Schwinn had introduced the ‘balloon’ tire bike (26” x 2 1/8”) in 1933 and by 1934 all major manufacturers offered the balloon tire along with the older single tube 28” x 1 1/2” tires in their model line-ups. Huffman, like other manufacturers, used various badges on their bikes such as the LaFrance seen here as well as Snell, Dayton, Dixie Flyer, and others.
To put this in perspective Schwinn built 86,000 bicycles in 1934. This figures to be somewhere between 520-780 bikes produced for all models for 1934. The factory produced 8 to 12 units per day, on one shift, from October through December of 1934. began building bicycles in October of 1934.
This bike has been fully restored and is ridden regularly. Everything on the Airflos was meant to convey motion and streamlining from their radical Torrington Airflo handlebars to the curved fender braces to the streamlined pedals. As stated above the big tank Shelby Airflos produced from 1938-40 are some of the most desirable pre-war bikes due to their art deco styling. This bike is called the “No-Nose” by collectors because unlike its big brother, the Speedline, the tank stops at the headtube. Ward, Spiegel, Gambles stores, Firestone and Goodyear. Manufacturers of the time made bicycles for other retailers such as Montgomery Shelby was responsible for the Donald Duck bicycles, which were painted yellowĪnd blue with a duck head on the front of the frame. In the late 1930′s they made the Shelby SpeedlineĪirflo, a radically styled bike that is very sought after today. In 1928 they manufactured and sold the “Lindy Flyer”, a bicycle withĪ Charles Lindbergh theme. Ohio is known for having produced some of the most desirable collectorīicycles. The only concessions are modern tires because this bike is ridden regularly and it has reproduction grips. This is a largely original Model 70 Speedline in unrestored condition. The “finest equipped” (Model 72) also had aluminum fenders and a speedometer. The difference between a Deluxe (Model 62) and the Custom Built (Model 70) was the aluminum ‘lightning’ tank inserts and the aluminum chain guard. The Deluxe and Custom Airflos were referred to as the Speedline. Made bicycles for other retailers such as Montgomery Ward, Spiegel, Gambles Shelby, like other manufacturers of the time In the 1950′s Shelby was responsibleįor the Donald Duck bicycles, which were painted yellow and blue with a duck In the late 1930′s they made the Shelby Speedline Airflo, this radically Manufactured and sold the “Lindy Flyer”, a bicycle with a Charles Lindbergh Having produced some of the most desirable collector bicycles. The Shelby Cycle Company of Shelby, Ohio is known for Despite its rarity and value this bicycle is ridden. This is a fully restored bicycle in the original French blue and red. The 1935 to1937 Bluebird is considered one of the most desirable of all prewar balloon tire bicycles. The Bluebird sold for a cost of $44.95 which was about a month’s salary for the average worker if you were lucky enough to have a job during the Great Depression. Sears sold about 4000 of these bikes from 1935 to 1937 and it is estimated that about 100 survive today. This creates an integral ‘tank’ that houses the speedometer, horn, and electrical switches. The Bluebird is constructed from a stamped steel fuselage instead of having a standard top tube. John Morgan) to design three new bikes (Bluebird, Skylark, and Robin) for Sears which were built by the Westfield Manufacturing Co. Sears commissioned Juan Raydolphus Morgansky (a.k.a. Sold exclusively through Sears the top-of-the-line Bluebird was marketed under the Sears “Elgin” brand which was used for all of their bicycles before WWII. Introduced just two years after the first balloon tire bikes appeared in the United States the 1935 Sears Elgin Bluebird marked a radical departure in bicycle design.
Aerocycles were manufactured in a variety of colors. According to Schwinn literature the Aerocycle was only offered in red and silver but through a contract with Chicago Suppy Co. The Aerocycle was not a large seller due to the relatively high price but put Schwinn on the map as a dominate player in the bicycle industry. The Aerocycle was produced from 1934-36 and is considered one of the most desirable pre war bicycles and was the top-of-the-line offering from Schwinn until the Autocycle was introduced in 1936. The tank incorporated a headlight, an electric horn was mounted on the handlebars, and a functional taillight was also standard. The Aerocycle featured a streamlined tank with an aviation theme to evoke the latest technological marvels. In 1934 Schwinn took bicycle design to a whole new level with the introduction of the Aerocycle. apart from other bicycle manufacturers through innovation beginning in 1933 with the introduction of the balloon tire bicycle.