The transition from JC Higgins to Ted Williams was gradual, and started in 1961. The first stuff to change was baseball and fishing equipment, with most other sporting goods following a year or two later. Ted made more from the sears endorsements than he had playing. And from what I've read was actually very hands on with the baseball and fishing gear since he didn't want his name on junk. That obviously changed later on, since by the early 70's his name was on some pretty awful bikes. They were usually a cut above other dept store bikes though.
Jim, which way were you headed? east west or west-east. I think we've all had at least one ill advised/planned bike adventure.
Steve Birmingham Lowell, Massachusetts USA
Message: 10 Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:59:38 -0400 From: Harvey Sachs <hmsachs@verizon.net> Subject: Re: [CR] Bill Koonce's plated Raleigh Gran Prix... To: oroboyz@aol.com Cc: hsachs@alumni.rice.edu, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org, seatown7@aol.com Message-ID: <4C158D0A.5000100@verizon.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Wow, Jim! I have the clone (except for cranks) of that bike, and showed it at Cirque this year! I bought mine in 62, used, just after graduating from high school. It was stolen a year later.
Time fuzzes all, and I thought the transition from JC Higgins to Ted williams was a couple of years earlier, so thanks for helping me with that, too. Yup, gran sport rear and the old plunger front.
regards,
harvey