Re: [CR]Sears/Austro-Daimler

(Example: History:Norris Lockley)

Date: Mon, 04 Sep 2006 01:37:46 -0400
From: "Joseph Bender-Zanoni" <joebz@optonline.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Sears/Austro-Daimler
In-reply-to: <d0193ca8e06ff5b508e51d1fafa560cb@cybermesa.com>
To: Paul Cooley <pcooley@cybermesa.com>
References:
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Paul Cooley wrote: When I worked at a shop in NYC (1978 or so) that had a substantial rental fleet, those in the know snapped up the Puch (Steyr, Daimler, Puch) 3-speeds because they were lively 28 pound utility bikes. I think the tubing was made by the factory in Graz and they couldn't bring themselves to make gaspipe junk. I'm not saying these were great, just not 35 lb. clunkers. I guess I continue to hold out that this was the best production bike factory ever. Over the heads of the rental folks (literally) was a 753 all titanium AD SR bike, yes the axles too, and you can bet the connection was not made by the renters.

Joe Bender-Zanoni Great Notch, NJ


> When I picked up my PX-10 on the side of the road, it was accompanied
> by a Sears 3-speed, evidently made by Austro-Daimler. I impulsively
> dragged it home too. The frame is nicely lugged, but the dropouts are
> stamped steel. I've thought about cleaning it up, but, ultimately,
> unless there is something valuable about the bike, it's headed to the
> local recycle-a-bicycle group.
>
> Is my assumption that it's not worth much thought correct?
>
> The odd thing about it is there is only a rear brake. I would assume
> that if a bike were to only have one brake, it would be the front.
> The rear brake bridge is also a solid plate made by "ESGE". The one
> brake is a Weinman model 810.
>
> Nothing else is very unusual about the bike.
>
> Paul B. Cooley
> Santa Fe, NM
> http://carfreefamily.blogspot.com