Garbage Picker: My first dumpster dive
 

I was out at the dump today dropping off a ton or so of old wood decking (how else would you spend a holiday weekend?) and noticed someone dropped an old (1971 Schwinn Varsity) in the pile to be buried forever. I am not a Schwinn expert by any means but it looks to be a 70's varsity with all original components. It does have a dent in the chain stay although not a big one. I will put up a picture if anyone cares. Pity someone tossed it. I may just clean it up and donate it to our local Bike Kitchen. The paint is in good shape - just need a good cleanup. I love the deep drown original color. It even has the Schwinn tires on it.

edit: it is a 1971 EG096592 if anyone cares...

Guy

By all means save it!:thumb: Nothing is as ruggedly built as an electroforged Schwinn. They might not be suited for racing, but for utility cycling they are hard to beat when appropriately dialed in.

The cheaper the find, the sweeter the flip!
I just read a series of articles on the old Schwinn electrowelded frames. I always thought they were cheap junk - lugged was better, we were led to believe. I can't count how many of those frames I tossed or passed over because I thought they were no good. I'm on a mission to find some and rebuild them!

We love photos :D .

East Hill

It doesn't look like much especially because it is a dirt dog right now. I think it will clean up ok. Looks all original to me. I can't believe how heavy it is - has to be 100 lbs :lol:

http://gallery.mac.com/danspeirs/100...C_0428/web.jpg

http://gallery.mac.com/danspeirs/100...C_0429/web.jpg

I love the old license plate from our local city...
http://gallery.mac.com/danspeirs/100...C_0430/web.jpg

SUPER SCORE! That looks fairly EZ to clean up. I made my sister a cassette single speed out of one like it, but it had WAY more paint oxidation, some seized parts. you can make that look great, the steel wheels get shiny with some love.
Those racks are worth it if nothing else.

Indeed, that will be glorious when it's scrubbed down and shined up!

East Hill

Yeah, not bad. I pumped up the tires and took it for a spin already. The wheels are false and the brake handle slips but not much else appears very wrong (there is a dent on the drive side chain stay. I am still trying to figure out why it was dumped - like missing a down-tube or something.

Guy

Me likes the brown frame!

Well, I spent a bit of time fixing this old one up. Here is what she looks like clean. I replaced the bar tape with NOS Benotto, new cables and housing and a new spoke and LOTS of elbow grease. I believe everything else is original. Even the tubes say "Made in the USA Schwinn"!

Guy

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100254/DSC_0898/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100254/DSC_0893/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100254/DSC_0890/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100254/DSC_0891/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100254/DSC_0905/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100254/DSC_0897/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100254/DSC_0900/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100254/DSC_0902/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100254/DSC_0901/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100254/DSC_0907/web.jpg

superstardom! I wish any of my 5 or so schwinns lingering around here had decals in that kind of shape, or that fleck paint job.
Hopefully that will encourage future dumpster diving.
I bet you could get $50 on craigslist, especially in san luis, maybe way more, check market value

She cleaned up real good! All ready for a cruise down to Farmer's Market on Thursday! (My SIL lives in Slo-town-that's how I know!)

LOL that thing is in great shape. I'd give it to someone you know that needs a ride, that's what I did with mine and they love it!

Wow you cleaned it up nicely

You are to be commended. Nice job. Why not keep it and ride it for a while. Oh it should weigh in at about 38 to 40 lbs

As someone who has spent an entire Saturday buffing surface rust off a Junior Varsity with steel wool, I appreciate the fine job you did. It looks good!

Beautiful job, and I don't think anyone makes that metallic-cinnamon-stick colour anymore. :love:

"Schwinn Varsity, perfect condition, no rust, root-beer color, made in USA. Email me for directions, price is firm, see photos for condition--$120"

Nice work.

Sold it on CL for $180. WOW! I had no idea there was a strong market for these bikes. I had 5 backup people wanting the bike not including the gentleman from Nigeria offering a $10,000 cashier's check and a yak.

Guy Gadois

The market for EF Schwinns really seems to have gone up a lot in the past 12 months. A lot has to do with condition, but I have been shocked at the price some folks have gotten for Breeze/Collegiate/Varsities. I have started to grab and stash any free EF framed Schwinns (mens or ladies) up in the attic. Out of the way, and if they keep going up for another year they might be worth the time and effort to rebuild. :rolleyes:

How many hours work into it? parts? fairly good low stress hourly wage..... nice job. hopefully at least a few beer runs on it for you. SLO is a college town-high demand

Beautiful job cleaning up that Varsity. The paint and decals are in terrific shape. I'm glad it went to a good home.

Maureen

That was my first bike (red, not brown). I love the handlebar tape!

A true "ten speed"

i'm not sure why people go so gah gah for low end schwinns- varsities and the like ?