Originally Posted by
Lascauxcaveman
When did the first Asian built Schwinn frames appear? Late 1970s or something? I guess you could say it became just a "brand' after the last American Schwinn plant closed down a decade or so later..
That transition period was almost 20 years. Last year I happened to flip two Schwinns, marking each end of the period. A 1975 LeTour, one of the first Japanese frames contracted to Bridgestone. And a 1992 High Plains MTB, one of the last to roll off the Greenville line.
I wonder how long Richard will remain in the area. He used to do "lectures" (which were really more like chats) about various topics in bicycling history at the State Historical Museum downtown. I hope they reach out to him again.