Let’s see some late 70’s/early 80’s Cruisers and Spitfires

[Schwinn Sales West]

I do not know if you were able to resolve this serial number.

In 1981 Schwinn Sales published an Information Bulletin Number 23. On page one of the bulletin three classifications of bicycles are defined. Number 2 classification Limited production is of interest. On page 2 of the bulletin Limited production are described. The Letour section is of interest.

I believe that this is a serial number from the Greenville, Mississippi factory. "S" is the prefix, "B" is the month of manufacture and "5" is the year of manufacturer.

This Bulletin was published in 1981 well before Greenville started manufacturing, but these serial numbers were used on Le Tour production in Chicago and the serial number format was carried on for some of the production at Greenville up to 1986.

View attachment 2028492

View attachment 2028493

Everything about "that 1981 Bulletin #23" looks bogus to me. As a Schwinn employee in 1981 my payroll check never came from Schwinn Sales INC., I never heard of Schwinn Sales INC. The Chicago factory and corporate offices were called Arnold, Schwinn and Company, then changed to Schwinn Bicycle Company, and finally changed to Schwinn Cycling and Fitness. The four Schwinn Sales Companies were called Schwinn Sales West, South, Midwest, and East INC. They were fully owned by the Schwinn Trust, but each of the four were separately run companies.

The Schwinn Consumer Relations Department was run by Schwinn Corporate, it never had anything to do with the Schwinn Sales Companies. This looks like something that someone put together from different sources. I believe this bulletin topic has been previously discussed if my memory is correct?

Le Tours and Super Le Tours were never considered "limited production" (hand built) like the custom-built Paramount's.

Why would they go to the trouble of writing this letter and not mention the "most accurate" date of manufacture method used by Schwinn was the dated coded stamped name plates?

Something is wrong here.

John

 

[Xlobsterman]

I do not know if you were able to resolve this serial number.

In 1981 Schwinn Sales published an Information Bulletin Number 23. On page one of the bulletin three classifications of bicycles are defined. Number 2 classification Limited production is of interest. On page 2 of the bulletin Limited production are described. The Letour section is of interest.

I believe that this is a serial number from the Greenville, Mississippi factory. "S" is the prefix, "B" is the month of manufacture and "5" is the year of manufacturer.

This Bulletin was published in 1981 well before Greenville started manufacturing, but these serial numbers were used on Le Tour production in Chicago and the serial number format was carried on for some of the production at Greenville up to 1986.

View attachment 2028492

View attachment 2028493

No, the serial number was never resolved successfully.

So where did you come up with the deduction that is was made in Greenville?

 

[WillWork4Parts]

I do not know if you were able to resolve this serial number.

In 1981 Schwinn Sales published an Information Bulletin Number 23. On page one of the bulletin three classifications of bicycles are defined. Number 2 classification Limited production is of interest. On page 2 of the bulletin Limited production are described. The Letour section is of interest.

I believe that this is a serial number from the Greenville, Mississippi factory. "S" is the prefix, "B" is the month of manufacture and "5" is the year of manufacturer.

This Bulletin was published in 1981 well before Greenville started manufacturing, but these serial numbers were used on Le Tour production in Chicago and the serial number format was carried on for some of the production at Greenville up to 1986.

View attachment 2028492

View attachment 2028493

Yeah, this mentions serial number stamping on the rear fork ends until 1971. While I don't put Schwinn above false advertisement, they wouldn't have motivation for false informative bulletins. I believe they knew their past serial numbering system better than that in 1981, but would not have planned that far ahead for Greenville.

 

[Dannuus]

Here is my 1981 cruiser, these bikes will grow on you! I'm looking for a set of original studded balloon whitewalls for it.

View attachment 747501

I have a nice original used set. Ive been saving them but will likely never use them. $200 plus shipping. Shipping wont be cheap as I will ship them flat.

 

[dihummer]

Everything about "that 1981 Bulletin #23" looks bogus to me. As a Schwinn employee in 1981 my payroll check never came from Schwinn Sales INC., I never heard of Schwinn Sales INC. The Chicago factory and corporate offices were called Arnold, Schwinn and Company, then changed to Schwinn Bicycle Company, and finally changed to Schwinn Cycling and Fitness. The four Schwinn Sales Companies were called Schwinn Sales West, South, Midwest, and East INC. They were fully owned by the Schwinn Trust, but each of the four were separately run companies.

