I was about 9 years old in 1956 when I noticed some
grownup ride up to the local liquor store in Culver City
with a Schwinn World.It had a zizzy freewheel hub with
big flanges and a circle of holes,a front hub to
match,and cable operated caliper brakes.This was very
stimulating,since all I knew before that was ballooners.
As the years went by ,I continued to watch for really
interesting bikes.They could be found but were
unobtainium.I'm referring to really old bikes with wood
rims and gnarly chains.Charlie Harding had some that
were untouchable.
By 1964 I had bought a proper road bike in Geneva with
mostly early Record group that would be pure juice now.
My big epiphany as a collector came in 1974 when I was
walking past the unemployment office in Santa Monica
with a bikie friend and we noticed an immaculate white
Reynolds Peugeot with all original parts including JUY543
We both exclaimed about the beauty and rarity of
it,and despaired because we figured the rider had just
found it in a yard sale,so the end was near...
Afterthat I resolved to be alert and hopeful to spot
neat old bikes in trouble and save them before they
dissolved.I cast a wide net,from 1890's to 1965(not much
after-the rest of us like those).The white Peugeot is
still a phantasmal unicorn to me.
'til later,Seth Finkelstein,CA