Henderson man’s refurbished antique bicycles fill garage, home

Automobile tires aren't to blame for the smell of rubber permeating Henry Schmidt's 2.5-car garage in Henderson.

The cause is the 35 old bicycles that have taken over the space. That doesn't include the five that were on display recently inside his home — four inside his living room and one inside his home office, all refurbished, polished and resting on their kickstands, as if in a showroom. He's been collecting the bicycles since 1985.

"I kind of covet these things as a sort of security blanket," said Schmidt, 73, who likes to refurbish them after purchasing them from around the country. "They're friends. Each one has a story, has a history."

Inside his garage, two chairs sit facing his collection so he can spend time there with his wife of 55 years, Dorathea, or other guests, to talk about the bicycles. Most times, Schmidt sits alone, assessing which one needs attention.

"I come out every day with a cup of coffee and think about what I want to change," he said. "I go for a ride when it's nice and cool. I can't ride two blocks, and someone will come out and say, 'Hey, that's cool; where'd you get that?' There's a freedom and a chance to meet people that you can't have going down the freeway at 65 mph with your windows rolled up. There's a social aspect of having these bicycles to ride, and there's the physical exercise part of it — and just to have them."

Most of Schmidt's collection consists of antique Schwinns, although there are several exceptions, such as his 1936 blue Rollfast, the oldest model in his collection. Also, one in his living room was a Berkshire blue reproduction of a 1941 Columbia, complete with a clock, a speedometer, a horn and a light.

"This was like the Cadillac of bicycles," Schmidt said.

It sat near his vintage quarter slot machine acquired from a Nevada casino in the mid-1980s, three more of which were stored inside his garage. Schmidt also has various other collections around his home, including 1/18 scale model cars.

"He has all kinds of hobbies," Dorathea Schmidt said.

"Too many," Henry Schmidt replied.

Still, his greatest passion is for bicycles, especially Schwinn — and that's not a random preference. His early childhood in Chicago was spent living across the street from a Schwinn factory, where his mother was employed during World War II.

"My mom worked at Schwinn during the war in the 1940s making those anti-aircraft rounds," Schmidt said. "She packed 20 mm and 40 mm aircraft rounds."

Schmidt said it's not uncommon for people to visit his garage to view his collection. He said many become emotional when they start to reminisce, such as the military veteran who showed interest in Schmidt's 1953 Army bicycle from the Korean War era.

"He could remember the letters from home came on a bicycle like that," Schmidt said. "That's nostalgia."

In the past, Schmidt has parted ways with some of his bicycles. He sold nine and gave two away, but now he wishes he had them back, he said.

"I don't want to sell any of these bikes," he said, gesturing at them while sitting in his garage, "but I'll talk and talk and talk about them."

Not only will he no longer sell them, but Schmidt also has vowed to Dorathea that he won't add to his collection.

"I've stopped," he said as the two sat in their living room.

"I've heard that before," she replied.

— To reach Henderson View reporter Cassandra Keenan, email ckeenan@viewnews.com or call 702-383-0278. Find her on Twitter: @CassandraKNews.