I had one on my Schwinn Varsity. I just remember all the black tire dust and after wearing out two front tires, taking it off. Being a kid, a tire was a lot of money (and getting a flat because the sidewall suddenly disappeared was no fun), and I decided batteries were cheaper. Donāt remember the light I replaced it with, though.
ETA: Mine was a headlight only, so the generator was supposed to be on the front wheel.
This is the way I remember my light.
It worked pretty well going down hill.
My father had one on his bike apparently, and just asked him about it, and it was a pain to work with and install.
Iām way younger than you guys and gals, so canāt really vouch on experience.
I used to ride mine around with skin tight blue jeans along with Flag Bros Beatle boots. I laugh when I think what that looked like. Oh yeah, my Stingray was a single speed metallic blue model with a white bananna seat. Unfortunately it go stolen.
I had the ribbed black banana seat with the high handlebars in front all pimped out lol. Can tell we're ancient!
This is same one I had except mine had those mini fenders, and of course the generator light and a speedometer. BTW, nothing wrong with being ancient! Proud to be born in 1952!
Mine looked like thisā¦
But with this Sissy Barā¦
Vrroomā¦
Too Coool! 
Nice! Iām not sure if the 5 speed model was out when my dad bought me the one I had in 1967. I love the sissy bar!
Boy, what a fantastic childhood memory this thread brings up. Had this bike @1964. 3 speed. Santa brought it. (My tail light generator was mounted on rear)
Thanks for the memories !! :+1:
I love that all in one generator/lights! I forgot they made those! Who could forget those 3-speed hubs? Remember they were called English Racers?
Great thread that brings back fond memoriesā¦. thanks!!! 
This is a great thread. I love talking to people from my generation about this stuff.
Mustāve been misaligned. Never had that problem with mine.
Then again, mine was on the rear wheel, mounted to the frame, less chance of misalignment.
Mine was mounted on the front wheel. I never had a problem with wear. If I remember correctly, the one I had was adjusable as far as alignment. BTW, I used to live on my bike. I went everywhere with it.
I remember those lights. I also remember that the way the generator rode/ground on the sidewall offended my young engineering sensibilities. I donāt know how I worked that out; I guess I probably saw a bike fitted with one with obvious sidewall wear.
I also remember being horrified by how much resistance they added. That was enough to put me off.
When I got a bit older, maybe junior high or highs school, I wanted one of the bottom bracket based dynos (it looks like they were made by Sanyo and Soubitez), but not quite enough to buy one. At about the same time, I got a touring bike that had internal wiring for one.
I didnāt actually get a bike light until I was in college. My parents sprung for what must have been an expensive ($50-100 at the time) rechargeable one as a christmas present. It had a housing like a standard bike headlamp, but rather than mounting on the bike, it had a bracket that allowed quick installation and removal from a helmet. The NiCd battery pack was dipped in black Pasti-Dip and connected to a lead from the light using RCA connectors. It was impressively bright for the time. Unfortunately, I think I only had it for a year before managing to loose the battery pack. By then the company might already have been out of business (maybe it was on clearance when my parents bought it). I looked into building a new pack, but the cost of the cells was probably about the same as two weeks of groceries.
I havenāt ridden my bike in years, though I did make some progress in refurbishing it over the last couple years. I still need to install the new brake cables I bought, and get new tires. Once itās operational, itās going to be lit up like all get-out!
Couldnāt help but doing a searchā¦ā¦for those interestedā¦ complete front and rear lighting generator kit (except wiring) for under $20
In my house there is one, but it belonged to my grandfather, around 1930; a new piece that never replaced; Itās from the Alumag, I think French. I was about to throw it away many times knowing that I would never use it, but stayed with us; in the end they are memories
I think you are correctā¦but
I get that same feeling when the cardiologist pushes the button to raise the incline of the treadmill Iām bustin my butt on. Talk about resistance ! 
Iāll take my generator any ole dayā¦
I rode bikes since I was about 5 years old up until I was 40 in 1997. The reason I stopped was my mother, who meant everything to me, passed away. I was in a bad way for the longest time. I just never got back into it. Back in the 90ās, I was a kick ass mountain biker. I was in the best shape of my life.
Thanks to this thread, Iām thinking about getting back into it. Hereās a picture of me around 1995 at a race somewhere in New Jersey.
Oh yeah, I forgot to meantion I came in 3rd place out of 100 racers.
