Who had a paper route and what did you ride?
08-08-12, 07:13 PM
#26
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Only two? 100 papers 6 days a week on a Schwinn Collegiate. My route was a combination of deadbeats and the city's gentry.
My father's reply to my gripe about customer's special delivery requirements: "If they want their paper tied with a ribbon and nailed to a tree you better be carrying a hammer, nails and some ribbon in that bag!"
My father had a customer every Saturday morning who answered her door with no clothes on.
My father's reply to my gripe about customer's special delivery requirements: "If they want their paper tied with a ribbon and nailed to a tree you better be carrying a hammer, nails and some ribbon in that bag!"
My father had a customer every Saturday morning who answered her door with no clothes on.
08-08-12, 07:17 PM
#27
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I had a paper route and rode a Western Auto bike that looked like a Sting Ray!
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08-08-12, 07:36 PM
#29
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This. Except it was in the mid-1990s. I had a lot of fun riding my Norco Cherokee (utilitarian MTB) around town in those days, including once rolling at speed straight into the back bumper of a parked car on my route...ironically, a feat enabled by the 'leisure' options made possible by the steady (if meagre) income provided by the paper delivery receipts 
.
.
08-08-12, 07:49 PM
#30
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I delivered newspapers (Ottawa Citizen) from age 12 to 17. I started delivering in a well-established neighborhood with about 35 customers and when a new neighboring sub-development was built, I offered to take it on (new customers earned you added money and neat prizes), on top of my existing route. As the number of newspapers increased, I enrolled my mentally handicapped neighbor to help me out. I was riding a CCM mustang that I had weighted so that I could jump up the curbs and front steps of the houses (we were expected to deliver to the front door, either in the mail slot, screen door or door handle) My helper, who was 7 years older than me, had balance issues, so his parents bought him a tricycle (the Florida cruiser type with the big basket on the back). When we started he was working at a kindergarten level. We had great fun together. His parents initially wouldn't let me pay him as they were overjoyed that he got out of the house and was interacting with "normal" people (this was a time when most people suffering from issues like him were hidden away in institutes, not to be seen) By the end, we had over 100 customers spread over the two routes, with about 150 on Saturdays. Initially I handle all the collecting on my own as my helper wasn't able to handle the mathematics required. We had to collect every two weeks and had to pay the circulation manager by check (I don't think that a bank will even give a 12 year old a check account any more). As my helper became more well-known and well-liked, he began accompanying me when collecting and his parents let me share the tips with him (which accounted for 50% of our earnings back then). The cost was initially $1.40 per two-week period (most customers would give us $1.50 and tells us to keep the change) and had risen to $1.70 (most people would give us either $1.75 or $2.00 and let us keep the change) when my family moved and I had to give up the routes. My helper then took over the smaller of the two routes on his own and was subsequently awarded the "newspaper carrier of the year". He became such a fixture on the route that all newly arrived people would be told by the neighbors that they should subscribe, as much out of social conscience as for the newspaper (there were still two competing newspapers back then).
My newspaper earnings were very good. I recently found an old invoice where we had 104 daily customers and 148 on Saturday. We were paid $0.21 per customer per two week period, plus $1.50 per insert per route that needed to be delivered with the paper (usually 4 times a week), plus $0.07 per Saturday customer. When you add all the premiums for new customers, Christmas tips (often over $500 total) and regular tips, we cleared over $1500 a year (enough to buy 3 PX10).
My newspaper earnings were very good. I recently found an old invoice where we had 104 daily customers and 148 on Saturday. We were paid $0.21 per customer per two week period, plus $1.50 per insert per route that needed to be delivered with the paper (usually 4 times a week), plus $0.07 per Saturday customer. When you add all the premiums for new customers, Christmas tips (often over $500 total) and regular tips, we cleared over $1500 a year (enough to buy 3 PX10).
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08-08-12, 08:32 PM
#31
aka Tom Reingold
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I really love these stories and pictures.
I wished I could have a paper route, but I lived right in the middle of Manhattan. Kids didn't deliver papers in the city back then.
Why don't kids do this any more?
I did carry people's suitcases from the ferry to their houses when we spent summers on Fire Island. We had a wagon for that. It was a good way to earn money and learn about life. I remember a really really nice old man talked to me and my partner the whole way and then paid us much less than the going rate. And we had to accept it and thank him. Ah, life.
