Schwinn - From World Leader To Bankruptcy

The Schwinn Empire came about as the result of one man's dream to introduce to the world a quality product created under a well planned strategy that would knock the socks off their competitors. Ignaz Schwinn, a German immigrant who came to America in 1891, had the desire to be the best and would not accept anything less.

Four years later in 1895, Ignaz Schwinn teamed up with Adolf Arnold, a member of a successfull meatpacking and banking family. Together, they formed the "Arnold, Schwinn & Company." Their focus was to produce a bicycle that was safe, dependable and easier to operate than the current bikes on the road.

In 1896 there were some 300 bicycle companies in the United States. The bicycles of that day had a way to go to be seriously accepted by the overall population. Early bicycles up to the late 1800's were riding on hard rubber tires and were hard to operate. And with prices ranging from $100 to $125, they were not easily affordable to the average Joe.

As the turn of the 20th century was approaching, there was a growing market for dependable and affordable transportation. The world was changing and new inventions were popping up everywhere. Some were hot and others were flops.

Ford's Assembly Line-Model T

The biggest contender in the early 1900's was Henry Ford, the father of the assembly line. His success in the automobile industry was an example and an inspiration to Schwinn. Schwinn sought endlessly to produce bicycles that were innovative, dependable, and affordable.  

Schwinn Sting-Ray And Krate Bike Facts

It was the mid 1960's in Chicago and something big was on the horizon. It hit us fast and hard. Back then, Schwinn Sting-Rays and Krate bikes invaded the American culture with a vengeance. These two wheeled wonders soared to the top of the charts before you could say uncle. Baby-boomers all across America were making their mark on the world. Our day was just beginning. Look out world, here we come!

What is it about these cool street riders that makes them still sought after well into the 21st century? Let's explore this phenomenon. 

The Inspiration

In the late 1950's and early 1960's "muscle cars and motor cycles" were making quite a statement on the streets across America. They were being tricked out with fancy paint jobs, wide tires and fast engines. The movie "American Graffiti" depicted it perfectly. The cars were super cool! The young drivers were so desperate for the thrill that they had to experience it for themselves.

In an effort to bring that cool to the teen and preteen generation, kids out west mimicked those motorized wonders by customizing their own personal bikes with high-rise handlebars, low-rider seats and slick tires. They created super cool street rides of their own. Their efforts didn't go unnoticed. Someone was watching!

In 1962, Schwinn's engineer, Al Fritz, traveled west to California to check out this exciting and growing trend. Al was so inspired by what he saw that he decided to create a bike that complimented those styles. And so he went back to Chicago and hit the drawing board.

The Sting-Rays

Al wasted no time putting his ideas in motion. He started with a strong 20" Schwinn quality bike frame, fabricated a sleek new banana-style seat and cool high-rise handlebars, labeled it with the trusted Schwinn name and thus, "The birth of the Sting-Ray".  It was fantastic! Schwinn was onto something big and boy did it pay off! 

Schwinn Milestones

Ignaz Schwinn

In 1860 Ignaz Schwinn was born in Hardheim, Germany. Thirty-five years later, one of the most well known distinctive names in the bicycle industry came on the scene in the city of Chicago, USA. The rest is history. Here is a list of the milestones that began that day.

1895 Ignaz and partner Adolph Arnold form the Arnold, Schwinn & Company to build bicycles.

1933 Schwinn introduces the balloon tire. Two years later, it became the standard of the industry.

1946 Schwinn introduces built-in kickstands.

1948 Ignaz Schwinn dies in Chicago, Illinois.

1949 The famous Schwinn Black Phantom is introduced.

1952 Schwinn begins an “Authorized Dealer Network.”

About Those Muscle Bikes!

 Krates  Fastbacks  Classics

Muscle bikes mimick the souped up Mustang's, Camaro's and many other street rods that were hot in the late 1950's and early 1960's. These 2 wheeled wonders were an overwhelming success right from the start. First to hit the pavement was the Classic Sting-Ray soon followed by the Lemon Peeler, Apple Krate, Fastback and numerous other Schwinn muscle bikes.  

The original Sting-ray was so successful millions sold the first year. Would anyone gamble with perfection? Could anyone have possibly improved on the Classic Sting-Ray? But that's just what Schwinn did. It's 1969 and the Krate series moves in for the challenge. The Schwinn Krates are irresistible and like the icing on the cake, come out shinning. 

The wide 20 inch slick tires, banana seat, high rise handle bars, stick-shift and the super strong light weight frame make them so cool and easy to maneuver. It's almost as much fun thinking about it as it was experiencing it.