What is the difference between an "antique" and an old piece of junk?

Downeaster

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About $150, apparently.

The folks that bought the old post office building next door to me opened an antique shop. We're on pretty good terms, I've done a little work for them and they seem like genuinely nice folks.

Spotted a bicycle out front of their shop that would be a perfect candidate for a board-tracker replica. Nothing rare or special. Rusty, flat tires, crusty rims, solidified chain, etc. All I really wanted out of it was the frame and maybe the front forks.

Didn't notice the price tag on it and asked the lady what she had to have for it. She showed me the tag and said "We can work with you on that. What do you think it's worth?"

After explaining that I wasn't interested in it's antique status, I was looking for parts for a project, I said as politely as I could: "Well, I know what I'd be willing to pay for it, but given your asking price, I don't want to insult you. I'll keep trolling the yard sales."

She didn't seem offended, but she didn't seem inclined to dicker either.
 
Yeah, just keep your eyes open. I recently found a 70’s Schwann 5 speed at the curb of my neighbors on trash day. Tossed it in the truck. Tires held air & not too rusty. Just a loose worn out seat hinge mount. A lot of people just get tired of stepping over them in the garage and want them gone. I’m thinking about motorizing this one.
 
I recently found a 70’s Schwann 5 speed at the curb of my neighbors

If you’re talking about a Schwinn 5 speed stingray bike. You should check out what they’re worth before you go making changes. Those old stingrays bring stupid money! This one is on eBay right now, In fact if the one you picked up just needs a little repair to make it whole again, it might be worth spending a few bucks on it!
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Hate to think of all the old bikes I trashed as a kid. Back in the 1950's and 1960's dad had a part time job cleaning out attics and basments for people along with mowing lawn, those were the days when lawns were mowed by push mowers not these Cadillac Zero-turn, yea I got one of them too. Anywho it was very common for him to come home with an old bike that the worst thing other than a little rust was a flat tire. Those were almost always what we called balloon tire bikes, now they would call the Fat Tire Bikes.

Dad still had a couple when he retired and him and mom would ride once in a while. After dad passed I found that there was a guy in town who, not sure the proper or kind way to say it, had a bit of a learning problem and worked in large grocery store cleaning up or maybe stocking shelves. It was well know that he liked old bicycles like the ones dad had so one day I loaded them up in my car and stopped by to see him. Unfortunately he was not at home but his neighbor saw me and asked what I needed. Told him I was hoping to see if Bill wanted a couple old bikes. Neighbor said just roll them around back and he would let Bill know they were there. Never got back to see Bill but hope he had some good use out of them.
 
I think mine is a collegiate. No marking but it’s a 5 speed with just the rear derailleur. This is how I found it in the trash other than airing up the tires.
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I also have an old varsity that I bought for about 10 bucks and converted to a single speed with 26” wheels and some other old parts I had laying around. It’s a solid rider. I think it would be fun to put a little 49cc 2 stroke motor on one of them!
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We mounted one on the wall of our basement rec room as a decoration. It was too far gone to restore but It was kinda rare. Just a one year only ‘66 model called a “Miss Teen”.

I work for a very large scrap metal recycling company. About 10 years ago I had a DUI and needed a cheap project to keep me busy while I was locked down without a license. Our scale master had a habit of buying old bikes from the crackhead peddlers for scrap prices. I talked him into unloading about 10 bikes for $100. I fixed one of the nicer ones and sold it to recoup my cost. Then played with the other 9. Sold most of them cheap. They were all quality Chicago made Schwinns or Raleigh bikes. They kept me busy for about 6 months. The hipsters like those old klunkers. Now that I think about it, that old bastard still owes me a trike!!! Now that’s a project... 2 stroke powered trike... hmmmm.
 
I recall the days when bike mags carried ads for war surplus Harley WM flatheads for $50 each, still in the crate and slathered in cosmoline. There weren't many takers, so most of those bikes fed the crusher. Now a WM in prime condition will fetch healthy 5 figures.

Sometimes, gentlemen, the difference between the antique and the piece of junk is: None! A WM is still the same bike that was so bad they couldn't give 'em away.
 
- - - Sometimes, gentlemen, the difference between the antique and the piece of junk is: None! A WM is still the same bike that was so bad they couldn't give 'em away.

Hi grizld,
more likely the difference is:- time.
Back in the 1950s I sold a 1937 KSS Velocette for the cost of a 24-pack.
That bike would easy fetch $10 grand today.
Oh, for a time machine telephone!
 
Good point, Fred. But there are other reasons for the desirability of the Velocette: there were not very many made, they were among the best of breed in their time, and they were beautiful. None of those things is true of the Hardly Ableson WM, which became rare only because so many were fed to the crusher and shipped to Japan, to be reincarnated as decent motorcycles.
 
Speaking of antiques, does anyone know what this? It was used as a paper weight way back when. He worked for NCR so I assume it was a machinist tool.
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