(We did not write the comments which accompany each picture - Vinny)
Bicycle Type: Balloon Tire Bike
1947 SCHWINN HENDERSON (WOMEN~S 26" INCH) THIS BIKE WAS FOUND THROWN OUT ON A TRASH PILE (NEXT DOOR), RUSTED BUT COMPLETE, EXCEPT FOR THE ORIGINAL SEAT COVER. IT HAD BEEN REPAINTED ABOUT 20-30 YEARS BEFORE IN DARK METALLIC BLUE. IT HAD GOODYEAR 26 X 2.125 TIRES MOUNTED WHEN NEW, ONE OF WHICH I HAVE STORED. HAS BENDIX SINGLE-SPEED BRAKE. IT APPEARED TO BE A BIKE WITH FEW OPTIONS, NOT EVEN THE CHROME RIMS. SERIAL #B56979. BIKE WAS COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLED, AND PAINT WAS REMOVED TO THE BARE METAL. IT WAS DETERMINED THE ORIGINAL COLOR WAS LIGHT BLUE. FRAME, FORKS AND FENDERS WERE THEN PAINTED (I ADMIT, RATHER CHEAPLY) WITH PLASTI-KOTE OLD FORD BLUE AND HOT ROD WHITE ENGINE ENAMEL. HANDLEBARS, HANDLEBAR STEM, BENDIX REAR HUB AND FRONT HUB WERE RECHROMED, AND THE SPROCKET AND CRANK WERE CLEANED AND POLISHED. THE DARK BLUE PAINT, WHICH HAD BEEN SPRAYED OVER THE HEAD BADGE, WAS REMOVED. THE BADGE WAS POLISHED BACK TO IT~S FORMER GLORY, BUT WAS LEFT IN IT~S ALL-BRASS STATE. NEW PYRAMID REAR-VIEW MIRRORS AND A U-STONE HEADLIGHT WERE MOUNTED TO THE HANDLEBARS FOR ADDED EFFECT, AND SPOKE-MOUNTED REFLECTORS WERE ADDED AS WELL, FOR POSSIBLE NIGHT RIDING. ALTOGETHER, I~VE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE. KURT K.
