When I was growing up (late 1960s & 1970s) in the Tacony section of Philadelphia, there was a butcher shop around the corner from me, Tony's Meat Market. Tony had 2 blue Schwinn Cycle Trucks for delivering his meats. I wanted to work there just to ride the bikes, but a career at Tony's never materialized. I've wanted a Cycle Truck ever since and for years I watched for an opportunity to get one.
Finally, in 2006 I found one for sale in BAD condition. The seat was tattered, but all of the metal parts were there. The handlebars are Army surplus with olive drab paint. The handlebar stem (goose neck) is a Schwinn model, but wrong for a Cycle Truck.
The front fender was for some other bike. Someone had painted over the chrome on the rear wheel. Same for the front wheel, but the chrome was pitted and peeling. Most of the chrome on the chainguard, crank and front sprocket had rusted off. It was missing the sign, basket brackets, basket, kick stand, kick stand nuts and head badge. The frame was bent from the seat post back, like a fish tail. These first photos were taken before it was shipped to me.
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| My Cycle Truck As Found |
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| New Departure Coaster Brake Hub. |
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| The chrome is nearly gone from the chainguard & sprocket. |
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| The seat was in really bad shape. |
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| First coat of Rustoleum Black Metallic paint. |
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| Rustoleum Clear paint applied. |
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| I had to have these front wheel nuts custom machined. |
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| The kick stand rides on the front wheel nuts. |
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| Closeup of the mounting of the Wald basket. |
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| Seat straightened with new padding and cover. |
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| Condition as of 2008 |
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Condition as of 2010
Re-chromed handlebars and a vintage
flashlight headlight added.
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This bike is no trailer queen or museum piece.
It rides around San Antonio, Texas regularly. |
