Hubbard

I acquired this today from Dallas CL for $50! I was so excited...I've been looking for a two seater for a long time, but the price is never right. Until today.

Does anyone know anything about this two-seater? I would appreciate any information.

Hello, Greenville Ave. St. Patrick's Day Parade (it's green, if you can't tell)!

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T-Mar

Don't know much about Columbia but that's the later version of the Skylark, which came out about 1977 and lasted through about 1980. The tandem itself looks very basic and entry level. The stays are crimped to hold the dropouts in place and it has one piece Ashtabula cranksets.

jacksbike

I used to sell those. Columbia made these in their factory in Westfield, Massachusetts, outisde of Springfield , Mass. I believe that this tandem is from the 1969 to 1975 era. As T-Mar has noted above, the frame dropouts are crimped , which was the manner in which Columbia manufactured frames. I do remember having some chainline alignment problems with these tandems, straight out of the box. This was due to the frame construction-alignment of the 2 bottom bracket shells, etc. Bikes were always rideable, but just had a bit of a funky shifting problem.

Hubbard

I appreciate the response. I want to clean this tandem up and ride it, and I thank anyone that has any information.

If it wasn't so darned hot right now in Dallas, I would be farther along on this project.....

Hubbard

So it's either 1980 or later or 1969 to 1975.......I agree that it's entry level, but it's in pretty decent shape, so I'm gonna clean her up. I just noticed the rear drum brake today.

There sure isn't a lot of information out there about this bike. If I had to guess, I would agree with the early 1980's date for this bike, just from the design of the logo and components.

Anyone else?

SirMike1983 

Columbia was the house brand of the Westfield Manufacturing Company, based in Westfield, Mass.. They were an old bicycle company, being among the first companies in the US to manufacture "safety bicycles" in number. They also attempted a number of different designs and approaches, including chainless shaft bicycles. When Schwinn began pioneering balloon tire machines in the 1930s in the mass market, Columbia soon followed. Columbia's balloon tire bicycles were competitive with Schwinn in terms of quality, though not national popularity. Columbia still represented good quality right up through the 1960s, as their fortunes went downhill. They continued to modernize alongside other US makers, but by the late 1960s their quality had slipped some.

This bike looks like a later Columbia bicycle-- probably 1960s-1970s era it looks. They're usually heavy, solid, and give workable service. By this time, in my view, they weren't what could be called "top quality" any more, though they did make a solid product that could make for a good riding bike.

I think you did well at that price, but it will probably take some work. Columbia serial numbers often appeared by the rear dropouts, though, I'm not sure if they moved them later on. My 49-50 balloon tire at least has a number by the rear dropout. Check oldroads.com for a serial chart.

That bike will be a lot of fun with a little clean up and adjustment.

Hubbard

Thanks, SirMike! Heavy is a good description for this bike. It will be a fun project.

custermustache

I missed this by 5 minutes. Good grab.

riva

I have one of those. Its a low-end tank but fun and a good grab at $50 imo. Here, two seaters go for at least a benjamin, even rusty low-enders. I would just spend the least possible to get it road worthy, but you could upgrade if you want. I replaced the bent front chrome 590mm wheel with ally MTB wheels on ours. Tektro canti's that came with it reach fine. May relace the drum to a 559mm rear alloy rim next. Also thinking about some of those ashtabula to english BB adapters because the rings are tweaked, (probably not worth doing if your rings are fine) then fitting dual FFS cranks just to see if it works..

A cheapie is the way to start on a tandem IMO, you don't want to spend loads of cash on a fancy tandem only to find that you never ride it.. and beginner tandem pilots probably shouldn't be going 30mph anyway.

jasnjules

Ha, I just bought this one's twin. Paid more than that but got sick of looking and want to get one going before the summer is over. The double sprocket has about 3/8 wobble which causes the chain to misalign. Anyone know where parts (sprockets) can be found for these? Also, did these come with chain guards?

Obscene

Haha I also picked up one of these earlier in the summer and have been perplexed ever since regarding the chain alignment.

bobpaul

I have this exact same bike; it's a 1981-1984 somewhere. The first 5-speed twosome was 1978, so it's definitely not before then.

If you look through the pictures over here, you'll note that prior 1979 the frame looked quite different. And 1979-1980 have a different design for the chain guards. 1985 is badged "Classic by Columbia", which mine is not. If yours is, then you have a 1985, otherwise you have a 1981-1984 like me.

The only numbers I can find on my bike are on the head tube. One side reads "808 70" and the otherside (presumably the serial number) is "5 052 0630". None of these numbers match with the Vintage Columbia bikes website. I'd really like to track mine down to the specific model year, but I don't think I ever will.

sailorbenjamin

I've got a Huffy Daisy. It's the cheapest, ugliest, heaviest tandem ever and till the Schwinn Twinn followed me home, it was also the bike that got the most use in our house. Great fun!

Glennfordx4

One of the first rehab's I did when I got back into bikes was a early 70's Twosome coaster brake model, it was all original right down to the Kelly Safari tires and had sat in a barn for almost 40yrs.

Glenn,


After,