Schwinn King Size Registry & Research Project

[GTs58]

logically, since the catalog page has no verbiage about the "new" "automatic" hub, I'll assume the manual two speed was used. Now I REALLY want one.

Better do a little more research on that.

 

[AmericanSchwinnfiend]

It would be the two speed automatic.

My Sister received a new 24" wheeled Schwinn in 1964 with the red banded auto 2 speed, but the Americans were made as early as 1961, so it's possible the early ones could have had leftover stock manual shift?

 

[AmericanSchwinnfiend]

Better do a little more research on that.

View attachment 2213155

No such thing with a two speed written on the chain guard

you win.

 

[AmericanSchwinnfiend]

One thing I never understood about the Bendix auto 2 speed is that the hub shell has three red bands. Why not two? The coaster has one, so logically two bands would seem sensible. The 20" wheel version is blue banded to show that it is an overdrive instead of an underdrive, (or vice versa, I forget now) and the later, new and improved two speed has yellow bands, three of them.

 

[WillWork4Parts]

You'll have to ask Bendix about the number of bands...

The yellow and blue band hubs came out at the same time in January of 65 though. The Redband Automatic was before that though. There are some other forums with the Schwinn use dates though.

 

[AmericanSchwinnfiend]

Yes, I'm wondering when the manual 2 speed was discontinued and when the red band 2 speed "Auto" was in production. I can certainly understand how the use of the 2 speed auto would help reduce the time and labor costs at the factory, and I'm not informed of the problems the old manual 2 speed hubs were. All I do know is that I very seldom even see a Schwinn with complete and functioning manual 2 speed while I do still run across the yellow and red banded auto hubs and very rarely the blue banders.

 

[GTs58]

Yes, I'm wondering when the manual 2 speed was discontinued and when the red band 2 speed "Auto" was in production. I can certainly understand how the use of the 2 speed auto would help reduce the time and labor costs at the factory, and I'm not informed of the problems the old manual 2 speed hubs were. All I do know is that I very seldom even see a Schwinn with complete and functioning manual 2 speed while I do still run across the yellow and red banded auto hubs and very rarely the blue banders.

The last year Schwinn used the Bendix manual 2 speed was 1959. I've seen a few 1960 Corvettes with the Auto 2 speed but it seems the two speeds weren't a big seller at that time.

 

[AmericanSchwinnfiend]

The last year Schwinn used the Bendix manual 2 speed was 1959. I've seen a few 1960 Corvettes with the Auto 2 speed but it seems the two speeds weren't a big seller at that time.

bingo. That's the info I wanted. I seem to recall also that Schwinn had some bikes with New Departure manual 2 speed hubs, I've never had a complete working unit but back when I was hoarding S-2 wheels, a few had that hub. Did Schwinn offer these post WWII or was New Departure history by 1946? I've had English coaster brakes with "Schwinn approved" anchor arms, likely Perry or Sturmey-Archer made, and of course the Komet made German ones (I like those). I was told that Bendix was jerking Frank Schwinn around a bit, so they ordered those for a few years to bring Bendix back begging for the contract.

What was the connection between Mattatuck and New Departure? I remember servicing both back in the day and the guts were very similar, also the Japanese brand N&K. I'm guessing N&K were just patent infringement copies of Mattatuck and/or New Departure.
Mattatuck, like New Departure was an American company, (I believe) but for inexpensive auto parts store bikes the N&K hub was used.

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

bingo. That's the info I wanted. I seem to recall also that Schwinn had some bikes with New Departure manual 2 speed hubs, I've never had a complete working unit but back when I was hoarding S-2 wheels, a few had that hub. Did Schwinn offer these post WWII or was New Departure history by 1946? I've had English coaster brakes with "Schwinn approved" anchor arms, likely Perry or Sturmey-Archer made, and of course the Komet made German ones (I like those). I was told that Bendix was jerking Frank Schwinn around a bit, so they ordered those for a few years to bring Bendix back begging for the contract.

What was the connection between Mattatuck and New Departure? I remember servicing both back in the day and the guts were very similar, also the Japanese brand N&K. I'm guessing N&K were just patent infringement copies of Mattatuck and/or New Departure.
Mattatuck, like New Departure was an American company, (I believe) but for inexpensive auto parts store bikes the N&K hub was used.

New Departure was around in the ‘50s and became Mattatuck

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

Maybe bought by Mattatuck not exactly sure