A Brief Defense of Older "Schwinn Approved" Parts

 In vintage bicycle repair circles, it is fairly common to see the lampooning of "Schwinn Approved" parts, such as brake levers, calipers, bells, grips, generators,, and other bike parts. But this kind of general ridicule is undeserved, particularly as to older Schwinn Approved parts made prior to the late 1960s.

First, we have to consider the period in which the Schwinn Approved label appeared. While it is true that the Schwinn Approved parts had a marketing aspect to ensure people bought parts that would bring a profit to Schwinn, it also provided consumers with some understanding that they were getting parts that would function on their bikes, and that had some basic standard of quality. 

Take the old Weinmann brake levers and calipers, for example. The Schwinn Approved levers and the Weinmann 810 calipers on the 3-speed bikes were lightweight, could be repaired, and functioned as well (or in some cases much  better) than the basic calipers of the 1950s-60s. Replacement bits for the calipers were readily available and a competent mechanic would service and set up the calipers. 

 While these brakes were not the only options for the bikes, the Schwinn Approved label did provide a common touchstone for function, fit, and quality for the consumer and mechanic in the days prior to the internet. We often tend to forget that information, opinion, and comparison of parts flows much more freely with the internet today than it did in the days of local bike shops 60+ years ago.

And then there are the Schwinn Approved finger grips. These grips are often durable and comfortable. I have a set of grips on my 1964 Schwinn Traveler that have aged incredibly well, and are still supple and comfortable 59 years later. While not all grips weathered this well, many are still in circulation and can be used. Not bad for a part in a family of components that often is the butt of jokes among vintage bike enthusiasts.

It is fair to admit that some (though not all) of the later Schwinn Approved parts from the Far East from the late 1960s and 1970s were lacking in quality. This tends to be true of some of the generator sets, bells, and other peripherals. However, even some of these later and cheaper parts, such as Dia Compe brakes, were not bad and could be a cost-effective option.

It is somewhat cynical today in thinking that Schwinn Approved was just a gimmick or a marketing ploy. True, it did have a marketing aspect, but it also provided the consumer and mechanic with a way of identifying and sourcing parts for Schwinn bikes in a reliable way in a time when fewer parts and less knowledge was available in many places in America.

And we must credit Schwinn for its attempts to bring bike shops "upscale" in the post-war era as part of all of this. Schwinn's concept of a clean, tidy bike shop akin to other middle class retail stores of the 1950s and 1960s helped make many American baby boomers and their parents more familiar with bikes and shops, laying the foundation for the bike boom that was to follow.