1949 Schwinn New World...Yes, That One...

[fat tire trader]

Wouldn't a postwar bike have a postwar shifter?

Yes, and that is what this bike should have and not a shifter that stopped being produced in 1938. If you have not seen it, you might find this article informative. http://genetics.mgh.harvard.edu/hanczyc/pdfs/satriggersjuly06.pdf

 

[HARPO]

I've never seen a NW with SS fenders, only painted.

Both bikes look the exact same. Yours just didn't fair as well... At first I thought the stem was wrong, but it could be so late that they already started switching to that stem (same one used on early travelers). I think both brake levers are wrong. Grips, pedals, front brake caliper and the saddle is wrong (also missing fenders). I think someone moved over a bunch of parts from another bike that was decked out in crown gear. I agree with @SirMike1983 that the quadrant shifter would probably be original and still pulling from stock on hand. I would say it is original because the shifter cable housing hasn't be swapped out. If someone added that at some point they would not have sourced an original housing (unless they pulled the shifter and line from another bike - it could happen, but if this is an old update no one would have kept that old housing except a collector). I really like these maroon NWs.

The right brake lever and rear brake are correct. Left lever and front brake aren't. Also, the Quadrant pulley is wrong. You can see on the top tube where the original pulley was (bracket is still there), but the one on the seat tube is clearly from a "newer" Raleigh 3-speed. It wouldn't fit onto the top tube due to a diameter difference.

 

[HARPO]

Yes, and that is what this bike should have and not a shifter that stopped being produced in 1938. If you have not seen it, you might find this article informative. http://genetics.mgh.harvard.edu/hanczyc/pdfs/satriggersjuly06.pdf

Typical Schwinn. "Use whatever parts we still have laying around and use them up".

 

[rennfaron]

Definitely have seen the pdf, but going by what I have seen on bikes those quadrant shifters turn up a lot post war.
'46, '47, '48, '48, I have two '47 continentals with the quadrant shifter

edit - '48 catalog

 

[HARPO]

Here's the right hand brake...

 

[HARPO]

Definitely have seen the pdf, but going by what I have seen on bikes those quadrant shifters turn up a lot post war.
'46, '47, '48, '48, I have two '47 continentals with the quadrant shifter

My '46 Continental has it also.

 

[rennfaron]

Oh! you're right on that lever. It is correct.

 

[fat tire trader]

Definitely have seen the pdf, but going by what I have seen on bikes those quadrant shifters turn up a lot post war.
'46, '47, '48, '48, I have two '47 continentals with the quadrant shifter

edit - '48 catalog

Learn something everyday!
Thanks!

 

[SirMike1983]

The one other thing you can do is check the handlebars for marks that would be evidence of the click shifter. It's a long-shot, but sometimes you see where hardware has been swapped. Sometimes you just don't have this though.

If you're interested in Sturmey history, there actually was a handlebar shifter that pre-dated the quadrant - this was the barrel sleeve turnbolt shifter. But this is another subject for another time.

 

[HARPO]

For anyone keeping Records, here's the serial number on the bottom...and check out the welding...