In a message dated 1/3/2003 7:11:10 AM Eastern Standard Time, jswan@optonline.net writes:
>
>
> Here on Long Island, New York, Astras were pretty common. I'm pretty
> sure they were a private label used by Service Cycle, a Long Island
> company, that later came out with the Mongoose line. I am under the
> impression that Astra bikes were built by Motobecane. I could track down
> the details if any body really wants to know. Jamie Swan - Northport,
> New York
>
>
How could I have missed that!
Of course, I still have their number inmy head and address too!
Most recently they did Mongoose (pre WalMart)which had a thin-tube aluminum
bike called Mangusta 15 years ago- (similar to lawn-chair tubing in
performance!) during the post-Alan,Vitus days when Raleigh Technium's
glued-tube bikes were popular
Service also rep'd Brunswick which tried marketing the Roadmaster repro Balloner. (off CR topic)
Service goes back to the 40's if I remember correctly- tjey were very into the 'wheel goods' as well. I have some 50's and 60's catalogs from some of these wheels goods places , many that include interesting lightweight sections. Soon as I find them, maybe we can do some R&D Ripoff and Duplication Thanks for the reminder
Larry Black
Mt Airy, Md