Differences

[AS-1]

Thank you very much! If possible, please confine your photographic and dimensional comparisons to the 1955 Jaguar and the 1955 Corvette only.

 

[Oilit]

Thank you very much! If possible, please confine your photographic and dimensional comparisons to the 1955 Jaguar and the 1955 Corvette only.

Unfortunately I don't have a 1955 Corvette. How about a 1954 Jaguar and a 1954 Tiger? Both the balloon and middleweight frames should be identical between 1954 and 1955, as far as I know.

 

[Freqman1]

The short answer to your question was already answered. The frames are different. Balloon tire frame is wider than a MW between the stays.

 

[AS-1]

Unfortunately I don't have a 1955 Corvette. How about a 1954 Jaguar and a 1954 Tiger? Both the balloon and middleweight frames should be identical between 1954 and 1955, as far as I know.

Tiger didn't make the catalogs until 1955 but I see where you are going. The '54 Jag and the '55 Jag frames will of course be the same and I have to believe that the '55 Corvette and '55 Tiger frames were the same. I know the Jag forks and the Corvette/Tiger forks were different. What I'm looking for is the dimensions between the chainstays of each and the seatstays of each where the tire/rim passes through. If your two frames are free of all extra weight (cups, etc.) please weigh them. Thank you very much for pitching in. Kit

 

[Rivnut]

There will be some frame differences where the rear fender attaches to the bridge between the seat stays, Some models will have a bridge that supports the rear brake calipers. There’s basically one middleweight frame per year with differences for mounting fenders/calipers, tabs for tanks, and perhaps a boss for a pulley mount.

 

[Rusty Klunker]

I perused some catalog scans and in the late 60s, the only ‘B’ framed bikes were the Wasp and the Heavy Duty. Both probably sold as bikes for paper boys.

The "Heavy Duty" (64-65 and on) was a middle weight with S-7 rims.
Prior to that the American HD was a middle weight with S-7 rims. The Wasp and Wasp HD were the last of the ballooners until the cruisers came out.

 

[Rusty Klunker]

Thank you very much! If possible, please confine your photographic and dimensional comparisons to the 1955 Jaguar and the 1955 Corvette only.

Closest I could get you would be a 62 Wasp with a fender brace. But pretty sure I've posted pics of it here before.

 

[Oilit]

Tiger didn't make the catalogs until 1955 but I see where you are going. The '54 Jag and the '55 Jag frames will of course be the same and I have to believe that the '55 Corvette and '55 Tiger frames were the same. I know the Jag forks and the Corvette/Tiger forks were different. What I'm looking for is the dimensions between the chainstays of each and the seatstays of each where the tire/rim passes through. If your two frames are free of all extra weight (cups, etc.) please weigh them. Thank you very much for pitching in. Kit

The middleweights didn't make the catalogs until 1955, but Schwinn was running magazine ads by April 1954.

1954 Blue Schwinn Tiger | Middleweight Bicycles

When @Tim s posted his early Corvette, I was struck by the seat post decal, the early version of the "Art Deco" type which I had never seen on any middleweight before that. So I've been keeping an eye out and this Tiger popped up on EBay a few weeks ago. The serial number was used in 1957, and...

thecabe.com

 

[SJ_BIKER]

My apologies
Middleweight is 2 1/2" wide
And heavyweight is 3" wide

 

[AS-1]

My apologies
Middleweight is 2 1/2" wide
And heavyweight is 3" wide

Is the 1955 Corvette 2 1/2" wide at the points on the stays that I mentioned earlier?