I wished I could have a paper route, but I lived right in the middle of Manhattan. Kids didn't deliver papers in the city back then.
Why don't kids do this any more?
I did carry people's suitcases from the ferry to their houses when we spent summers on Fire Island. We had a wagon for that. It was a good way to earn money and learn about life. I remember a really really nice old man talked to me and my partner the whole way and then paid us much less than the going rate. And we had to accept it and thank him. Ah, life.
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Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
08-08-12, 08:55 PM
#32
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I delivered the chicago tribune and sun times in the late 50's early 60's on a Sears Flightliner middleweight. The news agency supplied me with a big Wald basket for the front of the bike which I paid for out of deductions from my pay. I made one cent per paper per day. I had about 80 customers and was not required to collect payments. I remember that I felt lucky to have the paper route. When the previous delivery boy moved there were several people who wanted to take over the route. These days I can not imagine any boys delivering papers or even wanting to.
08-08-12, 08:56 PM
#33
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I delivered papers from 1977-1982 in Middleborough, Mass.
From 77-79 I delivered the Standard-Times (out of New Bedford, Mass.)...small route, 2-3 miles roundtrip, 30-40 customers....This paid for the buildup of my '78 (I think) Redline MXII.
From 79-82 I delivered the Brockton Enterprise, 6 miles, 65-80 customers...Sundays required two trips...$80-100 a week...My mom took me to buy a Free Spirit 10s out of the classifieds, somewhere in Easton if I remember correctly...it was mustard yellow with Wald baskets. Occasionally my mom would take me around in her '74 Corolla if the snow was deep enough to cause issue.
In '82 we spent the summer in LA and I gave the route away...and spent all my money in SoCal...I sure missed the $$$ for the next couple years until I turned 16! However, before I left I bought a taupe Ross Aristocrat with 600 Arabesque...my first real roadbike.
From 77-79 I delivered the Standard-Times (out of New Bedford, Mass.)...small route, 2-3 miles roundtrip, 30-40 customers....This paid for the buildup of my '78 (I think) Redline MXII.
From 79-82 I delivered the Brockton Enterprise, 6 miles, 65-80 customers...Sundays required two trips...$80-100 a week...My mom took me to buy a Free Spirit 10s out of the classifieds, somewhere in Easton if I remember correctly...it was mustard yellow with Wald baskets. Occasionally my mom would take me around in her '74 Corolla if the snow was deep enough to cause issue.
In '82 we spent the summer in LA and I gave the route away...and spent all my money in SoCal...I sure missed the $$$ for the next couple years until I turned 16! However, before I left I bought a taupe Ross Aristocrat with 600 Arabesque...my first real roadbike.
08-08-12, 08:58 PM
#34
Senior Member
I used a Schwinn American for my paper route, as well as to school and every where else. Good times.
Brad
Brad
08-08-12, 09:02 PM
#35
Senior Member
I had a paper route around 1965 for a few years. Part of the way was in sandy soil so I got my Dad to help me put a bigger sprocket on the back. I used to pedal that thing full-chisel on the good sections. Pay was $4 a week for 7 days. Start at about 5am. Most of the money I put back on my "other" bike. The only unusual thing I recall was a guy came to the fence to get his paper and his snorkel plopped out of his pajamas.
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08-08-12, 09:12 PM
#36
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Fun subject....
Was a sub for a friend around '68 for $1.00/day delivering Milwaukee Sentinal in Manitowoc, WI
Used my sister's Schwinn green three speed with double basket on back. Woman's bike was much easier to get off and go to the door. Always a trick to balance the bike out with papers in rack and kickstand down. Good memories.
Was a sub for a friend around '68 for $1.00/day delivering Milwaukee Sentinal in Manitowoc, WI
Used my sister's Schwinn green three speed with double basket on back. Woman's bike was much easier to get off and go to the door. Always a trick to balance the bike out with papers in rack and kickstand down. Good memories.
08-08-12, 10:09 PM
#37
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Great question! Delivered the evening SF Examiner in 65-67. Plus Sunday morning which was the fat edition with inserts. Wore the heavy canvas bag you slipped over your head with papers rolled up in front and back, ready to be flung at the front doors as you rode by on your bike.
