A Schwinn Phantom was my first bicycle. As a young teenager I delivered newspapers and sold Duncan doughnuts every day and saved enough to pay about half the price...my dad said when I got to that point he pay the balance...That was a dream machine to me. I never laid the bicycle on its side or let it get rained on....sure brings back memories...thanks for the video.
My Mother bought me one like this in 1952, and I still have it today. It's never been in the rain or kept outside. She paid 100 dollars for it and made payments on it. When I originally got it, it had a working brake light, but that didn't work very long. It is almost like new, and I have it in the attic of my garage, and am planning to get it down and start riding it.
Did you get it out of the attic? Yeah, those tail lamps have a ball-bearing type inertia contact switch in them - cool idea. I just use the straight lamp function...
No, it's still there, surprisingly the leather seat is in excellent shape, and it has the original bf goodrich tires. I will be 80 this year, so won't be riding it. It would be a job, it must weigh 60 lbs,
My parents bought one of these for my older brother who had polio and I remember like it was yesterday (1952) . Unfortunately, we lived in a bad part of Detroit and the next day it was stolen. Was a truly a handsome bike.
that is absolutely awesome, obviously the best part of it, in my opinion, is the picture of your father on the bicycle as a kid, and this whole story behind the bike, absolutely positively f****** priceless, I bet you would not sell that bike, for $50,000, thanks for sharing great story
@tothbob - the following is taken directly from an original 1955 schwinn price list for a 26" phantom, zone 1 - 79.95 zone 2 - 81.98 and zone 3 - 82.95 so it depends on which zone you are in depending on your state, but anyway you look at it your memory is amazing !
@errick51 - yea i agree about the depending on what options, oddly enough the 55' phantom was the first year the model did not come stock w/ the tail light and cycelock which had to be ordered extra, although he easily could have bought a 54' phantom model in 55'
Now that's a real Beauty in metallic red although back then they were just about red like a fire truck but I believe you could have gotten this bike back then in metallic red but that would be for 1956 or 57 but other than that she's a real Beauty thanks for the video.
Wow man, beautiful bike. Nice job on the restore. I'd love to get a front fender light like that. wait..... who am I kidding? I'd like to get a cruiser like this!
@@awesomeone2979 that's got to be interesting to see to put Schwinn Phantom fenders a four truss tail light rack a Schwinn full Deluxe feathered chain guard and last but not least did you get a Schwinn horn tank unit to fit in the frame of that Huffy Cruiser now that would be something to see !!
I know this video is pretty old but that is an amazing restoration, I hope you still have the bike, you might like to check out some vintage bikes I have on my channel, thanks.
@tothbob You are correct - my Dad recalls Grandpa paid about $100 at a local bike shop. I suppose it depended on the retailer and what options the bike had. What hapened to your bike?
@TheHarleyrunner Thanks for the kind words. I am really lucky my grandmother kept the bike for my dad all those years before he decided to restore it. Good luck with your bike. The originals are still around on the market.
That's a beautiful bike . Love the springer front ends on the some of the nicer bikes . I picked up a nice Hawthorne yesterday . Today a man was in my shop and saw it . He said that his dad has a Late 40s Western Flyer with a springer front end and headlight/tail light . It is still in the original box , never assembled . He's not sure what it is . His dad remembers paying about 300.00 for it back then . Trying to make a deal on it . Check out my channel , recently posted a 50th anniversary W.F. Golden Flyer . Sweet bike too .
A Schwinn Phantom was my first bicycle. As a young teenager I delivered newspapers and sold Duncan doughnuts every day and saved enough to pay about half the price...my dad said when I got to that point he pay the balance...That was a dream machine to me. I never laid the bicycle on its side or let it get rained on....sure brings back memories...thanks for the video.
Thanks, Don. Do you remember what year you got it?
My Mother bought me one like this in 1952, and I still have it today. It's never been in the rain or kept outside. She paid 100 dollars for it and made payments on it. When I originally got it, it had a working brake light, but that didn't work very long. It is almost like new, and I have it in the attic of my garage, and am planning to get it down and start riding it.
Did you get it out of the attic? Yeah, those tail lamps have a ball-bearing type inertia contact switch in them - cool idea. I just use the straight lamp function...
