Interview with Richard Schwinn/why he closed Waterford
01-27-24, 09:23 AM
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Interview with Richard Schwinn/why he closed Waterford
Hey guys,
I had a chance to sit down with Richard Schwinn at the Madison Bike Swap. We talked about his retirement and a little bit about his feelings about the Schwinn legacy. His answer might surprise you. Please excuse the background noise. I really need to invest in better equipment as my channel grows.
John
I had a chance to sit down with Richard Schwinn at the Madison Bike Swap. We talked about his retirement and a little bit about his feelings about the Schwinn legacy. His answer might surprise you. Please excuse the background noise. I really need to invest in better equipment as my channel grows.
John
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From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
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01-27-24, 10:45 AM
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I received an email from Mr. Schwinn recently - he is back to doing provenance reports for the date ranges that have archival records. You can inquire through the Waterford website.
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01-27-24, 05:23 PM
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Great video and interview John.
Wondering if anyone bought that Dunelt frame...or who the seller was????
I'd certainly be interested.
Wondering if anyone bought that Dunelt frame...or who the seller was????
I'd certainly be interested.
01-27-24, 06:20 PM
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For what it's worth, I didn't think the sound was a problem. Get better microphones or whatever if you want, but don't worry about it — with content that good, I don't care about sound quality.
Thanks for doing this!
Thanks for doing this!
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01-27-24, 07:13 PM
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Thanks for the video - watched the whole thing, great insight and content here!
I'm sure we'll be seeing a thread on the Frejus soon, I hope!
I'm sure we'll be seeing a thread on the Frejus soon, I hope!
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There were 135 Confentes, but only one...Huffente!
01-27-24, 07:30 PM
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Great video and interview. I enjoyed hearing Talking Heads in the background having just watched their concert movie Stop Making Sense a couple weeks back.
Interesting to hear he's raring to get right back in business into other ventures. Can't keep the creative mind from sitting still. I would love to purchase a jersey if he does end up doing that. I wonder if a collaboration with Riv would make sense, Grant does make some nice cycling clothing. I love my MUSA shorts!
Interesting to hear he's raring to get right back in business into other ventures. Can't keep the creative mind from sitting still. I would love to purchase a jersey if he does end up doing that. I wonder if a collaboration with Riv would make sense, Grant does make some nice cycling clothing. I love my MUSA shorts!
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01-27-24, 07:55 PM
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Wonderful interview. Thank you very much for posting it.
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01-27-24, 08:43 PM
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Great interview John. Thank you for the video.
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01-28-24, 11:55 AM
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Great video! Noticed a BF C&V limited edition 531 shirt AND a Fabrats! What next? Matt, Robby, or Rory?
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01-28-24, 01:06 PM
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Thank you John!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
01-28-24, 01:43 PM
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Excellent interview. Thanks for sharing. Subscribed.
I'm imagining that 10 and 20 years from now people will be claiming to own one of the "taped box" Waterfords and the value will increase if they still have the taped box lol
Regarding the audio, a simple shotgun mic like the Rode VideoMicro will improve your interview audio a bunch. One step up would be a pair of lavalier mics, like the Rode Wireless Go II.
I'm imagining that 10 and 20 years from now people will be claiming to own one of the "taped box" Waterfords and the value will increase if they still have the taped box lol
Regarding the audio, a simple shotgun mic like the Rode VideoMicro will improve your interview audio a bunch. One step up would be a pair of lavalier mics, like the Rode Wireless Go II.
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JohnMFlores.com | YouTube: JohnMFlores
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01-28-24, 01:43 PM
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John
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From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
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01-28-24, 01:44 PM
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John
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From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
01-28-24, 01:46 PM
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I watch all those Utah guys! As a matter of fact, I sort of try to model some of my content from them. I didn't just want the usual "bike build" or "how to" channel.
John
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From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
01-28-24, 03:14 PM
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Looks like you have a good thing with Richard, excellent!
So will he be at the upcoming party?
I cannot think of a better like minded individual to have access to.
He has always been glad to help when asked.
01-28-24, 05:19 PM
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Oh Wisconsin.... I miss my college bike riding days when I was living there. That Madison bike swap must have tons of really good stuff to see and buy, because the cycling culture was really strong there, back in the 80's. Cycling also melded very well with cross country skiing which I loved to do, as much as cyclng. Only thing I did not like was the layover during winter when I could not ride my bike and motorcycle. But that first ride on two wheels when spring finally came was always fantastic!
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01-28-24, 07:41 PM
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What a great interview! Thank you for doing this!
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01-29-24, 07:30 AM
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The Utah group are pretty good with usually interesting content, good production, and on camera personalities and collaborations. I like they're typically around 30 minutes so I don't feel I'm "wasting time". I like VGG, Sleeperdude, PBG & junkyard digs, their videos are typically an hour or more and can be a time suck. Ambition strikes is also a decent one.
01-29-24, 11:44 AM
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Understand the reasoning for closing up shop. It does suggest the question of the aging staff was very foreseeable, for years prior, probably before the pandemic. The pandemic no doubt turned over the chessboard.
With the recession in outdoor sports, upon reflection, possibly the smart outcome.
The question is then, why was there not an effective plan for this before the pandemic? Hiring and cultivating, training younger staff? I think therefore that the closure was known for years to Mr. Schwinn.
My hunch 2023 was a challenging year before the public announcement.
A notable simple truth, the younger generations have a different view of work, they had “death of a salesman parents” and reacted.
With the recession in outdoor sports, upon reflection, possibly the smart outcome.
The question is then, why was there not an effective plan for this before the pandemic? Hiring and cultivating, training younger staff? I think therefore that the closure was known for years to Mr. Schwinn.
My hunch 2023 was a challenging year before the public announcement.
A notable simple truth, the younger generations have a different view of work, they had “death of a salesman parents” and reacted.
01-29-24, 05:22 PM
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"Life offers no greater prize than the chance to work hard at work worth doing."
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
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01-29-24, 05:50 PM
#23
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My first bicycle was an early 1950s Schwinn American with paperboy handlebars and a Bendix 2-speed coaster hub shifted by a lever that resembled a brake lever. Six months later I moved up to a very basic 1962 Bianchi road bike and never looked back until decades later, when I started to appreciate Schwinn Paramounts.
Fast forward to the mid-1990s, and since then I have owned my second Schwinn, the newest bike in my fleet, my prized 1988 Project KOM-10 mountain bike. So, in that sense I started with a fat-tired Schwinn with 26" wheels and ended with a (somewhat different, to say the least) fat-tired Schwinn with 26" wheels.
Fast forward to the mid-1990s, and since then I have owned my second Schwinn, the newest bike in my fleet, my prized 1988 Project KOM-10 mountain bike. So, in that sense I started with a fat-tired Schwinn with 26" wheels and ended with a (somewhat different, to say the least) fat-tired Schwinn with 26" wheels.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
01-29-24, 07:33 PM
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I also get the feeling there was not enough cash flow to bring on younger staff for sufficient apprenticeship periods. Nor is metal fabrication a popular vocation anymore - machine shops and construction firms take all of the students from the technical schools.
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01-30-24, 12:23 AM
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Life offers no greater prize than the chance to work hard AND learn work worth doing.
It seems like now days the learning is an after thought, many things are so broken down by the process that gets them done that there is little learning and so there is also little satisfaction or sense of accomplishment, not that they seem to care.
