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Bicycle factories

Old 07-16-19, 02:00 AM
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Sp1990
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Bicycle factories

Does anyone have any pictures of any old bicycle manufacturing plants? Would be interesting to see, especially any old USA bicycle plants, as there's not many American made bikes now other than some high dollar bikes. I know Murray and Huffy made bikes here in the US until mid-late 90s. Any pictures or video of that famous Chicago schwinn factory? Is it still standing?
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Old 07-16-19, 05:46 AM
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Google is (sometimes) your friend...


Google image search - Chicago Schwinn factory

Way, WAY more at the link....
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Old 07-16-19, 07:34 AM
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Went on a YMCA trip to the Scwinn factory around 1973-74.

Dark, dirty, and noisy, with a haze of spray paint in the air.

Factory is still standing.
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Old 07-16-19, 08:33 AM
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Here's a Bicycling! magazine article from 1984 showing the inside of the Trek factory at the time I was working there:

https://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/Trek/index.html
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Old 07-16-19, 10:47 AM
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Thanks for the link to the article. I love to see factories, especially, older ones. Knowing both about manufacturing and bicycles makes this especially interesting. And there is a guy there wearing a Campagnolo T-shirt. Could the people at Trek actually be Cycling enthusiasts? I'm not good at emoji's so, "wink, wink".

I appreciated hearing about how the little details like seat lugs improved the production while keeping the qualities of the bike intact.
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Old 07-16-19, 11:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Velo Mule
I love to see factories, especially, older ones. Knowing both about manufacturing and bicycles makes this especially interesting. And there is a guy there wearing a Campagnolo T-shirt. Could the people at Trek actually be Cycling enthusiasts?
Well, there are some, anyway. The guy in the picture wearing the Campagnolo T-shirt is me.
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Old 07-16-19, 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
Well, there are some, anyway. The guy in the picture wearing the Campagnolo T-shirt is me.
Bravo!
Who sez BF isn't fantastic.
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Old 07-16-19, 08:13 PM
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Ross factory in Allentown PA ('70s). Cannondale factory in Bedford PA ('80s). Schwinn factory in Greenville MS ('80s). You should be able to search for pix from those.
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Old 07-16-19, 09:40 PM
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From some research a few years ago, this building in Chicago still exist and of the former Lewis Lightweights factory 1939. Someone told me it also might have been used later on by Monarch bicycles.



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Old 07-16-19, 09:55 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
The guy in the picture wearing the Campagnolo T-shirt is me.
Yeah, but do you still have the T-shirt?
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Old 07-16-19, 10:28 PM
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I wasn't allowed to take pictures in the Cinelli/Columbus factory floor, but I was allowed to take pictures of the offices, warehouse, showroom and grounds.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/681231...57693747997045


Cinelli 010 by iabisdb, on Flickr



Cinelli 026 by iabisdb, on Flickr



Cinelli 029 by iabisdb, on Flickr



Cinelli 034 by iabisdb, on Flickr



Cinelli 044 by iabisdb, on Flickr



Cinelli 089 by iabisdb, on Flickr


One of Ole Ritter's bikes


Cinelli 097 by iabisdb, on Flickr



Cinelli 105 by iabisdb, on Flickr



Cinelli 125 by iabisdb, on Flickr



Cinelli 127 by iabisdb, on Flickr
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Old 07-16-19, 10:59 PM
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Not an American factory, but I've watched this Raleigh film many times and find it fascinating.

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