Re: [CR]Schwinn probably 1950's with Large Gear - was eBay Outing. Is this possible???

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli:Laser)

Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 22:30:22 -0400
From: "Joe Bender-Zanoni" <joebz@optonline.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Schwinn probably 1950's with Large Gear - was eBay Outing. Is this possible???
To: Raoul Delmare <Raoul.L.Delmare@worldnet.att.net>, "Mark M." <smithy@cyclesmithy.com>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org, "Bruce C." <BruceCumberland@comcast.net>
References: <CATFOODEjsHUeHj88XX00001d7e@catfood.nt.phred.org> <00a801c3553f$7fc2a870$3300a8c0@glan.local> <008a01c3556a$44ca2a60$e64efea9@oemcomputer>


I agree with Raoul, the frame is an early 1950's Continental. I have one and it looks identical.

Joe Bender-Zanoni
Great Notch, NJ


----- Original Message -----
From: Raoul Delmare
To: "Mark M."


"Bruce C." <BruceCumberland@comcast.net> Sent: Monday, July 28, 2003 8:42 PM Subject: [CR]Schwinn probably 1950's with Large Gear - was eBay Outing. Is this possible???


> http://ebay.com/<blah>
>
> Looking at my cheap photocopy of a 1954 Schwinn dealer catalog , that
> frame and front fork look fairly universal .
>
> First , don't be too surprised if you don't understand the names of the
> Schwinn models from the 1950's . They can be quite confusing . We
> think we know the difference between say a Varsity and a Continental , but
> we probably don't . From the period of getting things going again after
> WW II , 1945-1946 , up until the period of Schwinn's complete re-design of
> the adult lightweight bicycles , in 1959-1960 , some model names were
> used , which would later be seen on some COMPLETELY different bicycles .
>
> Comparing middle-1950's with middle-1960's :
>
> Super Sports was not like Super Sport
>
> Continental Tourist was not like Continental Tourist
>
> Varsity was not like Varsity
>
> etc. etc. etc.
>
> The Continental Tourist was fillet-brazed by hand .
>
> The Super Sports was factory-machine-made , mass-produced .
>
> The 1950's were different .
>
> Next , that particular frame and front fork on eBay could be from any of
> the nice factory-machine-made Schwinn "lightweights" of the 1950's .
>
> They all used tubular front forks , and narrow 26-inch tires .
>
> According to this photocopied 1954 catalog in my lap , the front fork of a
> Continental Tourist would have fender eyelets on the fork blades ( a couple
> of inches above the drop-outs , very English looking to my eyes ) , and
> the Continental Tourist used a beautiful , steel , cottered , 3-piece ,
> Schwinn-Built crankset ( with a smaller bottom bracket shell of course ) .
>
> But the frame and front fork on the odd creation on eBay appear identical to
> these Schwinn models for 1954 ( probably most any year in the 1950's )
> :
>
> Traveler
> Varsity
> Sports *
> Super Sports *
> Collegiate
>
> * The Sports and the Super Sports had dropped handlebars .
>
> And yes , except for being up-side-down , that handlebar on the eBay
> bicycle looks identical to the handlebars on :
>
> Continental Tourist
> Traveler
> Varsity
> Collegiate
>
> So , we know it's not a based on a Continental Tourist .
>
> That leaves three models on which it could very-very easily be based .
>
> And yes , those Schwinn fork crowns , used on the adult lightweights ,
> from the 1930's , up until 1960 . . . Those were some very nice
> looking fork crowns !
>
>
>
> Now , who can explain that front chainring / chainwheel ??
>
>
> Raoul Delmare
> Marysville Kansas
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Greg Groth" <ggroth@cyberonic.com>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Monday, July 28, 2003 2:36 PM
> Subject: [CR]Re: eBay Outing. Is this possible???
>
>
> > > Item number: 2185504502
> > > Title: RARE SCHWINN ONE OF A KIND
> > > Description:
> > > IF YOU COLLECT SCHWINNS, THIS IS ONE YOU MUST HAVE. IT WAS BUILT BY
> > > SCHWINN AND SET A WORLD SPEED
> > > RECORD BEHIND A RACE CAR. IT IS THE ONLY ONE MADE AND WAS IN THE
> > > SCHWINN FAIMLY COLLECTION.IT IS
> > > IN ORIGINAL CONDITION. S/H $35 IN 48
> > >
> > > Well, I don't doubt that it's one of a kind, I'm sure a Schwinn maven
> > > could glance at the decals and tell instantly the model that this bike
> > > started life but it looks to me that somebody stuck a stayer chain wheel
> > > on an ordinary kid's bike. Ridden to a world's record? I rather think
> > > not. Not with that kid's saddle, a conventionally raked fork and
> > > handlebars which hardly permit an aerodynamic tuck. "In the Schwinn
> > > family collection"???
> > >
> > > What is this thing?
> > >
> > > Martin Needleman
> > > Annapolis, MD
> > > ------------------------------
> >
> > At first glance it looked like an early 60s lightweight (to me anyways),
> > like a Traveler or a Racer. Seat looks about right, flip the handlebars
> > upside down, change the crank and freewheel, and you're done. I remember
> > seeing something similar looking in Schwinn's collection when James Hurd
> was
> > the curator, my memory isn't what it used to be, but I'm thinking that
> bike
> > was red and had a leather saddle.
> >
> > Before I wrote it off completely I noticed the fork, as it appears to be a
> > tubular fork rather than Schwinn's forged variety. Bike appears to have
> 26"
> > wheels, but I'm guessing. I don't recall Schwinn using tubular forks on
> > their 26" lightweight models. Considering the componentry, perhaps this
> > was a mock up used to create something else, a one-off custom made for one
> > of the kids, or someone stumbled across someone's creation that has
> nothing
> > to do with Schwinn. I had a friend that put together a 4 speed
> Continental
> > using a 65t sprocket from a Schwinn exerciser once.
> >
> > Did the seller offer any kind of evidence to anyone that this was
> purchased
> > at the Schwinn auction?
> >
> > Greg Groth
> > Chicago, IL.