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20 inch canti schwinn

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kccomet

I live for the CABE
picked this up to day, the numbers came up 1952, does anyone know what model this is , and when they started using this head badge.....thanks
 

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Cool little 20 incher. Those winged badges were only used on a few specific 1950's Schwinn lightweights such as the Varsity. It was also used on later lightweights when the badge was reduced to the 3.25" size during the 60's.
 
If that has a late 1952 serial number it could be a 1953 model J-40 unequipped Meteor cantilever frame.
 
i dont know too much about 50s bikes. a buddy told me the serial number was a 52. the serial number is f 9 8 7 2 2. as far as the badge ive seen those on some 50s lightweights. the badge is rivited on ,seems to be original, but iv never seen one on a balloon tire bike. thanks for any info
 
That serial number was recorded 12/04-12/05/1952. Being this late in the year your bike would definitely be a 1953 model and more than likely it was a J-40 Meteor. The 1952 J-40 was not a cantilever bike.

Interesting note on this model. It went from a DX frame in 52 to a cantilever frame in 53 and was named the Meteor. In 54 the model number was changed to J-32 and it was called a Wasp. Then it was totally discontinued for 1955 with leaving just the Spitfire and Hornet 20" ballooners. The middleweights added to the loss of the balloon tired bikes and the J-32 balloon was now a middleweight F-32 named the American.
 
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52 j-40

The 52 J-40 was a "DX" style frame. Here's the one I bought that was advertised as a 68 StingRay a few years ago. Two shots - one as bought, the other as now.

The third and fourth shots are a 54 Canti-framed rider built from a frame (before and after).
REC
 

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52 j-40

The 52 J-40 was a "DX" style frame. Here's the one I bought that was advertised as a 68 StingRay a few years ago. Two shots - one as bought, the other as now.

The third and fourth shots are a 54 Canti-framed rider built from a frame (before and after).
REC
 
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