it's skiptooth, you may score some chain, hubs, fenders and other bits that can go to use somewhere else. If you have welding skills, you could turn that girls frame into a boys bike or some kind of custom rig.
Girls Elgin conversions

Never overlook the goodies, I've bought a whole bike from the local junk yard just for the badge and a cool glass reflector. It was so rusted I broke off the chainstays by hand and fireants poured out. Awesome badge though.

Sometimes that rusty girls bike on CL has some redeeming value too. Torrington stem, tripple step whees, longspring seat..

Always spin the wheels to check for damage. Turn the bars 90 degrees put one hand around the headtube down at the fork crown, give the bike a few pushes on the handlebar to check for excessive headset wear.

Pulled from a Dumpster, seriously. That was 2 years ago. Frame is gone now but some parts remain. I have the original fork and just picked up a frame for it.

after powdercoating

Always try to get the seller to throw the first $ out there. In general, the first person to put out a figure, looses. Dont be afraid to walk away.

In time you will get an eye for what is quality and what is not, what is salvagable and what isn't. I have a friend who picks the dump for me in the next town over, I take everything he pickes up with a smile because even the busted up walmart Mongoose full suspension bike he just gave me that has no resale value what so ever is still worth a few bucks in scrap. .

Keep us posted

 

[outskirtscustoms]

9 times out of 10 if it looks cool and it's priced about the same as "any other bike" buy it.

 

[Saverio]

man do i ever hate that word. the only picking i do is my nose. Wheelbender is correct just keep on reading this site regularly and you will gain lots of knowledge.This whole site is a guide.

hahaha.

 

[Saverio]

@ Walker, very informative. Thanks!

 

[Voyager Al]

good thread,great info. I read this forum about 3 hours a night. top to bottom. I love it.

 

[yoothgeye]

Look for a real headbadge that is not stuck on with tape, that's a good indication the bike could have some pedigree. Painted details instead of stickers. Men's bikes are more desirable than women's (unless you're a woman). If it has a tank and the price it right, buy it. Don't get too hung up on names, even department store names, that's where they use to sell ALL bikes.

Just look around here a while and you'll start learning the name brands and the look of the frames.

 

[CRASH]

Great info! Thanks for all the replies!

 

[dos cruiser]

There is a lot of great books out there,
Introductory Guide to Collecting the Classics (American Balloon Tire Bicyclesfrom the 1930's-1960)
Ogininal Bicycle Supply Factory Identifiation Manual, Found this at Memory Lane
The American Bicyle by Pridmore and Hurd,
Schwinn Bicycles by Pridmore and Hurd,
Classic American Bicycle by Pridmore,
Schwinn by Dzierzak & Hackett,
Standard Catalog of Schwinn Bicycles1895-2004 by Mitchel
and my favorite
The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles by Jan Herne- Jean-Pierre Prade'res
Hope this helps a little bit.