Rode a gold Schwinn Varsity 10 speed, and delivered after school in my neighborhood. Had to go around at the end of the month and collect. I think the paper cost something like 2.50 or 3 dollars a month.
The best part of my route was the fact that my route was in a planned development so the houses were close together, or sometimes I had to deliver in a high rise apt.
Good stuff was tips or boxes of chocolate at Christmas. Knocking over a few glass milk bottles(yea, remember those?) tossing the paper on the porch and having the customers say it was alright. No out of pocket expense. On Sundays after delivering the news I'd stop at a local bakery and get a half dozen doughnuts and eat most of them on the ride home.
Felt pretty independent at an early age. Didn't have to worry about muggers then, or today's street life. No one bothered us working stiffs. Good stuff.
Rode a gold Schwinn Varsity 10 speed, and delivered after school in my neighborhood. Had to go around at the end of the month and collect. I think the paper cost something like 2.50 or 3 dollars a month.
The best part of my route was the fact that my route was in a planned development so the houses were close together, or sometimes I had to deliver in a high rise apt.
Good stuff was tips or boxes of chocolate at Christmas. Knocking over a few glass milk bottles(yea, remember those?) tossing the paper on the porch and having the customers say it was alright. No out of pocket expense. On Sundays after delivering the news I'd stop at a local bakery and get a half dozen doughnuts and eat most of them on the ride home.
Felt pretty independent at an early age. Didn't have to worry about muggers then, or today's street life. No one bothered us working stiffs. Good stuff.
08-08-12, 10:36 PM
#38
Senior Member
I had a paper route for 'The SF Call Bulletin' when I was maybe 9 or 10? I forget. It was in a suburb of San Francisco. One part of the route was up one the steeper hills where we lived. I pedaled-up that hill on weekdays w/ a loaded bike on a Maroon Schwinn 3-speed. Thinking back, I'm not sure how I made it up that hill. I do know that I wasn't about to walk that bike up. IIRC: I would slowly trudge-up doing switchbacks. Later on, for my good delivery service & subsciptions, I had won a trip to Disneyland when it had 1st opened w/ 2 of my childhood friends. They flew us down & back for the day. We had a blast....life was good back then!
I believe the bike in the backround is what I was riding at the time [note: the speedometer & headlight mounted on the bars :>)]. That's me & Hugh McElhenny, Pro Football Hall of Fame running back for the SF 49'ers. Date on the back of the pic is 1957.
I believe the bike in the backround is what I was riding at the time [note: the speedometer & headlight mounted on the bars :>)]. That's me & Hugh McElhenny, Pro Football Hall of Fame running back for the SF 49'ers. Date on the back of the pic is 1957.
08-08-12, 11:31 PM
#39
Senior Member
What memories! I did have a paper route or two, sometime in the 70's I think. Don't remember the number of papers or much else but I do remember riding down 'main' street at 5AM and feeling like I owned the town. I also remember walking through -30F weather with frozen toes. I'm pretty sure I was delivering the Des Moines Register when they had the 'FAGBRAI' aka first annual great bike ride across Iowa. I was hoping to go but couldn't drive etc. Only 7 folks rode the first year, including the 2 columnist-organizers IIRC. I had a UO-8 at the time along with my Sears cruiser with the paperboy baskets. I preferred the cruiser....
08-09-12, 12:01 AM
#40
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delivered the Baltimore Sun, about 100 homes.
I was riding my Torker BMX
very simmilar to this one
(with the unheard-of profits I got from selling my Torker I bought the PUCH roadbike of my dreams)
I was riding my Torker BMX
very simmilar to this one
(with the unheard-of profits I got from selling my Torker I bought the PUCH roadbike of my dreams)
08-09-12, 12:06 AM
#41
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I delivered the Rocky Mountain News on my Schwinn Stingray, thanks to the Sunday edition I became a wheelie master and got a slight back condition . . .
. . .saved enough money to buy a Schwinn LeTour.
. . .saved enough money to buy a Schwinn LeTour.
08-09-12, 12:12 AM
#42
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I was 11 years old and walking to the local pool. There was an old gas station on one corner about half-way there, where they fixed lawn mowers, etc. They also sold Mr. Freeze pops, so stopping in was an option if you had ten cents.
