1960 Schwinn Varsity 8spd

[Gavin]

That's a neat Varsity!

Thanks man!

 

[juvela]

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thank you very much for the response

for a 1960 date the shift knob should be the ivory coloured plastic

it had just changed from the knurled metal acorn shape

this front mech is termed by Juy the Competition, offered both in braze-on and clamp-on editions

mfr catalogue page of 1960 -

here is a parts drawing for the mech from the manufacturer's catalogue of 1953 -

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[Gavin]

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thank you very much for the response

for a 1960 date the shift knob should be the ivory coloured plastic

it had just changed from the knurled metal acorn shape

this front mech is termed by Juy the Competition, offered both in braze-on and clamp-on editions

mfr catalogue page of 1960 -

View attachment 1210773

here is a parts drawing for the mech from the manufacturer's catalogue of 1953 -

View attachment 1210776


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Thanks so much for posting those images. It's much appreciated.

 

[juvela]

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in thinking of the 4V block am wondering if cogs and drive chain for 1/8" or for 3/32"...

they actually made 5V blocks for 1/8" chain (!)

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[Gavin]

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in thinking of the 4V block am wondering if cogs and drive chain for 1/8" or for 3/32"...

they actually made 5V blocks for 1/8" chain (!)

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I cant recall the size of the chain. I needed to replace it when i got the bike and it was very difficult to find the right one. I ended up finding a guy on a forum that sold me a nos one.

 

[juvela]

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in your closeup images of the block the cogs appear a bit thickish which is why i was wondering - you could always lay a 3/32" chain onto the the teeth to see if it will seat...

IIRC there is also a marking regarding the teeth on the faceplate of the block's body


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[Gavin]

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in your closeup images of the block the cogs appear a bit thickish which is why i was wondering - you could always lay a 3/32" chain onto the the teeth to see if it will seat...

IIRC there is also a marking regarding the teeth on the faceplate of the block's body


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I'll take a look at that later when i get a chance.

 

[metoo]

Was Schwinn the first bicycle company in America to make derailleur bikes for the masses?

 

[HARPO]

Love the "Suicide" derailleur on it. Where was Ralph Nader when this was installed, lol...

 

[Oilit]

Was Schwinn the first bicycle company in America to make derailleur bikes for the masses?

I've wondered about this as well. Derailleurs had been around since the '30's, but they were pretty limited and not easy to use. The Continental and Varsity were probably the first to offer them at a price that had broader appeal, and by the second year they switched to the new Huret Allvit, which was evidently an important advance. There's a book on derailleurs called "The Dancing Chain", and I guess I'm going to have to break down and get a copy. There's also a website called Disraeli Gears, which has some good information.

Disraeli Gears - a derailleur collection

“You know how the title came about - Disraeli Gears - yeah? We had this Austin Westminster, and Mick Turner was one of the roadies who’d been with me a long time, and he was driving along and Eric (Clapton) was talking about getting a racing bicycle. Mick, driving, went ‘Oh yeah - Disraeli...

www.disraeligears.co.uk