1940s - 50s Continental List

[GTs58]

@GTs58 Look at the rim stamp on my '48 ladies continental. Schwinn Tubular S-6. They are different though because mine has knurling and this one does not.

1948 Schwinn Continental - Ladies Step thru - 3 Speed SA - Maroon | Lightweight Schwinn Bicycles

This one came out of the Denver area. The condition looked so nice that I figured I would bring it home. A woman had purchased it from the original owner (I think) and I assume wanted that vintage looking bike to pedal around town on but I think it ended up being more complicated to get it going...

thecabe.com

View attachment 2132941

The 1948 balloon models were all spec'd with Schwinn Tubular S-2's and I've seen countless 1948's with drop center rims. These lightweights had the S-6 rims well before the S-2's came about. I've seen some early rims on these lightweights where the stamping was just Schwinn S-6, with no Tubular stamping. So were those actually a tubular (Double wall) rim or not?

 

[WillWork4Parts]

The 1948 balloon models were all spec'd with Schwinn Tubular S-2's and I've seen countless 1948's with drop center rims. These lightweights had the S-6 rims well before the S-2's came about. I've seen some early rims on these lightweights where the stamping was just Schwinn S-6, with no Tubular stamping. So were those actually a tubular (Double wall) rim or not?

I think it will come down to studying tire types in the catalogs, unless someone finds rims that are damaged enough to cut in half and inspect. I had pictures of the earlier S-6 rims on an old phone, but I think that finally completely kicked the bucket when I was trying to transfer photos off of it. IIFFF I remember correctly, the early Schwinn S-6 was double wall without drain holes or a tubular section, it was just doubled over sheet metal, formed and welded on the inner well of the rim, it also did not have a hooked bead. The tires would be called out as "to fit straight side rim," as opposed to "hook bead."

 

[Oilit]

I think I've had from 48 up to 51 models now with that crosshatch knurling on the S-6.

Edit to clarify, the knurling was on New World, World Travelers and Varsities. The later Continentals have had Schwinn Stainless S-6 rims, void of knurl pattern. The early solid blue Girls Continental I had were the same, except didn't say Stainless I believe.

How late have you seen stainless rims? I haven't seen any past (about) 1949, but there's a lot of bikes I haven't seen.

 

[WillWork4Parts]

How late have you seen stainless rims? I haven't seen any past (about) 1949, but there's a lot of bikes I haven't seen.

Same, I haven't had a 50 Continental yet.

 

[WillWork4Parts]

I picked this Contiental project up.

It came with a beat up over-painted chain guard too, but I didn't think to put it on for pictures...after removing the cheap Chinese hardware from it. I think the stem has been replaced with a late 50s Schwinn. The badge was replaced with something from the 60s.

Unfortunately, there really wasn't anything on the bike to date it and the kickstand is even missing.

The black paint is the thick krinkle kind. There's so much glitter, this thing looks like it was painted at a strip club. Ha
You couldn't see any of the serial until I got down to some thin translucent red, unfortunately there was grey high build primer under that, then the bare steel/rust. So no original paint to go off of either.

Serial is T003685 with CM oriented in the same direction, as read looking forward.

 

[GTs58]

I picked this Contiental project up.

View attachment 2217231
It came with a beat up over-painted chain guard too, but I didn't think to put it on for pictures...after removing the cheap Chinese hardware from it. I think the stem has been replaced with a late 50s Schwinn. The badge was replaced with something from the 60s.
View attachment 2217228
Unfortunately, there really wasn't anything on the bike to date it and the kickstand is even missing.


View attachment 2217227
The black paint is the thick krinkle kind. There's so much glitter, this thing looks like it was painted at a strip club. Ha
You couldn't see any of the serial until I got down to some thin translucent red, unfortunately there was grey high build primer under that, then the bare steel/rust. So no original paint to go off of either.

Serial is T003685 with CM oriented in the same direction, as read looking forward.

Those head badges came out in 1962 on all the lightweights with 27" wheels. Here's the highest Tandem serial number I've come across, and it shocked me! T006380 and all the previous 1963 Tandems that I've come across and dated had T005000 numbers. 1963 was the last year for the T&C's.

Here is a 1959 T&C. These T00 serials are a mess, and I have no idea what Schwinn was doing with these stampings. Another 1959 (White) showed up with a T003135 number. Makes no sense.

 

[SirMike1983]

That's an odd combination of features. Fork looks to be a 1950s World/Traveler fork based on the long folds and lack of fender wire tabs. I think it ends up as an "uncertain date" Continental. There's not much to date the frame and the number is unusual.

 

[GTs58]

That's an odd combination of features. Fork looks to be a 1950s World/Traveler fork based on the long folds and lack of fender wire tabs. I think it ends up as an "uncertain date" Continental. There's not much to date the frame and the number is unusual.

I neglected to mention that that stamping is hand stamped. All the tandem numbers were machine stamped starting with 1000.

 

[WillWork4Parts]

That's an odd combination of features. Fork looks to be a 1950s World/Traveler fork based on the long folds and lack of fender wire tabs. I think it ends up as an "uncertain date" Continental. There's not much to date the frame and the number is unusual.

I had to go check my New Worlds, you're right about the long dimples on the forks and I definitely forgot about the fender brace tabs. I had automatically associated the long fork dimples with early postwar ballooners. The lower end lightweight fork dimples seem to be the opposite of ballooners, with the 49/50 fork I have being short dimpled(like my Continentals) and the 51-53 bikes having long dimpled forks. I have some lightweight likely chromoly forks that don't have dimples, thinking they must be prewar since the curved area is longer too.

Good thing I bought a couple of forks with tabs.

Looking at all of the differences in lightweight forks, there's bound to be a way to date some of the oddball ones. ...won't do this yellow/black bike any good, but something I need to start making note of.

Hopefully with more examples of these bikes we can find a cutoff for when the hand stamped serials stopped. Wondering if the placement of CM above or below the number and the direction either are read from will tell us anything about the era it was made too. It's not something I'm certain about yet, but would be nice if we could see more details of known examples and spot a pattern.

Bring out your examples! More examples!!!