Parked there was an orange and white Sunbeam Tiger convertible. I knew exactly what it was, having made a model of it. In it was a young man with a shirt and tie, accompanied by a gorgeous blonde. No one I knew wore a shirt and tie. I said "hey mister, nice Sunbeam." He was surprised I knew what it was, and we chatted. He asked me where I lived, and in those days, you answered questions. I pointed to the house way up the street, and went on to the pool. He simply drove to my house and told my parents he wanted me to be a paperboy. The Milwaukee Sentinel had 28 dedicated subscribers every day, and about 55 for the Milwaukee Journal on Sundays. The money paid $15/week, because the route was 8 miles long and they couldn't get anyone to take it, probably due to the winter. In those days, you put the paper in the door, or the mailbox, or even in the hallway.
I ran it on a Stingray clone with a bag during the week, and pulled a wagon on Sundays, until I could save for a bike. The local Rexall store had a contest at Christmas that year, for a Columbia bike. I didn't win, but the kid that had won one in the past sold me his for $15, and I put baskets on it from the hardware store and used it every day, even into high school. I switched to the Wisconsin State Journal before my junior year, hoping to make more money. I did, with 45 folks every day, 60 on Sunday, but they didn't tip as well. I finally stopped during my senior year, near the end. I, too, had to collect the money, and there was a young wife with 3 small kids on my route, dying of cancer back when there wasn't a thing you could do about it. She never had the money, and I never asked for it. My mom and dad paid it.
Paperboys ruled the mornings. We knew who cheated on who. We knew who the drunks were, and where the cop hung out. We also got hot donuts and sweet rolls from the German baker at 5 am for 6 cents, 7 when the price of sugar went up. Hot chocolate at the only truck stop was 50 cents, and so hot it scalded your tongue, but you learned to gulp it down and get on with it.
Summers were the best, because that far north, the sun came up before 5 and went down near 11. It was daylight the whole ride, and late-night partiers were sleeping in their cars on main street.
We had a family farm, and took our turns out there. I managed to avoid early milking with the route. However, once I got my license, I had to milk, then drive to town, do the route, then take my siblings to school. I missed from Jan 3, 1975 to April or so, with two broken legs, one in 6 places. When it got warmer, I could ride with a walking cast on the more injured one, encased in a cut-off snow boot. Otherwise, I only missed one week in 7 years, when we went on the only vacation we ever had. I think I wore out 2 or 3 sets of rubber pedals. Every bit of my maintenance was done with 3-in-1 oil, a channel locks, a pair of screwdrivers, and a crescent wrench.
When it was below zero, I could wake up my dad, and he'd drive me. When it snowed, it had to be more than 6 inches, because my bike could handle that. Besides, I had to shovel when I got done, may as well get up. I learned to appreciate bikes in that way. The photo is during my junior year in high school. Note the cool gloves and cycling shoes.
1970 to 1977. SW Wisconsin.
I guarantee you if I'd not been a paperboy, I'd not be into bikes at all. Not a whit. Later on, I learned that my parents wanted me to have the route because I was born 6 weeks early, weighing 4lbs, and they thought it would be good for their skinny little son to get a workout every day. I weighed 73 lbs my freshman year, and 128 when I graduated. When I finally saved enough for a Sears Free Spirit 10-speed, no one could touch me. The roads on the Dairyland Dare this year will kick my butt, but I stomped them back then.
Parked there was an orange and white Sunbeam Tiger convertible. I knew exactly what it was, having made a model of it. In it was a young man with a shirt and tie, accompanied by a gorgeous blonde. No one I knew wore a shirt and tie. I said "hey mister, nice Sunbeam." He was surprised I knew what it was, and we chatted. He asked me where I lived, and in those days, you answered questions. I pointed to the house way up the street, and went on to the pool. He simply drove to my house and told my parents he wanted me to be a paperboy. The Milwaukee Sentinel had 28 dedicated subscribers every day, and about 55 for the Milwaukee Journal on Sundays. The money paid $15/week, because the route was 8 miles long and they couldn't get anyone to take it, probably due to the winter. In those days, you put the paper in the door, or the mailbox, or even in the hallway.
