[CR]RE:Re: Dumpster/Yard Sale/Thrift Store Finds?

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Ideale)

From: "Steve Birmingham" <sbirmingham@mindspring.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:25:31 -0500
Thread-Index: AcdXdp1KlOqOZoQfSFi+crryrmj9EAAD37iA
In-Reply-To: <MONKEYFOODMh6yD5B4z00000bf6@monkeyfood.nt.phred.org>
Subject: [CR]RE:Re: Dumpster/Yard Sale/Thrift Store Finds?

Well, Ok. Since everyone seems to have a story of finds, Mine will be one find, and some bikes that came to me.

The find was the Lewis from probably just postwar. Mislisted as a motorbike on ebay, horrible picture, and including a Garelli Mini mosquito motor. But I have a big monitor, and could make out the Osgear setup. $200. Nice bike, a bit rough but rides well, and the osgear is fun. The motor may end up on a clunker someday just for kicks.

The bikes that came to me deal happened 2 years ago, while I was working at a tiny shop. An older guy asked if we bought bikes. We did, and anything the owner didn't want was fine for me to buy myself (worked well, but it was just the two of us) He said he had a Guerciotti, really nice. which usually meant trashed. He brought it by the next day, and it was fantastic. he said to stop by his house because he had more bikes to sell. Anyway, I had gotten as much cash as I could from the ATM, so I went. What he had- The guerciotti a peter mooney single speed An itlvega a ladies Atala a very nice mountain bike.

All of them in great shape, like almost new. So.. After talking a bit he asked how much I'd pay. I said I'd have to check on the mountain bike, and talk to my wife. We talked a bit more, and he pressed again about how much like "how much right now?" I told him I didn't have enough on me to make a right now offer. he pressed again, so I told him that all the cash I had would be an insultingly low offer. He asked how much I had, and I told him $500 plus lunch money. And he said if I had that in cash-now- I had some bikes. Plus a box of parts,and some rims. He and his wife were moving to a condo, and he wanted the bikes to go to someone who knew and cared what they were rather than selling on craigslist or something.

A week later, he came to the shop with the Jack Taylor tandem they'd planned on keeping. It wouldn't fit in the elevator or storage. He wouldn't trade for the bikes he'd sold the week before, but I did better by him on that one.

Steve Birmingham
Lowell, Ma
USA