In a message dated 10/17/2000 4:43:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time, ka9low@csinet.net writes:
<< all i hv these 2 bikes by going over things i date the girls Raleigh as late 50s early 60s except for the serial number on the frame... it does not have a letter behind it the # falls into the 1924 area... but i realy dont know for sure.. The girls schwinn is a 1969 chicago schwinn surburban. i have been trying to find out how much the value may be on both of these bikes... >>
Mark: I get an amazing number of requests to place a value on all sorts of bikes. The cruel truth (and I am not being a wise guy) is that they are worth exactly what some one is ready and willing to pay for them.. Women's frame, medium to basic level, bikes of almost any age are not at the top of most collectors wish list.. Whether that is fair or not, it's the truth. Rather than say how much these bikes are worth, I think more likely the question could be "Can I find a buyer at all?" That does not mean that the bikes are worthless, just that relatively few people appreciated them.
Even hotsy totsie full Campy bikes from the 1970s can sell for as little as $300.00 to as much as $2K-3K-4K?+ (Like a Herse or a Cinelli in newish condition.) But none are "worth" a certain amount. It totally depends upon the marketplace, i.e., if there are buyers to be found. Actually you just need one buyer! That's why Ebay is so good (I know I know it ain't perfect!) because it multiplies dramatically the number of potential buyers for a given item. If I were to put, for example, a like new 1967 Hetchins Magnum Opus, full Campy, plus Mafac Tiger brakes, size 22", complete bike for sale on the floor of cycles de ORO bike shop today, even though we have many discerning bike folk come in the door, it would take weeks, months, even years, to actually sell for near it's presumed "value." It would take 7 days on Ebay to sell at top dollar.......
So, if you wonder what something is really worth, put it on Ebay and find out the good news (or the bad news!)
Dale Brown