I ran it on a Stingray clone with a bag during the week, and pulled a wagon on Sundays, until I could save for a bike. The local Rexall store had a contest at Christmas that year, for a Columbia bike. I didn't win, but the kid that had won one in the past sold me his for $15, and I put baskets on it from the hardware store and used it every day, even into high school. I switched to the Wisconsin State Journal before my junior year, hoping to make more money. I did, with 45 folks every day, 60 on Sunday, but they didn't tip as well. I finally stopped during my senior year, near the end. I, too, had to collect the money, and there was a young wife with 3 small kids on my route, dying of cancer back when there wasn't a thing you could do about it. She never had the money, and I never asked for it. My mom and dad paid it.
Paperboys ruled the mornings. We knew who cheated on who. We knew who the drunks were, and where the cop hung out. We also got hot donuts and sweet rolls from the German baker at 5 am for 6 cents, 7 when the price of sugar went up. Hot chocolate at the only truck stop was 50 cents, and so hot it scalded your tongue, but you learned to gulp it down and get on with it.
Summers were the best, because that far north, the sun came up before 5 and went down near 11. It was daylight the whole ride, and late-night partiers were sleeping in their cars on main street.
We had a family farm, and took our turns out there. I managed to avoid early milking with the route. However, once I got my license, I had to milk, then drive to town, do the route, then take my siblings to school. I missed from Jan 3, 1975 to April or so, with two broken legs, one in 6 places. When it got warmer, I could ride with a walking cast on the more injured one, encased in a cut-off snow boot. Otherwise, I only missed one week in 7 years, when we went on the only vacation we ever had. I think I wore out 2 or 3 sets of rubber pedals. Every bit of my maintenance was done with 3-in-1 oil, a channel locks, a pair of screwdrivers, and a crescent wrench.
When it was below zero, I could wake up my dad, and he'd drive me. When it snowed, it had to be more than 6 inches, because my bike could handle that. Besides, I had to shovel when I got done, may as well get up. I learned to appreciate bikes in that way. The photo is during my junior year in high school. Note the cool gloves and cycling shoes.
1970 to 1977. SW Wisconsin.
I guarantee you if I'd not been a paperboy, I'd not be into bikes at all. Not a whit. Later on, I learned that my parents wanted me to have the route because I was born 6 weeks early, weighing 4lbs, and they thought it would be good for their skinny little son to get a workout every day. I weighed 73 lbs my freshman year, and 128 when I graduated. When I finally saved enough for a Sears Free Spirit 10-speed, no one could touch me. The roads on the Dairyland Dare this year will kick my butt, but I stomped them back then.
08-09-12, 01:37 AM
#43
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My paper delivery route was in 1970. A morning route delivering 200 papers. I started my route at 4:30am and it took about 2 to 2 1/2 hours to deliver the papers around Geelong West, a city in Victoria, Aust.
I have a photo of the bike below. An old semi-racer bike (Malvern Star). I had it set-up a little differently as I was much smaller then. I used a lower saddle position to allow my feet to touch the ground from a seated position. I found a foot brake was the best way to stop leaving your hands free to 'work' the papers.
There was no throwing of the papers, I had to "box" each paper into the customer's letter box/paper box. My daily delivery of 200 papers was quite a load on a Saturday morning where the papers were much thicker.
My bike was set-up a little like the one below. I did have my potato sack hessian bag mounted on a length of rope strung between the seat nose and the handlebar stem. The stem needed to be a little higher than the saddle so as to hang the bag a little forward so your feet cleared the bag when peddling. The hessian bag was cut in half on one side and stitched-up at the ends to carry the papers which I had pre-folded in half for delivery. My bag was a fair bit bigger than the one in the photo below.
I have a photo of the bike below. An old semi-racer bike (Malvern Star). I had it set-up a little differently as I was much smaller then. I used a lower saddle position to allow my feet to touch the ground from a seated position. I found a foot brake was the best way to stop leaving your hands free to 'work' the papers.
There was no throwing of the papers, I had to "box" each paper into the customer's letter box/paper box. My daily delivery of 200 papers was quite a load on a Saturday morning where the papers were much thicker.
My bike was set-up a little like the one below. I did have my potato sack hessian bag mounted on a length of rope strung between the seat nose and the handlebar stem. The stem needed to be a little higher than the saddle so as to hang the bag a little forward so your feet cleared the bag when peddling. The hessian bag was cut in half on one side and stitched-up at the ends to carry the papers which I had pre-folded in half for delivery. My bag was a fair bit bigger than the one in the photo below.
