Very interesting! These appear to be from the '70's, and at least no earlier than the late, late '60's. The one I got for xmas in '65 had a metal Sears head badge, and the Puch Bergmeister that I own now, has an extremely ornate metal head badge. I'd send a photo but it's in a box, in storage at the moment. Also, the lugs and frame details on your bikes seem more simplified than the earlier ones. The fact is that there are a lot of these bikes out there, and there are several variations too. I like them because they're Austrian made, and also myfirst 10-spd. was one.
On Mon, 01 Jan 2001 20:09:49 -0500 Paul Lee <plee1@optonline.net> writes:
> Hi,
>
> It is pretty funny that I am finally posting to this group, after
> lurking for quite a while, with some input to a thread on a Sears
> Free
> Spirit. I happen to own both a Sears Ted Williams signature edition
> Free
> Spirit 10 Speed and a Steyr Bergmeister frame. Very similar frames
> indeed. I took some quick photos for reference:
>
> http://albums.photopoint.com/
>
> These are relatively light bikes. The Free Spirit might make a good
> sleeper on club rides. I must admit, I would not have even listed
> these
> bikes in a list of bikes I ride or like to collect. I just never get
> rid
> of anything, which explains why I have accumulated about 60 bikes,
> plus
> frames and parts. I could go on and on about them all but that would
> be
> a long post for sure.
>
> I'm 41 and worked in bike shops, part time, from '73 to '81. I love
> the
> type of bikes this list is about. I toured in '74 on a lugged
> Lambert
> with the death fork and lived. I have some nice Atalas, a Ron Cooper
> (a
> favorite), Paris Sports (one, a tipo Limongi), a Rossin, a Colnago,
> Paramount P15, Shogun Alpine, Nishiki International, Diamanti, an
> Alan
> Carbon, a LeJeune, Windsors, Raleigh Lenton Sports Reg Harris Racing
> Special, 3Rensho tandem, many 3 speeds, some 40's Schwinns, a Shelby
> Airflow, a few mountain bikes: Bridgestone, a Cunningham and a Ross
> HiTech. There are lots more. I almost forget them all. My basement
> is
> packed. Shed too. I keep telling myself that I am not a collector,
> that
> I just like to experience a lot of different rides.
>
> And then there are my wife's bikes. '85 SR equipped Vitus,
> Motobecane
> Grand Jubilee (now fixed gear), '65 Record equipped woman's Atala,
> modern Ciocc, MB-2, MB-4 etc. Small bikes: hers. Big bikes: mine. We
> share the tandems. I am VERY lucky that she is supportive of this
> hobby
> and likes to ride.
>
> OK. I just wanted to say Hi and contribute my two cents.
>
> Regards,
>
> Paul Lee
> Long Island, New York
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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