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Pre War Schwinn DX - Post 'em!!!!

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Prewar Schwinn Serial Numbers

Below is a list of prewar Schwinn serial numbers. The numbers were obtained from original bicycles that could be identified by components. Obviously there are gaps between years. If you have an identifiable Schwinn and can help close the gap, please email us. This is not an exact science and there are exceptions which I have listed as well.
A1858-J1**** (hand stamped) 1935
K ?
L2825-T10018 (hand stamped) 1936
R5****-W08983 1937
W60510-B19181 1938
B22207-D37747 1939
D28843-F89521 1940
G32427-H93415 1941

Oddities

S50874 - BC model with SPRINGER! Machine stamped
Y16867 - Motorbike with straight down tube, 37 style fenders, a six hole rack and a Hockey stick style chainguard.
Z05868 - Machine stamped, straight down tube, blue frame, motorbike frame and tank.
Z08930 - machine stamped, 1936 styleguard, 1936 style paint scheme, motorbike, non dated crank, footed badge
11187 - Early Aerocycle, welded tabs on fenders

Serial Number Characteristics:
1. Early 1936 and back typically stamped with larger more crude numbers and
letters and are usually from the first third of the alphabet.

2. Early to Mid 1930`s numbers are often UNEVENLY stamped or not in alignment.
Letters are in chronological order berfore the number series.

3. In 1937 the numbers got ALOT tighter together, smallest type setting on
any frame Pre-War or Post-War and very close together and uniform.
Letters in this small type may represent months or bi-monthly production runs
from 1936 ish through 1938. Lowest known letter being B, highest being X

4. Late 1938 or 1939 starts over with possibly a quarterly lettering system
beginning with the letter "A" and in regular Post-War stamping size.
This lettering format runs 1938 ish thru possibly 1942 and from "A" thru "I"

5. Some early postwar 1946 frames stamped with "I" and "J" oops. Then begins the
serial number system reflecting the Post-War frame design changes and starts the
alphabet over at "A", then "B" and so on, up to the letter "D" or "E" in 1948
The rest is known but keep in mind that there are odd letters seemingly tossed
in at certain times with no rhyme or reason to them and Pre-War letters could
have the same type of instances as the known 1948 and up letters do.
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Telltale Frame Designs
1. 1938 was the first Cantilever frame.

2. 1939 was the first Cycle Truck.

3. 1939 - 1941 Town and Country Tandem 26 X 2 1/8 tires, back seat tube was straight

4. 1941 deluxe had a metal tube welded onto the headtube to protect the tank
from being dented by the springer. 1941 was the ONLY year for this.

5. 1942 No Deluxe Models Made, The Wartime defense model became the standard model.

6. 1946 The first Forward facing dropouts, Removable seatpost clamp, Built
In kickstand, Built in chainguard mounts and fender mounts on rear, New Schwinn built front
hub With caged bearings, New truss plate assembly, New front fork (NON braised),
New semi tubular fender braces (not flat sided),Women`s fork yoke now the same length

7. 1946 to 1951 Town and Country Tandem: Curved rear seat tube. Front hand brake
with rear coaster. OR front hand brake with rear expander. Tire sizes 26 X 1 1/2
OR 26 X 2 1/8. Single letter T in serial number below crank.
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Telltale Parts
1. Early 1936 marked the end of the large seat post clamps.

2. The Hockey Stick style clamp on chainguard was the most used Guard until 1937,
but was Still used after that until the post-war frame changes that mount it
directly to welded on tabs on the frame rather than Guard mounted clamps.

3. 1936 The first Cycle Lock, was the only one that wasn`t angled to one side.

4. 1937 The first fore brake.

5. 1938 The first Feather style chainguard.

6. 1938 The first Springer.

7. 1939 The first Ribbed chainguard on the Standard and DX models.

8. 1940 The first streamlined teardrop shaped fender light.

9. 1941 The first Non hanging tank.
1941 deluxe had a metal tube welded onto the headtube to protect the tank
from being dented by the springer. 1941 was the ONLY year for this.

10. 1941 The first Full Deluxe Chainguard (like the Phantom).

11. Pre-War Crank usage:

Part no. 501 Crank-mens-chrome plated-28 thread. (dog-leg)
Part no. 502 Crank-ladies and New World-Chrome Plated. (dog-leg)
Part no. 503 Crank-Juvenile-Chrome plated. (dog-leg)
Part no. 7003 Crank New World racer- chrome plated. (Straight, NON dog-leg)
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Thanks for sharing.
 
40 deluxe DX last ride with these parts. Going to do a frame swap with another DX frame that arrived today. ...

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I saw this 1940 DX for the first time two years ago when a friend of mine found it at an estate sale a couple miles from my house. I wasn't able make a deal on it then, and I lost track of it. Since then it has been owned by two other CABE members, one in Portland,OR and one in Spokane,WA. I was able to buy it and bring it back home a couple weeks ago.
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