Last edited by Gary Fountain; 12-05-23 at 02:58 AM.
08-09-12, 03:57 AM
#44
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Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
08-09-12, 05:40 AM
#45
Senior Member
Some of the remarks have really brought back some memories... replacing spokes and truing wheels? I was doing that in 5th grade because of the paper route's Sunday load, using a small adjustable wrench and screwdriver. My tool kit was mainly an adjustable wrench, screwdriver, a pair of pliers and 3-in-1 oil (sometimes Singer sewing machine oil). Air was free at gas stations and the good gas stations had a chilled water fountain outside. I also had a couple of spare tubes freckled with hot patch repairs in the garage.
Brad
Brad
08-09-12, 06:14 AM
#46
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Same for me, Robbie. Wonderful story and picture.
I'm impressed to see so many people older than I am, and I was born in 1961.
Aaron, did you plow up curbs as well as down?
I'm impressed to see so many people older than I am, and I was born in 1961.
Aaron, did you plow up curbs as well as down?
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
08-09-12, 06:38 AM
#47
Still spinnin'.....
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Whitestown, IN
Posts: 1,208
Bikes: Fisher Opie freeride/urban assault MTB, Redline Monocog 29er MTB, Serrota T-Max Commuter, Klein Rascal SS, Salsa Campion Road bike, Pake Rum Runner FG/SS Road bike, Cannondale Synapse Road bike, Santana Arriva Road Tandem, and others....
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My first route was 65 customers in San Diego that I serviced on a Schwinn Varsity Jr from 1966-1969 before we moved to Mission Viejo where I got two routes that totaled 170 customers that I worked for just 7 months before we moved to San Bernadino. There I got one route with 120 customers for about six months before I was able to buy a Honda SL100 (even though I was too young to get a license). However, the Honda allowed me to do my route so quickly that I got three more routes totaling more than 450 papers and I began really bringing in some cash. Collections became the biggest part of the job.
One of my customers however took note and offered me a job working part time in his welding/machine shop and he also helped to get me another part time job sandblasting headstones and casting burial vaults, which lead to working in a foundry casting bronze and aluminum. The result was that I worked my a** off in school and graduated highschool in the middle of my Junior year (a full year and a half early). This allowed me to work full time in the machine shop and still do part time in the foundry, so while most of my friends were still in school and had no cars, I worked 60 hours a week and made about $400/week and had six motorcycles and a Baja bug.
Those paper routes instilled a work ethic and sense of self-reliance in me that changed my life. I will always be thankful and proud that I was given the opportunity to deliver those newspapers in my youth. The opportunity is lost to future generations I guess and that is truely a shame.
One of my customers however took note and offered me a job working part time in his welding/machine shop and he also helped to get me another part time job sandblasting headstones and casting burial vaults, which lead to working in a foundry casting bronze and aluminum. The result was that I worked my a** off in school and graduated highschool in the middle of my Junior year (a full year and a half early). This allowed me to work full time in the machine shop and still do part time in the foundry, so while most of my friends were still in school and had no cars, I worked 60 hours a week and made about $400/week and had six motorcycles and a Baja bug.
Those paper routes instilled a work ethic and sense of self-reliance in me that changed my life. I will always be thankful and proud that I was given the opportunity to deliver those newspapers in my youth. The opportunity is lost to future generations I guess and that is truely a shame.
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08-09-12, 07:18 AM
#48
Semper Fi
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Threw paper for the Pensacola News Journal from 1972 until Dec 1976 when I went into the Marine Corps. Started out on a Sears 10-speed I put regular cruiser style bars on so my handlebar bag would work out. We threw morning and afternoon 6 days a week and Sundays. The Saturday afternoon was discontinued in late 1972. We had to collect every week from the customers, it was like pulling teeth for $1.30 a week for a full subscription. Went to a car after I got a "big" route with 130 customers. Kept it until I left for Parris Island, I married the cute girl on Vendee Lane in July 1976, still delivering the news to her. I could clear $100 a week with my tips and that was super money then. made paper Boy of the year three times, whoopeee, we got a rubber pork chop at a really bad restrauant and our name mis-spelled in a future paper in page 12.
