Old Bike Haul, Looking for some Information

[bloo]

When I use the Schwinn serial number tool it comes back as a 1953.

Never use that. It is wrong more than it is right. There is a Schwinn serial number thread here on the CABE with much better information. That said, if it is very early postwar as noted, there is some ambiguity. Listen to the guys in this thread. They know a lot more than that silly tool.

 

[joleothetall]

The serial numbers were stamped on the drop out in the beginning of 1952 so that being a 53 stamping on the BB sounds far fetched. I still think that's an early post war piece. Some pics of the BB area would be nice after it's cleaned up a little.

You’re probably right lol. I’m just passing opinions back and forth between the two forums. Nobody seems to know for sure what the deal is with that one. I’ll see if I can get the bottom bracket cleaned up a bit today and get some better pictures. Anything for you

 

[joleothetall]

There is no rear dropout, the bike has prewar rear facing forks. 1951 was the last year for numbers on the bottom of the crank bracket, if I'm assuming correctly and that's where you found the numbers.

There’s no dropout? I thought it had them. The location of the serial number clue makes sense. I found it on the bottom bracket which, if I’m understanding correctly, isn’t where it should be if it’s later than 1952.

 

[joleothetall]

Never use that. It is wrong more than it is right. There is a Schwinn serial number thread here on the CABE with much better information. That said, if it is very early postwar as noted, there is some ambiguity. Listen to the guys in this thread. They know a lot more than that silly tool.

Ha! That’s fair. It’s just where the search started so that’s all the info I had originally. I haven’t had a chance to dig much into that serial number thread but I’ll definitely give it a look. This one seems to be an oddball though whatever the case.

 

[vincev]

Looks like you have a few winter projects !

 

[ADKBIKES]

That’s what somebody over on rat rod bikes said too. I ran the serial number and it says it I s a Schwinn and was built in 1953. The only bike that it looks like in the catalog from that year is the Spitfire. This may be a stupid question, but I don’t suppose that Schwinn ever produced bikes for Western Flyer did they?

if you notice the headbadge screws there is 2 different screws , its been added

 

[joleothetall]

Alright y’all, here are some post-initial-scrub glamor shots for you. Not a whole lot of new revelations but they sure are a lot prettier. It looks like the CWC was repainted at some point which tracks with what my aunt told me (she said grandpa redid one of them for her a long time ago and painted it blue but she couldn’t remember which one). There’s some maroon and gray paint peeking out from under the blue and white.

I still can’t find a serial number on the little fella but I got a better picture of the crank. There’s also a brassy color peeking out from under the paint where the frame welds into the bottom bracket for what it’s worth

The Schwinn Flyer has Western Flyer grips and the seat seems to match them. The springs on the seat are also painted the same blue as the frame so whatever the case, it’s been set up like this for a long time.

All in all they’re not looking too bad for having sat under animal poop for the last few decades.

 

[joleothetall]

if you notice the headbadge screws there is 2 different screws , its been added

Oh yeah you’re right! That’s a good catch. I didn’t even notice.

 

[joleothetall]

Looks like you have a few winter projects !

You know it!

 

[joleothetall]

The serial numbers were stamped on the drop out in the beginning of 1952 so that being a 53 stamping on the BB sounds far fetched. I still think that's an early post war piece. Some pics of the BB area would be nice after it's cleaned up a little.

Here are a few more pictures of the bottom bracket