1961/62 Schwinn help! Plz!

[Maurice]

Still a newbie here. I've just picked up my 2nd "old" Schwinn. And looking forward to playing around with it. But, still new to this and would appreciate any help figuring out exactly what Schwinn this is. I'll post some photos.
Looked up the serial number (J158064) it appears to be Sept 1961. But when I glanced at the Schwinn catalog the photos/bikes didn't quite look like this twin straight bar bike? What model is this exactly??
Obviously wrong chainguard, and seat. But the rest? Is it period correct? Peddles, grips, sprocket, wheels?? Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks

 

[GTs58]

With that serial number that was most likely a Tornado. In mid 1961 the Tornado had a makeover, and it was the first model to show up with that frame style. For 1962 the Tornado name was dropped and the Typhoon name took it's place in the lineup.
The pedals were upgraded to the earlier bows and the grips are also earlier. Both last used on the 1959 models. Stem was also upgrade by someone, it would have had the rolled/stamped stem.

 

[Maurice]

Thanks GT.
Funny I just looked up the 1962 catalog, and the Typhoon has this exact twin bar frame. But my serial number says 1961... The Tornado has a different top straight bar setup in the 1961 catalog. I'm still slightly confused. But with a 1961 serial number it is what it is.
Upon further inspection, there's no welded in permanent kickstand bracket either. Bike has no kickstand at all currently. And the wheels are S7. So I'm slowly getting there. Thanks again!

 

[GTs58]

Here's the July 61 Reporter announcing the Tornado's frame change along with the intro for the 1961 Corvette 5 speed. Lots of other changes came about in mid-year 1961.

 

[bloo]

It's not too often that you can narrow it down to one model with no chainguard to go on. The Tornado thing could be because of the mid year change @GTs58 refrenced. They stamped serials before making the frames, so I wouldn't rule out a 62 model.

Painted S7 rims sound about right for a Tornado or a Typhoon. It is a lower cost model, and sometimes Schwinn used conventional kickstands on lower cost models.

The crank may have a date on it (year only) on the center part if you take it out. The Schwinn Approved hub is made by Fitchel & Sachs, and is vaguely similar to Sachs Torpedo, Komet Super, etc. There might be a date code stamped in the hub shell.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150410093533/http://www.torpedo-coasterbrake.com/hub-date.htm

https://web.archive.org/web/2015041...t-hubs.com/start.php?action=naben_galerie2_en

One more thing, there are 2 different kinds of those frames. Notice how the bars are continuous all the way from the dropouts to the front? Not all double straight bar frames are like that.

 

[GTs58]

It's not too often that you can narrow it down to one model with no chainguard to go on. The Tornado thing could be because of the mid year change @GTs58 refrenced. They stamped serials before making the frames, so I wouldn't rule out a 62 model.

Painted S7 rims sound about right for a Tornado or a Typhoon. It is a lower cost model, and sometimes Schwinn used conventional kickstands on lower cost models.

The crank may have a date on it (year only) on the center part if you take it out. The Schwinn Approved hub is made by Fitchel & Sachs, and is vaguely similar to Sachs Torpedo, Komet Super, etc. There might be a date code stamped in the hub shell.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150410093533/http://www.torpedo-coasterbrake.com/hub-date.htm

https://web.archive.org/web/2015041...t-hubs.com/start.php?action=naben_galerie2_en

The Tornado never had a built in kickstand and the 62 Typhoon did have the built in stand. So this piece would have been a 61 Tornado.

 

[Rivnut]

Unless you buy a bike from the original purchaser who has a complete service record for it, especially one that’s over 60 years old, you can never tell what may have happened in the past.

 

[Maurice]

Thanks for all your info and input! I'm leaning heavily towards identifying the bike as a 61 Tornado. GT's article from the Schwinn Reporter about changes to the Tornado frame in Aug 61 (serial number on my frame make it Sept 61) would explain the difference from the photo in 61 Schwinn catalog. And the kickstand fact.
Thanks also for pointing out the earlier pedals and grips. One final question, is 61 when Schwinn started the "approved" parts?? Like grips, etc? Also like to find the appropriate chainguard. Can't wait to take it all apart and paint/clean and reassemble and RIDE it!
Thanks everybody! Much appreciated!

 

[Rusty Klunker]

Cool bike!

So out of the three frames that started out the same Flying Star, Skipper and Tornado with twin bars is it safe to say only the Tornado went to continuous twin straight bars?

 

[PCHiggin]

Cool bike!

So out of the three frames that started out the same Flying Star, Skipper and Tornado with twin bars is it safe to say only the Tornado went to continuous twin straight bars?

No, All 3 had them but not sure if skipper and flying star had built in kick stands. A guy here has all of them. Do a search of all 3 and you’ll see his bikes