Bill
Bill
__________________
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
08-09-12, 09:12 AM
#49
Rolling along
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SE Alabama
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I had an afternoon route with about 150 papers and a Sunday AM route with about 120 for the Ledger Star in Va Bch, Va. I dreaded Wends and Sunday. Monster papers. The route itself wasn't bad but getting from the drop-off point to my actual route was the worst. Having to drive across a 4 lane highway @ rush hour loaded with papers wasn't my idea of fun. In the winter, the Nor'Easters raging off the Chesapeake Bay made forward progress almost impossible. I initially walked then later bought an old Schwinn with front and rear baskets from another paperboy who upgraded. It was stolen after a year or so and I poured lots of money into it converting it into a high quality beach cruiser w/ long motorcycle handlebars, dbl gooseneck stem, chrome tube forks, and wide carlisle tires. So I walked again then was given a BMXer by a friend that I used with my sack.
Winter generally sucked as if anyone knows life on the Chesapeake or in VA Bch, the ice arrives well before the snow. The combination of ice laden roads and North Easterly wind gusting 60 mph+, channeled between Condominums= interesting falls and repacking the papers. Trying to remount the loaded bike riding with the wind to get enough speed to turn 180* and head back into the wind was a treat as well. Fortunately, I was an avid sailor an learned how to tack early on. I never saw tires with spikes until much later in life, I would have bought a set in a second otherwise.
When the Nor'easters didn't bring ice and snow they brought rain. Driven rain in freezing weather is misrable too. My wife never understood my term "sideways rain" until we moved back on the Cheaspeake. Fun times, I actually didn't mind the rain or the bitter winds, I was dressed for it everything was ScotchGuarded, jeans, boots, gloves and I wore a long hooded parka which was water proof too.
Once I reached my route it was easy. I had a condo that was 75% of my customer base. I would ride the elevator mid way, drop a load then carry the rest to the top and run. I ran the entire way down the halls, hit the stairway, jumping 1/2 of the stairs, then hitting the next floor. 14 floors all total. Collections were done with envelopes and collected @ the desk with the doormen who hated me for reasons outside of the route (life a a beach rat I guess
) pretty easy. The rest of my route was houses and town homes, pretty cut and dry.
Winter generally sucked as if anyone knows life on the Chesapeake or in VA Bch, the ice arrives well before the snow. The combination of ice laden roads and North Easterly wind gusting 60 mph+, channeled between Condominums= interesting falls and repacking the papers. Trying to remount the loaded bike riding with the wind to get enough speed to turn 180* and head back into the wind was a treat as well. Fortunately, I was an avid sailor an learned how to tack early on. I never saw tires with spikes until much later in life, I would have bought a set in a second otherwise.
When the Nor'easters didn't bring ice and snow they brought rain. Driven rain in freezing weather is misrable too. My wife never understood my term "sideways rain" until we moved back on the Cheaspeake. Fun times, I actually didn't mind the rain or the bitter winds, I was dressed for it everything was ScotchGuarded, jeans, boots, gloves and I wore a long hooded parka which was water proof too.
Once I reached my route it was easy. I had a condo that was 75% of my customer base. I would ride the elevator mid way, drop a load then carry the rest to the top and run. I ran the entire way down the halls, hit the stairway, jumping 1/2 of the stairs, then hitting the next floor. 14 floors all total. Collections were done with envelopes and collected @ the desk with the doormen who hated me for reasons outside of the route (life a a beach rat I guess
) pretty easy. The rest of my route was houses and town homes, pretty cut and dry.
08-09-12, 09:25 AM
#50
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: North Attleboro, MA
Posts: 229
Bikes: 2011 Steamroller; 1998 Cannondale F-400; 1981 Motobecane Jubilee Sport
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I rode a Huffy Pro3 BMX bike. I don't know what ever happened to that bike...
Later on I rode a Raleigh Super Gran Tour II that my brother had bartered from someone. That was a great bike. My brother ended up stealing it back from me.
I got a raw deal on my route, more than half of my customers were deadbeats who stiffed me.
Later on I rode a Raleigh Super Gran Tour II that my brother had bartered from someone. That was a great bike. My brother ended up stealing it back from me.
I got a raw deal on my route, more than half of my customers were deadbeats who stiffed me.
Last edited by SteamingAlong; 08-09-12 at 10:07 AM.