When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

1969 Schwinn Varsity question

-

Barry Nofzinger

Look Ma, No Hands!
23FF6856-5BDA-43D2-9BA3-0EE82E5A8480.jpeg
5EECB144-E822-4CAC-B39E-450D54E4B74A.jpeg
53265AC6-088D-476F-BCA8-CAB7A0200029.jpeg
D5729AC2-B8C7-44A7-B064-4B42DAF2F25D.jpeg
FBFB612C-5378-4C78-8C8C-EE5940675182.jpeg
AA7F1FA5-6111-46B3-B4AA-4CB24EFD9CEC.jpeg
E0A00FD6-6099-482C-8C26-847D15B90457.jpeg
I recently finished restoring a 1969 Schwinn Varsity. I noticed that the handlebars had a "British Made" stamp on them. I am wondering if this was original, if there was a shortage at the factory that caused them to use other handlebars, if this was an "upgrade" by the bike shop or if it was likely that the original bars were damaged and replaced. I have attached two BEFORE pictures so that you can see the transformation.
 
Those GB (Gerry Burgess) Randonneur handlebars were used by Schwinn on the Continental, Super Sport and Sports Tourer starting in 1971. They were most likely an upgrade somewhere between 1971 and '73. I say that because in '74 and later the bars were date-stamped near the GB logo. The brake levers with metal adjusters were used on bikes with center-pull brakes in '74 and later so those have also been changed.
 
Those GB (Gerry Burgess) Randonneur handlebars were used by Schwinn on the Continental, Super Sport and Sports Tourer starting in 1971. They were most likely an upgrade somewhere between 1971 and '73. I say that because in '74 and later the bars were date-stamped near the GB logo. The brake levers with metal adjusters were used on bikes with center-pull brakes in '74 and later so those have also been changed.

And they are made in Britain?
 
Those GB (Gerry Burgess) Randonneur handlebars were used by Schwinn on the Continental, Super Sport and Sports Tourer starting in 1971. They were most likely an upgrade somewhere between 1971 and '73. I say that because in '74 and later the bars were date-stamped near the GB logo. The brake levers with metal adjusters were used on bikes with center-pull brakes in '74 and later so those have also been changed.

Mine is a 1969. Were they using these bars in 1969?
 
Mine is a 1969. Were they using these bars in 1969?
At one time Schwinn made a bike called the American. They stopped building it in the mid 1960s because Schwinn no longer had a bike that was made of all American parts. I think that might of answered you question and assumption that Schwinns were 100% American made. Roger
 
At one time Schwinn made a bike called the American. They stopped building it in the mid 1960s because Schwinn no longer had a bike that was made of all American parts. I think that might of answered you question and assumption that Schwinns were 100% American made. Roger

Roger,
I really am surprised to hear that. It’s a real shocker.
 
And they are made in Britain?
Were they using these bars in 1969?
They were indeed made in Britain and were not used by Schwinn until 1971. The alloy "S" stem, handlebars and brake levers are upgrades that were not original. The wheels, saddle and pedals also appear to be later replacements.
 
Last edited:
4D7C436B-FE0D-420D-AA23-AE2FAC498F4E.jpeg
They were indeed made in Britain and were not used by Schwinn until 1971. The alloy "S" stem, handlebars and brake levers are upgrades that were not original. The saddle and pedals also appear to be later replacements.

Okay, so the date stamp on the frame is 1969 and it sounds like you guys are pretty positive that they did not use these handlebars until 1971. So, what do you think is the most likely answer to this riddle?
 
Back
Top