Post-War ('40s-'50s) Schwinn Superior List

[Oilit]

I think that black one is a pre-war Superior, which is actually a little higher-end bike.

I can't place this one. The fork looks post-war, but I'm more familiar with the New World. I don't think I've ever seen this exact frame before, it looks intermediate between the pre-war and post-war designs.

 

[SirMike1983]

The frame tubes and seat post look like a large diameter type just going by the photos. The fork needs a lot of straightening work, but maybe a shop that does a lot of frame and fork work could get it there. The fork has braze-on tabs for the fender braces, and fixing the fork is a must-have to really keep this bike up and going. I don't see a replacement being a great solution in this case. Those white fenders with pin stripes probably will look really good with that bike once it is cleaned up. The brake lever looks like one of the stamped metal ones that the balloon tire people go after, and the rear hub probably the same sort of thing. These bikes tend to get parted out, especially the ladies' frames.

 

[GTs58]

I can't place this one. The fork looks post-war, but I'm more familiar with the New World. I don't think I've ever seen this exact frame before, it looks intermediate between the pre-war and post-war designs.

That's a prewar Superior, note the rear fork ends and no built-in stand. Here's the 1939 model.

 

[Oilit]

That's a prewar Superior, note the rear fork ends and no built-in stand. Here's the 1939 model.

View attachment 2076892

@GTs58, Thanks for the ad, it does look like the pre-war Superior used that fork. It would be a shame if Mortijohn got this one, but SirMike is right, the parts are worth more than the bike.

 

[SirMike1983]

The pre-war Superiors are nice bikes when you consider the cr-mo tubing and the forged fork ends. The only step up would have been 531 tubing in those days (a rarity before the second war). Post-war the Superior was more a slightly upgraded New World type frame with cottered cranks. The pre-war Superior bikes would deserve a list in their own right.

 

[ccdc.1]

That black ladies is an interesting one...as noted, it is not the second-generation Superior introduced in 1949, but it is also different than all the catalog images of pre-war ladies Superiors (and different than the less-than-a-handful ladies bikes I have seen pics of). The splayed top downtube seems unique among first-generation Superiors...all others have parallel downtubes, as do the Paramount ladies bikes. The post-war catalog images of ladies Paramounts also show the parallel downtubes. The pedals are the early AS versions, while later first-generation Superiors usually had the Torrington No. 7 pedals.

Also interesting is the two-tone treatment of the black frame with white painted fenders...they seem to be original, as they have the same two-color pin striping as the frame.

(edit I was thinking I had seen an early Paramount with a similar splayed top downtube, and I just found the image (attached). This one is a bit of a puzzle as well, as it looks to be a keyhole-lugged frame, but has a New World type of fork (stamped fork tips). My notes say the stamping (or serial) is 3 2 42, FWIW.

 

[SirMike1983]

The unusual ivory variation on a post-war Superior. I've only seen one post-war Superior in Ivory. It surfaced last year on Bikeforums. When done in ivory, the bike got New World style stripes instead of the chevron-edged decals.

Serial is U66938. Rear hub is from 1950.

 

[SirMike1983]

Actually think I need to add that ivory to the list, I don't see it on there. I had forgotten one surfaced over on the other forum.

 

[SirMike1983]

Updated list - we're up to 10 bikes now. Certainly not a common bike still. One bike has New World style paint and decals (the ivory one). All bikes are either ladies' frames or men's standard 21-22 inch frames.

 

[GTs58]

The unusual ivory variation on a post-war Superior. I've only seen one post-war Superior in Ivory. It surfaced last year on Bikeforums. When done in ivory, the bike got New World style stripes instead of the chevron-edged decals.

View attachment 2077222

View attachment 2077233

Serial is U66938. Rear hub is from 1950.

The paint on this is amazing. My thoughts on this one are really mixed, and the person that ran the new rear brake cable shouldn't be messing with bikes.