This was written by John Brain. I still refuse to believe a cheaper made frame w/ pinch/flash weld droupouts, cheaper wheel hoops, tubed forks (flash weld) cheaper chrome plating and lesser paint quality are left in the hands of Dad to take the blame? It was built as a lesser quality bike from the get go. Sold cheaper and disposed of quicker. Yes, they shared a few bolt on parts ie: Persons seat, Wald bars etc. but in structure and quality..... no comparison. I personaly believe John Brain is way off on this one! Excuse my spelling as I can't find spell check on this forum (haha).I read the folowing comment about old bikes a long time ago and saved it. I think it relates to your stingray quetion
“Much of the old “Schwinn quality” we hear about was simply quality assembly. Like most of the bicycles produced in the United States in the 1960’s the Schwinn’s were an conglomeration of farmed out parts from component suppliers like Bendix, Matatuck, Goodyear, Persons, Ashtabula, Sturmey- Archer etc. And Schwinns’ perceived durability was a product of good initial assembly of these components onto their frames. While most other companies routinely sold bikes in unassembled form, Schwinn always sold their bikes fully assembled and tested by store mechanics. A bicycle with good initial assembly would always last much longer than a bike assembled by “dad” the night before Christmas - with an adjustable wrench.
Those non- Schwinn bikes that had the good fortune to be sold out of bike shops (and assembled by mechanics) tended to have good durability too. A poorly assembled bike will not last as long as a well built one - no matter how good the individual components are - Schwinn was smart enough to realize this. Non -Schwinns often had exactly the same components found on the Schwinn bikes. If Schwinn had sold unassembled bikes in cartons (like their competitors) their survival rate would not have been very good either. If a bike didn’t last you can blame poor initial assembly and non-maintenance for its demise, not the quality of the individual components used.
A Sturmey-Archer or Bendix hub was good no matter what bike it came on; but, they would last longer if they were installed by someone who knew what they were doing. Schwinn did make bullet proof frames; but, other companies like “Raleigh” showed that up-to-date manufacturing processes and new lighter frame designs were just as good (if not better) than the ancient stand-by technology that companies like Schwinn could not move beyond. When Schwinn transferred production to Tennessee, quality assembly went by the wayside, and complaints started pouring in from their franchised dealers. Blame your dad if the non-Schwinn bike he put together for you on DEC. 24th didn’t last. But after all, he wasn’t a trained bike mechanic, and the night before Christmas was always a busy time.”
) and I of course,bought the slik.
What I am trying to say is if you build a house on a bad foundation.... it doesn't matter if you have the best roof money can buy, windows and even a shiny front door. All installed by the best. If the foundation is weak from the get go.... you best be buying some insurance! This would be my late night condensed version but you may get the jist of what I'm trying to say.
