1939 All Original Schwinn... Just Got it

[HARPO]

UPDATE: BIKE WAS FOUND TO BE A 1939, THANKS TO @Freqman1

Picked this up (first two photos were taken at the guys house just before I loaded it up), this morning from Facebook. It was on for 16 hours when I saw it, and figured it would have been grabbed. I got lucky! Had a nice conversation with the seller, made a time to come out, and he marked it SOLD for me... before I even got there! He knew I wanted it.

ALL ORIGINAL from I can see, with the exception of two wheel reflectors added on at some point in its life and missing a reflector on the rear carrier. Looks like the original Schwinn Typhoon Cord tires that still hold air and ride smoothly! Oh, and it has the "Train and Plane" badge on it.
Bike had come with the house, inside an old garage, when he bought it in 1999. He rode it around once in a while, and then to the basement where it went years ago. Until today.

More photos later or tomorrow. But for now, here's the serial number: B78227. So, if someone could please date it for me? Thank you!

 

[Hastings]

I believe I read somewhere that the built in drop stand ears were only in 1939? My wife has a similar bike with the ears and her’s is 1939.

 

[HARPO]

If the bike turns out be a '39, then it's only a year newer than the '38 I Posted recently, and both were from out on Long Island. Both bought within weeks of each other.

 

[Freqman1]

That is a '39 serial number.

 

[HARPO]

That is a '39 serial number.

Thank You!

 

[HARPO]

@Hastings I used to own almost the same bike a long time ago

 

[Lookn4bikes]

nice score

 

[HARPO]

OK, here she is, in her as purchased condition!

Peeling chrome... some peeling paint. But overall, she has existed after all these years in original condition. I don't know if the condition was this way when the person found the bike, or worsened when it was placed in a possibly damp basement. I never asked, as I didn't want to be insulting.

I did ask if the leather seat was covered when found the bike, and he replied "no", so it's quite amazing that the leather is in this good a condition as the rest of the bike has deteriorated to its present condition. Ah, when quality was king!!

Notice that there is a bell still attached, and I'm sure has been on there since 1939. Crazy that whoever rode it at some point added the plastic wheel reflectors, which appear to be from the 80's.

Anyway, I'm thrilled to have purchased the bike. And I can't believe that I purchased this 1939 Schwinn and a 1938 Schwinn just weeks apart. Weird.

As far as a clean-up, I don't know where to start. Chrome is peeling off, and the paint has cracked in quite a few areas wirth some of it starting to peel off the top of the chain guard. Still, I'd like to see the original color of the paint, so maybe the fenders will get cleaned and polished. I don't know...

Anyway, it's barrage time for the photos! let me know what you think!

 

[HARPO]

And the rest...

 

[HARPO]

I questioned the gentleman I purchased the bike from about the seat post bolt. He said he replaced it years ago, but didn't remember why.