Bicycles, Gassers, Choppers and Collectibles
Photos/Story: T-Bone
There I was, setting up a small booth at a local car show to share the latest issue of Blacktop Magazine. Issue number 5. I hear a cool rumble down the street and see a primer 55 Chevy Gasser come rolling into the lot. The sedan was blaring be-bop music that somehow filtered past the fender headers as he pulled into the space next to me. The door swings open and before he can get all the way out of the car, he asks what I am setting up. I give a short pitch on my Hot Rod and Chopper Kulture magazine. Apparently he digs it. He picked up a copy of all five issues.
That is how I met Luke Denitto. I learned more as the day went on and more as we see each other at different events. Apparently he is really into bicycles. Schwinn Bicycles. I ran into him again, literally, at the So Cal Cycle Swap Meet when he invites me to his place to see his bikes and collectibles.
Billy and I went to his new shop in Anaheim, CA. Near downtown off Harbor Blvd. It’s a bicycle shop like no other. Mostly Schwinn bikes, mostly old or vintage, or classic. A small room in back is where he restores and repairs bikes. The showroom is a mix of bikes and collectibles of all sorts. Oh, and a glass case with new parts for sale. Seems more like a hangout spot than a retail store, and that’s all right with me.
Luke then invited us to his home to see even more cool shit. We followed him across town and rolled up to the garage. When he opened the door the rear of his gasser was pouring out to the driveway and fit next to it like a puzzle was an ’80 Harley with original sidecar in great condition and a fat-tailed Hellbound Steel Chopper with a cool silver leaf on black scallop paint job. Stuffed in the rafters is an original Harley-Davidson bicycle frame with a signature HD Sprocket and a Japanese Paratroopers folding bicycle from WWII. On the shelves were assorted parts, pieces memorabilia and the usual maintenance items. We took some shots of the recently restored gasser before we went inside the house to be amazed at the collections he has.
You see, Luke was a Hollywood sound guy. He worked for Merv Griffin Productions, and Lucas Films with his company Hollywood Sound Service. Many of the pieces throughout his home were personal effects he collected through the years. On top of the TV cabinet was a vintage Harley bicycle with wood rims. Even in his bedroom was a rack of three vintage Schwinns including my favorite an original Apple Krate.
To cap the day off he presented a ‘60’s era 26” Schwinn he put together to match my ’56 Fairlane. He said to tell everyone about it and if they would like a bike to match their car, he can put it together for them. Base models like mine, single speed one-color paint would be around $500.00. Very reasonable I’d say. Mine is about 80% original Schwinn parts.
So much to mention, and so many stories. You never know who you will run across at car shows. We sure like what he has going on. Watch for more on the Gasser with a feature coming soon.