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 December 4th 1999, Calistoga California. Northern California's first permanent bicycle museum opens this month in downtown Calistoga at The Depot, 1458 Lincoln Street, Car #12, Calistoga, California. Inside the last train car on the strip is one of the Nation's most beautiful collections of balloon tire bikes.
I have sold the Berg family such bikes as a 1952 Columbia girl's 5 star, 2 JC Higgins, a 1936 Monarch Silver King, a girl's Shelby Airflow and many more. Many of the bikes I sold them just a short while ago were rough and in need of detailing, accessories and more. In only a couple of months the bikes were completely revived. According to Mr. Berg, these bikes are still rough compared to others in his collection. BW
It's Time to Organize
Little did we know that this bike was all wrong as far as completeness, correctness and safety. It wouldn't even roll. The tires hit everything. We carried it directly to the local bike shop. where we discovered "THE BICYCLE TRADER NEWSPAPER" In it I found a shop that knew more about my old bike; San Francisco's "AMERICAN CYCLERY". I haven't rested since that day! It was my goal to give everyone the opportunity to relive his or her childhood. I remember the days when I stood there looking at the impressive rack of old ballooners, and I wanted them all!
The Bicycle Trader folks put me in touch with Larry Busch at "MEMORY LANE CLASSICS" and I bought a lot of wrong parts for that middleweight phantom. Now I am proud to say I know what a 1937 Elgin Skybird is.
We have access to over 150 original and restored pedal related exhibits; tricycles, wagons and pedal cars from manufactures such as Steelcraft, American National, Schwinn, Columbia, Shelby, Monark, Colson, Sears and many more! Prewar and post war eras are represented daily, with "Feature Bikes" on a rotated basis. Diane and I think we have something in store you don't want to miss! The West Coast is getting it's first permanent "Open to the Public" balloon tire museum.
We are hoping to establish a riding trail where everyone can come and experience those bikes with lines that look in motion even while standing still! That's - right the ones that make grown ups feel like kids again! Imagine actually riding bikes like a Shelby "Streamline Airflow", or a Monark "Super Deluxe". Its our goal to organize special events including swap meets, and seasonal park rides including "The Fat Angel" picnic at Angel Island in the summer.
The museum will have bike riding tours and photo shoots by appointment. Some memorabilia and library items are available. We will assist in locating that special bike for your purchase. We invite you to come by and visit, see the wineries, take a spa or mud bath, and hit a ride in the evening with us. The month of December will be our "GRAND OPENING". Hours are Wed-Sat 11am-4pm or by appointment, Thursday nights until 9pm with coffee and donuts. The Museum is located in the Calistoga Depot at 1458 Lincoln Street, Car #12, Calistoga, California. Take Highway 29 north through the Napa Valley. The Museum survives on viewers' donations.
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Jerry Berg and family, of Napa, have been assembling quite a collection of 1930's thru 1950's American-made balloon tire bikes over the past four years. This impressive collection includes Elgins, Roadmasters, Shelbys, Schwinns, Monarks, Columbias, JC Higgins and many more. Jerry has more bikes than the converted passenger train car can house so the museum will have a rotating collection of bikes on display. These balloon tire bikes are especially well preserved and maintained as the collector has taken great pains to insure that the bikes are as original and correct as possible.
Believe it or not it only happened because of a snowstorm about four years ago. I had taken my family to Lake Tahoe for Christmas. We were eating breakfast at Rosie's Cafe in Tahoe City and I had been eyeing the Schwinn bikes on display there. Well, we had been snowed in for three days this trip and we wandered over to this head shop music store called "Jobe, the King and I". Lo and behold this supposedly original "Schwinn Phantom" was there. Since it was my birthday ole Jobe and I struck up a deal. My wife Diane and the girls bought me this bike.