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Need a date on this ‘64 Opal

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60sstuff

Wore out three sets of tires already!
Anyone recognize this ‘64 Opal Violet Deluxe?
I’ve had these photos in my files for several years, but i don’t have the month.

l‘m guessing around June, July, August because of the 36 spoke S-2, Crimped strut and large headset bearing.

Thanks for any help.

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I like it with the maytag? Front rack. Does anyone know what the rack would have came on originally or is this an accessory for stingrays or any other 20”?
 
I like it with the maytag? Front rack. Does anyone know what the rack would have came on originally or is this an accessory for stingrays or any other 20”?
I think that is an aluminum Mayweg styled front carrier.
 
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I think that is an aluminum Mayweg styled front carrier.

That one is chromed steel, not a Mayweg. Easy way to tell is the cross supports on a metal carrier are welded on the bottom of the side rails. Mayweg's supports are pinned into the side rails.
 
Bought my rack at the Schwinn shop, think it was $2.98 ( or was that the price of the fenders? ), looks the same but thinking it was steel, aluminum has fatter tubes, don't have the rack anymore but have the main thing besides books that I carried in it, my Law Man lunch box!, sorry for hijacking the thread!
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GTs58,
Looks like a WALD brand front carrier.

Lots of “aluminum coating” showing through on this old Opal Stingray.

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36 spoke red band was used through March of 64, then 28 spoke - per my records. But the large crimp strut would have been mid to late 64, so unsure here about the bike date, but it's a cool one
 
36 spoke red band was used through March of 64, then 28 spoke - per my records. But the large crimp strut would have been mid to late 64, so unsure here about the bike date, but it's a cool one
indycycling,

Sorry and no offense, but your records on the early Stingrays (63-65) are way off.
I have been very dedicated for decades in the research of the early Stingrays trying to pinpoint changes in the colors, seat strut changes and the rear wheel changes, along with many other revisions Schwinn made on these bikes (top headset bearing, handlebars, pedals, fenders, etc.).
Some of these changes happened at the beginning of the year and some mid-year.

The rear 36 spoke S-2 went from all of ‘63 into Aug. of ‘64.
Somewhere in August the switch from 36 spoke to 28 spoke happened. Obviously there is going to be an overlap of this two rims around that time span.

Below is just a small example of the photos I have accumulated of early Stingrays over the years. Some are from collectors, eBay or the internet.
I apologize, as a few of these photos are very old and poor quality.

Photos 1 and 6 are mine.
Photos 5 and 7 were mine, but have been sold.
These ^^^^ above Stingrays are/were one owner Survivors.

As you can see, all are 36 spoke except the last Opal Violet J38, which is a September 28 spoke.

BTW, All Super Deluxe Stingrays came with a 28 spoke S-2.

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The early Solo Polo square back strut.

All of 1963 and into May of ‘64 the strut was Not crimped and required extra long Q-bolts.
May / June of ‘64 the strut had a long crimp as seen in the above photos.
Very late in ‘64 and all of the packaged struts had a short crimp.

So, this is why I think the Opal Violet Deluxe with the front chrome carrier on this initial thread is somewhere in the June - August time frame.

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indycycling,

Sorry and no offense, but your records on the early Stingrays (63-65) are way off.
I have been very dedicated for decades in the research of the early Stingrays trying to pinpoint changes in the colors, seat strut changes and the rear wheel changes, along with many other revisions Schwinn made on these bikes (top headset bearing, handlebars, pedals, fenders, etc.).
Some of these changes happened at the beginning of the year and some mid-year.

The rear 36 spoke S-2 went from all of ‘63 into Aug. of ‘64.
Somewhere in August the switch from 36 spoke to 28 spoke happened. Obviously there is going to be an overlap of this two rims around that time span.

Below is just a small example of the photos I have accumulated of early Stingrays over the years. Some are from collectors, eBay or the internet.
I apologize, as a few of these photos are very old and poor quality.

Photos 1 and 6 are mine.
Photos 5 and 7 were mine, but have been sold.
These ^^^^ above Stingrays are/were one owner Survivors.

As you can see, all are 36 spoke except the last Opal Violet J38, which is a September 28 spoke.

BTW, All Super Deluxe Stingrays came with a 28 spoke S-2.

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View attachment 1623297

View attachment 1623300

View attachment 1623301

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View attachment 1623304
Chris
Absolutely no offense taken, in fact, thank you!

I've found that you are the single most knowledgeable person in the Stingray hobby, bar none. You not only have the facts, but the goods to prove it and openly share your knowledge along with great photos. I have updated my own internal compendium with this info and have built quite a bit of it from your posts here (all of which I have read now).

The FB Stingray pages I am more active on do have some very knowledgeable guys, that is where I got the March date, but again, I'm updating it now.

Thanks again for the ongoing education, it is really greatly appreciated! I am learning daily about these bikes and enjoy my collection immensely.
 
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