No, it's still there, surprisingly the leather seat is in excellent shape, and it has the original bf goodrich tires. I will be 80 this year, so won't be riding it. It would be a job, it must weigh 60 lbs,
how much for your bike in the attic?
My parents bought one of these for my older brother who had polio and I remember like it was yesterday (1952) . Unfortunately, we lived in a bad part of Detroit and the next day it was stolen. Was a truly a handsome bike.
That truly is a thing of beauty American made.. Nothing but the best.
that is absolutely awesome, obviously the best part of it, in my opinion, is the picture of your father on the bicycle as a kid, and this whole story behind the bike, absolutely positively f****** priceless, I bet you would not sell that bike, for $50,000, thanks for sharing great story
The paint colour,the shape,the chrome,everything is a pure beauty there
Beautiful bike! Nice that it stayed in the family.
Damn that's gorgeous! Really nice job with the restoration.
Best part was the picture of your dad with the cat.
@tothbob - the following is taken directly from an original 1955 schwinn price list for a 26" phantom, zone 1 - 79.95 zone 2 - 81.98 and zone 3 - 82.95 so it depends on which zone you are in depending on your state, but anyway you look at it your memory is amazing !
Amazing...the result looks stunning
That's one bad ass bike. wish i had an original,have to settle for the repro. You got the best one though your dads bike, that's better than anything.
Just got one today at auction!
I forgot to add, I'm restoring a 1950, and it's in the oven baking as I'm watching your video lol lol :-)
that color is amazing..great job on the restore.in fifty more years this thing will still be ridable..nothin like the quality of a real schwinn.
@errick51 - yea i agree about the depending on what options, oddly enough the 55' phantom was the first year the model did not come stock w/ the tail light and cycelock which had to be ordered extra, although he easily could have bought a 54' phantom model in 55'
the paint is gorgeous homie!
Classic vintage beauty!
Impressive...truly a treasure now a days wow!
nice ride and thats rad as hell you have the old picture to go with it
I have one like this and it's black and purple it's very beautiful but yours is gorgeous nice bike
Now that's a real Beauty in metallic red although back then they were just about red like a fire truck but I believe you could have gotten this bike back then in metallic red but that would be for 1956 or 57 but other than that she's a real Beauty thanks for the video.
Wow man, beautiful bike. Nice job on the restore. I'd love to get a front fender light like that. wait..... who am I kidding? I'd like to get a cruiser like this!
@@awesomeone2979 that's got to be interesting to see to put Schwinn Phantom fenders a four truss tail light rack a Schwinn full Deluxe feathered chain guard and last but not least did you get a Schwinn horn tank unit to fit in the frame of that Huffy Cruiser now that would be something to see !!
What a beauty
beautiful work and nice bikes
I know this video is pretty old but that is an amazing restoration, I hope you still have the bike, you might like to check out some vintage bikes I have on my channel, thanks.
Thats awesome.
Beautiful
Dynamite job !!!!!!! Awesome seat !!!!!!!!
@tothbob You are correct - my Dad recalls Grandpa paid about $100 at a local bike shop. I suppose it depended on the retailer and what options the bike had. What hapened to your bike?
@TheHarleyrunner Thanks for the kind words. I am really lucky my grandmother kept the bike for my dad all those years before he decided to restore it. Good luck with your bike. The originals are still around on the market.
absolutely love it
beautiful!
That's a beautiful bike . Love the springer front ends on the some of the nicer bikes . I picked up a nice Hawthorne yesterday . Today a man was in my shop and saw it . He said that his dad has a Late 40s Western Flyer with a springer front end and headlight/tail light . It is still in the original box , never assembled . He's not sure what it is . His dad remembers paying about 300.00 for it back then . Trying to make a deal on it . Check out my channel , recently posted a 50th anniversary W.F. Golden Flyer . Sweet bike too .
Hope you ride it. Kind of a waste if you don't take it out for a ride.
Yep - ridden regularly. That video was filmed while out on a ride, in fact...
You forgot to paint the tank
WEAR DID YOU GET DOSE WHITE WALL TIRE FROM LET ME KNOW THANK
Memory Lane Classics.
Dudes like Pee Wee Herman
its not 100% original brother its missing lots of things
that stupid metal music should be ditched ... it's a vintage 1950s bike