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prototype Jaguar

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From what I came up with both of my frames were built between oct. 15-30-1953 (b73xxx, c02xxx), but the also used those # in 52 & 57. As I said before Schwinn factory workers I spoke to yrs. ago (25-30) told me they used Phantom frames (balloon) at first and after they got positive reviews and were put them into reg. production and ran frames again (sounded like they made a warehouse full then used them till they were gone) and made Jaguar specific frames.
 
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Yea, it was only a two yr. run, 54 & 55 for the balloon Jag so maybe these were only the first mo. or so maybe with some more ser. # or any other info we can get a better idea.
 
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Here is another that somewhat shows the double mounting plates. John mentioned in another thread that this one has a 53 serial number. Schwinn did build different models/frames in batches so the very first run of these Jags were obviously built on existing ballooner frames and just modified before paint. So far I have not come across a 1954 serial numbered Jag with both brackets. I also came across a 1954 Schwinn reporter and the main topic was about the 1953 production. It said Lightweights and juvenile bikes made up 65% of that years production.

http://thecabe.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?24862-1954-Schwinn-Jaguar&highlight=1954+Jaguar
 
I know this thread is 3 years old, but it deserves updating. The pictures show this bike pretty much as I bought it. The seat and the pedals have been replaced and the Rocket Ray is long gone, but otherwise it's pretty complete. The serial number dates it to Oct. 1953 and the Sturmey Archer hub (alloy) is dated "54 1", so that matches the bikes that @mrg posted. It also has the earlier style Weinmnn levers, and I'm still not sure when the style changed. I've seen them on the early middleweights and one as late as 1958 on a Roadmaster Flying Falcon, but AMF may have been using up old stock.
I've also included some pictures of a seat I picked up off of EBay. I'm guessing this has to be an "Airflow" saddle, made by Mesinger (thanks to @Freqman1 for noticing what I'd missed!). My understanding is that the balloon Jaguars used either the Airflow or the Faulhaber seat, like the one in this post by @bobcycles : https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/v...dle-balloon-54-jag-etc-150-00-shipped.108169/. Was the Faulhaber on the later (1955) Jaguars, or was this random?

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I know this thread is 3 years old, but it deserves updating. The pictures show this bike pretty much as I bought it. The seat and the pedals have been replaced and the Rocket Ray is long gone, but otherwise it's pretty complete. The serial number dates it to Oct. 1953 and the Sturmey Archer hub (alloy) is dated "54 1", so that matches the bikes that @mrg posted. It also has the earlier style Weinmnn levers, and I'm still not sure when the style changed. I've seen them on the early middleweights and one as late as 1958 on a Roadmaster Flying Falcon, but AMF may have been using up old stock.
I've also included some pictures of a seat I picked up off of EBay. I'm guessing this has to be an "Airflow" saddle, made by Mesinger (thanks to @Freqman1 for noticing what I'd missed!). My understanding is that the balloon Jaguars used either the Airflow or the Faulhaber seat, like the one in this post by @bobcycles : https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/v...dle-balloon-54-jag-etc-150-00-shipped.108169/. Was the Faulhaber on the later (1955) Jaguars, or was this random?

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I would have to say that the Air-Flow was the intended saddle and there was a supply and demand, or better yet, a demand and supply issue for the Air-Flow saddles on the 54 Jaguar, so the other saddle (Troxel) was an appropriate substitute. It's somewhat obvious that Schwinn made a quick or late decision to produce the Jag and they came up short on the supply of the Air-Flows. I personally have seen more 1954 models and they had both types of saddles and just a few original 1955 models but can't say that I've seen many of the Air-Flow saddles being used on the 55 Jags. Here is another 54 with a Nov 13- 25/1953 SN.

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