A history and several images
The "Interesting Chicago" video I came across was painful to watch and had very little information.
But the video below does have some interesting film of factory operations. And a comment on that video provided an address which I used to get the 3D satellite view.
The Facebook posting did have a comment of interest:
TIm Bostedt: Schwinn Management was in this building, the first 10 or so parking spots on Courtland had the Names of all the Schwinn Family Members. The main Manufacturing plant was one block south and one block east. There is a Chicago Public High School there now.
I can believe that the building on the corner was management, marketing, engineering and other "desk jobs." But the part with a saw-tooth roof is normally a factory. And management buildings don't have a powerhouse with a big smokestack. You can still see the embankment for the industrial spur to the northern complex even though the track does not show up on the ground in the old aerial photo. I wonder what those white things are that are being stored on the embankment in the satellite photo. The industrial spur for the southern complex looks like a half-circle.
In 1901, Schwinn moved its offices to North Kostner Ave. In 1908, they built a new factory on North Kildare Ave. By the 1950s, they sold about one-quarter of all bicylces in the United States. The factory made one million bikes in 1968. [ChicagoHistory] Schwinn also made Excelsior-Henderson motorcycles. They were third behind Harley Davidson and Indian when they decided to leave that business in 1931 and concentrate on bicycles.
Update:
 |
| 3D Satellite |
But the video below does have some interesting film of factory operations. And a comment on that video provided an address which I used to get the 3D satellite view.
The Facebook posting did have a comment of interest:
TIm Bostedt: Schwinn Management was in this building, the first 10 or so parking spots on Courtland had the Names of all the Schwinn Family Members. The main Manufacturing plant was one block south and one block east. There is a Chicago Public High School there now.
I can believe that the building on the corner was management, marketing, engineering and other "desk jobs." But the part with a saw-tooth roof is normally a factory. And management buildings don't have a powerhouse with a big smokestack. You can still see the embankment for the industrial spur to the northern complex even though the track does not show up on the ground in the old aerial photo. I wonder what those white things are that are being stored on the embankment in the satellite photo. The industrial spur for the southern complex looks like a half-circle.
 |
| 1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP |
 |
| Chicagology The modern factory of Arnold, Schwinn and Company, 1718 North Kildare Avenue From the 1940 catalog. |
Update:
 |
| Chicago's Extinct Businesses posted A vintage sign of The Schwinn Spitfire. Schwinn bikes are still made, but not in the Chicagoland area. [The comments contain some pictures of some Sting-Rays.] |
 |
| Claude Diez posted |
Good morning very interesting your report I loved it but I have a question when was an order for a bike done by packing the assembled or disassembled bikes in a box. Thank you
ReplyDeleteWish you would share phone#, would love to speak to someone in person--have much good to say! 1)Do you sell Campus Green in a rattle can, if not can you recommend company and color name that would be a match. 2) Would you please return the Stingray manufacturing to the US, Chin Stingrays don't compare. 3) Have a Midget Sringray am restoring and would like original picture, ser# B-099611. Was that manufactured Sept/1996, and do you sell parts for that bike? Address John Jaworski Jr
ReplyDelete20 Yellow Brick Dr
Stillwater, OK 74074
4) Would you send me a parts catolog for the Midget Stingray, want to restore it to original condition. If no parts cat,can you recommend reputable parts dealer for Schwinn who may have them including paint. 5) Had a violet Stingray as a kid, traded my Schwinn Spitfire and some hard earned cash. Could you send picture, think 1968
Our family trucking company located in Franklin park hauled hundreds of loads of tubular steel into the last known Schwinn plant. Proud to say R.Schierhorn cartage hauled most of the steel tubes into the plant that built your old bike.
ReplyDeleteI think your schwinn bicycle factory could open again and you would sell lots of bikes. This name has always been known for quality bicycles.
ReplyDelete