63-64 Polo Seat / Struts / Reflectors

[60sstuff]

The first Schwinn Stingrays (63-64) were fitted with a Polo seat manufactured by the Persons-Majestic Mfg. in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Below are various examples of this seat with different types of vinyl, paper labels on the under pan and rear aluminum tags.

The first PERSONS Tag was unique because of the small ears at each end of the tag.
This “eared” tag was found on the first to mid+ 1963 polo seats and was secured by small metal split pins that folded over under the seat pan.
Another characteristic of this first seat was the hole design on each side for the mounting to the strut.
There is a flat washer on the inside of pan and another on the outside that are sandwiched in place with a bushing.
This bushing on the outside is folded over the flat washer.

The first Polo seat is a 1960. This dark red seat is NOS with it’s Persons strut and dated box.
The second seat is also a dark red with a different textured vinyl.
Both these seats have the early eared tag.

 

[60sstuff]

The first Polo seat above is documented with great information and it’s box date.

Notice the non crimped strut has the Persons stamp and the PAT. Pending stamp.

 

[60sstuff]

More Red.
Another Red Polo seat with the later style Persons tag secured with a pair of rivets, plus a different simple bushing design for the seat mount holes.
This optional seat has a different type of textured vinyl.
Notice the terrible installation of the tag. Mass production!

BTW, the OEM seats never had a “Persons stamp” in the metal pan.
Those pans are over the counter pans.

 

[60sstuff]

The 1963 Polo Seats had a different foam padding opposed to the later polo seats.
In the photos below there is a noticeable 45 degree edge in the padding on the early seat.
This is not seen on the later polo seats.

 

[60sstuff]

The beautiful Leopard Seat.
This seat is NOS and looks like it may have been hanging on display from the old string still attached to it.

What’s neat about this seat is the paper sticker on the bottom.
PERSONS Mark III Polo Seat assembly instruction.
Also has a seat clamp, bolt and nut painted black.

 

[60sstuff]

NOS Black Diamond Tufted Polo Seat.
This seat came with one Q bolt and it happens to be the early small Q.
Another nasty installation of the Persons tag.

 

[60sstuff]

Cool article in the September 1964 Schwinn Reporter about a Schwinn dealer in El Monte, California.

Obviously short frames only with the square back struts, plus the rear 36 spoke S-2.
A few J38 parked out front with different color accessory Polo Seats.

I can only imagine the site of all those Stingrays in their awesome flamboyant colors.

 

[indycycling]

Chris, thanks for another amazing post including the facts and pics to support it all - learned several new tidbits from you today

I have an original late 63/4 Deluxe deep tufted solo polo that has a sloppy tag install on one side, always bothered me, but thanks for clearing that one up!

 

[kostnerave]

The 1963 Polo Seats had a different foam padding opposed to the later polo seats.
In the photos below there is a noticeable 45 degree edge in the padding on the early seat.
This is not seen on the later polo seats.

View attachment 1944702

View attachment 1944703

View attachment 1944704

Hey Chris, Beautiful seats and a nice pun.... Mass production! Ha!

 

[Sr505]

Great info!