Re: Packard Bikes

Posted by Leeedy On 2021/3/22 16:09:47
And even more for the die-hard Schwinn-Built bicycle fanatics. The Schwinn-Built 1937 Packard bicycle I showed you a couple of posts back was known in factory and factory/wholesale catalogues as "Motorbike De Luxe Model BA107."

No, it did not have a motor. "Motorbike" was merely the generic name given by ASC to this design–no matter which brand (such as "PACKARD") was displayed on the headbadge. The graphic on the sides of the tank (look closely) says "Motorbike ASC."

Also, you can't see it easily here but there is a small black bakelite plunger button on the left-hand side of the handlebars. This plunger operated the electric horn in the tank and said "A.S." in white letters on its top. It was built into the special handlebar which also carried a contact switch and electric wiring. Most of these bicycles claimed to be "restored" today usually have a strap-on horn button control instead of the Bakelite button. This is because either A.) the original handlebars are missing... OR ...B.) the Bakelite plunger button has been broken off and nobody knows what to do with the hole that remains. Cute idea when new but certainly not a shining example of durable engineering. Today, most who think they know these bicycles don't even know about the brittle little button– or even that it existed.

Yes NBHAA also has the factory catalogue with all details and specs (and which is considerably more clear in image than the advertisement) and yes I have the bicycle WITH the button intact.

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