Ted Williams Free Spirit OR the Spendid Splinter comes to Maine.
12-04-22, 01:30 PM
#1
Death fork? Naaaah!!
Thread Starter
Ted Williams Free Spirit OR the Spendid Splinter comes to Maine.
I've had my eye out for one of these Puch-made 'Sears' bikes since I learned of their existence early in my BF membership, so when this appeared on-line I had a pretty good idea what it was:
So I parted with $50 and started to root through the bins in the barn.
Into the shop!
And came home today.
OEM would have been Shimano Crane/Tiltist, but I opted for Sun Tour.
It was not assembled with meticulous Teutonic craftsmanship, as evidenced by file marks on top tube and seat cluster.......
But $50 for a full 531 butted frame and fork and I can't complain too much.
Top
So I parted with $50 and started to root through the bins in the barn.
Into the shop!
And came home today.
OEM would have been Shimano Crane/Tiltist, but I opted for Sun Tour.
It was not assembled with meticulous Teutonic craftsmanship, as evidenced by file marks on top tube and seat cluster.......
But $50 for a full 531 butted frame and fork and I can't complain too much.
Top
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You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
Last edited by top506; 12-04-22 at 03:01 PM.
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12-04-22, 02:05 PM
#2
Full Member
Paint looks great but that Free Spirit on the top tube must be fragile. I wonder if VeloCals has replacement decals for that….
If one of these came up locally, I don’t think I would be able to pass it up. 👍
If one of these came up locally, I don’t think I would be able to pass it up. 👍
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72+76 Super Course, 74 P-10+ 79 Tandem Paramounts, 84 Raleigh Alyeska, 84 Voyageur SP, 85 Miyata Sport 10 mixte and a queue
72+76 Super Course, 74 P-10+ 79 Tandem Paramounts, 84 Raleigh Alyeska, 84 Voyageur SP, 85 Miyata Sport 10 mixte and a queue
12-04-22, 02:10 PM
#3
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if you have read the several threads on these you know that the wheelbase is limo-longue
42"+ IIRC
when they get this long often have the feeling that one needs to lift up rear by saddle cantle in order to get it to follow one around a corner...
you've made a fine job of it - looks like you have enjoyed good fun already!
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if you have read the several threads on these you know that the wheelbase is limo-longue
42"+ IIRC
when they get this long often have the feeling that one needs to lift up rear by saddle cantle in order to get it to follow one around a corner...
you've made a fine job of it - looks like you have enjoyed good fun already!
-----
12-04-22, 05:46 PM
#4
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Ready for your next Ride Across Maine. Top, you do know how to find the deals.
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Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
12-04-22, 06:47 PM
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pretty color.
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12-04-22, 07:27 PM
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That is a glorious find. I have sworn off looking for additional bikes. I plan not to add one unless it falls into my lap. But if and when that happens, I hope it will be something as cool and fun as that.
Nice amount of patina! And I will also chime in about liking the color.
Nice amount of patina! And I will also chime in about liking the color.
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Last edited by jonwvara; 12-04-22 at 07:43 PM.
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12-04-22, 08:08 PM
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I had one the same color pass through the co-op a year or so back. Definitely gives meaning to the word Puch. But seriously, it was a surprisingly decent frame.
12-04-22, 09:49 PM
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I would love to have an old Sears bike just for the nostalgia. When I was growing up in a small town in Ohio, the Sears catalog was for us what Amazon is for people today. Sears had a small store front in town where you would go to pick up your order. We might drive to the city once a year for back-to-school clothes, but the rest of the time, we would order out of the catalog.
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12-05-22, 09:12 AM
#10
Death fork? Naaaah!!
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Bruizer
The most impressive thing is your shop. Very nice!
Top
__________________
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
12-05-22, 09:24 AM
#11
Newbie
My dad with Ted Williams. Dad was at a fishing camp and Ted Williams showed up. Early in the morning, before the men were up, Ted roused my dad out of bed and said, “Hey kid, give me some tips on casting a fly rod before these other guys wake up and I embarrass myself.” So Dad gave Ted Williams his first fly fishing lesson. Kind of off topic so sorry about that.
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12-05-22, 10:27 PM
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Not Bowling Green by any chance? I no longer have fond feelings about Sears after one of the post-bankruptcy appliance stores blatantly ripped me off a couple of years ago, but the 70s were a different story.
12-06-22, 06:48 PM
#13
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Originally Posted by Charles Lathe
My dad with Ted Williams. Dad was at a fishing camp and Ted Williams showed up. Early in the morning, before the men were up, Ted roused my dad out of bed and said, “Hey kid, give me some tips on casting a fly rod before these other guys wake up and I embarrass myself.” So Dad gave Ted Williams his first fly fishing lesson. Kind of off topic so sorry about that.