The Schwinn Consumer Relations Department was run by Schwinn Corporate, it never had anything to do with the Schwinn Sales Companies. This looks like something that someone put together from different sources. I believe this bulletin topic has been previously discussed if my memory is correct?

Le Tours and Super Le Tours were never considered "limited production" (hand built) like the custom-built Paramount's.

Why would they go to the trouble of writing this letter and not mention the "most accurate" date of manufacture method used by Schwinn was the dated coded stamped name plates?

Something is wrong here.

John

The Information Bulletin 23 was provided by Stan Cooper, aka scooper on the forum bikeforums.net.

Here is are links to the original post, but the attached Bulletin 23 is no longer there.

scooper Bulletin 23

scooper bulletin 23 partial


Here is a link to more information about Stan Cooper:

Stan Cooper infromation


Stan Cooper's father was St.George Cooper, a long time Schwinn factory representative.

Here is a link to more information about St. George Cooper from Howie Cohen:

St. George Cooper information


Attached is a PDF of Bulliten 23.

 

[dihummer]

No, the serial number was never resolved successfully.

So where did you come up with the deduction that is was made in Greenville?

View attachment 2028550

The format of the serial number matches the format of the "S" type serial numbers described in Bulletin 23. The "S" type serial numbers are found on frames from Schwinn Chicago starting in 1968 for various Le Tour models. The frames were usually AISI 1020 tubing. Serial numbers stamped on the dropout.

When Greenville opened Le Tour models were made with this format of serial number. The frames were usually Cro moly 4130 "Frame built in America". Serial numbers stamped on the BB shell.

Other models from Greenville also had this format of serial number including some frames of Traveler, Cimarron, Passage, and Tempo.

The serial number location on your frame in different. My guess is that this was to maintain the traditional location for cruiser style frames.

 

[dihummer]

Yeah, this mentions serial number stamping on the rear fork ends until 1971. While I don't put Schwinn above false advertisement, they wouldn't have motivation for false informative bulletins. I believe they knew their past serial numbering system better than that in 1981, but would not have planned that far ahead for Greenville.

"serial number stamping on the rear fork ends until 1971." was for the Mass Produced models in Chicago. That statement does not apply to the Limited Production models or import models

Some Bridgestone, Panasonic, Giant and Limited Production models had some serial numbers on the drop out.

You have noted correctly that this document was published well before Greenville.

 

[GTs58]

@dihummer

The serial format with the letter S was started by the Asian manufacturers. The first LeTours were imports. Greenville never produced electro-forged frames like the Varsity or Cruisers. That 1985 Cruiser was made in Taiwan.

 

[Xlobsterman]

The format of the serial number matches the format of the "S" type serial numbers described in Bulletin 23. The "S" type serial numbers are found on frames from Schwinn Chicago starting in 1968 for various Le Tour models. The frames were usually AISI 1020 tubing. Serial numbers stamped on the dropout.

When Greenville opened Le Tour models were made with this format of serial number. The frames were usually Cro moly 4130 "Frame built in America". Serial numbers stamped on the BB shell.

Other models from Greenville also had this format of serial number including some frames of Traveler, Cimarron, Passage, and Tempo.

The serial number location on your frame in different. My guess is that this was to maintain the traditional location for cruiser style frames.

Interesting theory, but it is nothing more than speculation, and I am going to disagree with your theory!

I have no explanation for it either, but I do believe it is just a bike built from the remaining inventory leftover from the Schwinn/Murray contract, as 1985 was the year they transitioned to Taiwan for the Cruiser series of bikes!

 

[WillWork4Parts]

Interesting theory, but it is nothing more than speculation, and I am going to disagree with your theory!

I have no explanation for it either, but I do believe it is just a bike built from the remaining inventory leftover from the Schwinn/Murray contract, as 1985 was the year they transitioned to Taiwan for the Cruiser series of bikes!

View attachment 2028800

Yeah, still looks like Chicago made Electro-Forged frame joints to me. What rims are those, Femco? Check the brake arm for a date code, if you don't mind?
Beautiful paint on that bike!