Quality Bikes - Schwinn 3-Speeds

[harpon]

I suppose it's sacrilege here, but this 27" wheel World Tourst 3 speed is currently set up with 700 c alloy wheels a light rear derailleur with a 6 cog, and a light alloy crank and alloy rat trap pedals, and a one piece alloy Chinese post.
Sans the fenders- I've strapped a battery to the down tube, but have yet to try it out with an electric hub. Yet I'm thinking of putting all that stuff back on and reselling too-
The wheels were a good roll but heavy, and once I went to light 700c wheels , I really felt the fenders grabbing more air then and had to take them off- it sorta takes some of the character away, but in my older days, I'm strictly a fair weather rider. I think it's a '78 if I remember right.

 

[Oilit]

In 1978 they were still building the three speed lightweights in Chicago, but they had EF frames and Sturmey-Archer hubs. That one has a lugged frame, so it may have come from Greenville MS, or it could have been imported. Either way, I'd say early '80's.

 

[SirMike1983]

It's the elusive post-war Superior 3-speed - another example has turned up on eBay. The price is very high (not interested at the price being asked), but I like pulling these pictures as references because the post-war Superior 3-speed is an uncommon bike. My impression is that the Superior's market range was largely given to the 3-speed Continental after WWII. You sometimes hear people say that the Superior was "replaced" by the Continental after WWII. This is only mostly true - not all true. The Superior still existed, but seems to have been produced in small numbers. I've seen far more Continentals compared to post-war Superiors. I've seen more pre-war Superiors than post-war Superiors.

The Superior had the painted steel fenders like the New World, but got extra coloration to set it a notch above the New World. The ones I've seen lack the stainless, higher-end fenders of the Continental. The chainring is New World-style.

The decals are unique to the Superior. They're neat bikes. I've only seen a couple of these and I got out of my way to look for this sort of stuff.

 

[Oilit]

It's the elusive post-war Superior 3-speed - another example has turned up on eBay. The price is very high (not interested at the price being asked), but I like pulling these pictures as references because the post-war Superior 3-speed is an uncommon bike. My impression is that the Superior's market range was largely given to the 3-speed Continental after WWII. You sometimes hear people say that the Superior was "replaced" by the Continental after WWII. This is only mostly true - not all true. The Superior still existed, but seems to have been produced in small numbers. I've seen far more Continentals compared to post-war Superiors. I've seen more pre-war Superiors than post-war Superiors.

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The Superior had the painted steel fenders like the New World, but got extra coloration to set it a notch above the New World. The ones I've seen lack the stainless, higher-end fenders of the Continental. The chainring is New World-style.

The decals are unique to the Superior. They're neat bikes. I've only seen a couple of these and I got out of my way to look for this sort of stuff.

That's the first one I've ever seen. Thanks for posting the pictures!

 

[SirMike1983]

1947 Schwinn 3-speed takes its first ride of the season - really good weather this evening.

 

[PCHiggin]

The blue one was made in the early 80's by Giant,Taiwan

 

[Oilit]

And yes, it DOES qualify as sacrilege! Repent, ye unbeliever!
But then again, if the price was right....

 

[Retrorider]

And yes, it DOES qualify as sacrilege! Repent, ye unbeliever!
But then again, if the price was right....

 

[Retrorider]

Loving this 47 schwinn continental with
porteur type mods made.
Pictured below with stock wheels with all black Kenda tires and with 650b wheels off my other bike(black and tan 44-584 grand bois hetres). Not for the purists but I love the way it looks and rides..

 

[SirMike1983]

Found a neat set of pre-war Schwinn cranks for this. They even came with the original cotter pins. I had a correct, pre-war Schwinn spindle and adjustable cup/ring in a box in the garage. So I ended up putting these pre-war cranks onto the red 1941 Schwinn New World. The bike previously had a 1940s cloverleaf 3-piece crank set on it, which came from a late 1940s bike. This set brings this old Schwinn even closer to its original 1941 form.