1956 Schwinn Starlet

[danfitz1]

Needs a little elbow grease, but it's a nice original with a very late '56 serial number.

 

[GTs58]

Nice example. 56 was the last year for the balloon tire Starlet. How late is the serial number, it sure looks like a ballooner.

 

[danfitz1]

It's a balloon tire and probably one of the last ones made. Serial number puts it at November 29th-30th, 1956

 

[GTs58]

It's a balloon tire and probably one of the last ones made. Serial number puts it at November 29th-30th, 1956

Hmmm, that's pretty late and past the normal model year changeover serials. Are you sure it couldn't be a 1955 model?

(1955)
Date --------------- Serial #`s From ----------------- To
01/05 to 01/12 ------- P17601 ------------------ P21800
02/04 to 02/24 ------- P21801 ------------------ P34283
02/25 ------------------ P34284 ------------------ P37274
02/28 ------------------ P37275 ------------------ P40100

03/03 to 03/10 ------- P40101 ------------------ P53813
03/11 ------------------ P53814 ------------------ P56739
03/14 to 03/30 ------- P56740 ------------------ P88650

04/05 to 04/12 ------- P88651 ------------------ P97266
04/14 ------------------ P97267 ------------------ P99999
04/15 ------------------ R00001 ------------------ R01451
04/18 to 04/29 ------- R01452 ------------------ R35452

 

[danfitz1]

Hmmm, that's pretty late and past the normal model year changeover serials. Are you sure it couldn't be a 1955 model?

(1955)
Date --------------- Serial #`s From ----------------- To
01/05 to 01/12 ------- P17601 ------------------ P21800
02/04 to 02/24 ------- P21801 ------------------ P34283
02/25 ------------------ P34284 ------------------ P37274
02/28 ------------------ P37275 ------------------ P40100

03/03 to 03/10 ------- P40101 ------------------ P53813
03/11 ------------------ P53814 ------------------ P56739
03/14 to 03/30 ------- P56740 ------------------ P88650

04/05 to 04/12 ------- P88651 ------------------ P97266
04/14 ------------------ P97267 ------------------ P99999
04/15 ------------------ R00001 ------------------ R01451
04/18 to 04/29 ------- R01452 ------------------ R35452

 

[danfitz1]

You are absolutely correct. I thought the same thing regarding the model year, but I forgot some of the same serial numbers were used in multiple years. Went with the first one I spotted. It's a late April, 1955 build. Good catch!

 

[jimbo53]

Beautiful Starlet. It was a bike like this, same model and color, that got me into the hobby back in the mid 80’s. Found it on the side of the road on trash pickup day. The Rocket Ray got my attention, and the rest is history...