Schwinn S2 Wheels Ages?

[island schwinn]

From what W2J says,you have to sell them to a long time collector and then he'll tell you you screwed up.
Try a magnet and see how well it sticks.

 

[Jeff54]

Just to clear things up here. The above info is totally wrong. Schwinn invested in the Hungarian factory in 1988 so the rims made in the years mentioned above were made in Chicago.

While you're correcting, ya don't wanna leave this part out " but no Stamping."

Yes they were stamped, however, they got put on the side verses center. And, because it was done before the tracks, most of them got covered over by it. So, as a result, there are variations from, none, quarter, and half to full S-2 stamp. In some cases, if you hunt em down you might find part of the S-2 tip, top, beside the outer edge of the tracks too because, a some were not aligned square to the rim.

This bike, 1978, had it on the back but the front was half covered by the tracks. I would have taken a photo before I'd sold it and almost did when packing it to ship, but, figured peps already knew what was going on. It was clearly smashed over by the tracks. Since then, I see variations on ebay from time to time too.

 

[juanitasmith13]

don't forget the ultra rare stainless S2 wheels from early 48.have seen 2 sets and actually owned a set.sold them without knowing how rare,until the buyer,who was a long time collector,told me what they were.they had weak knurling and the stamping was weak.

Stainless steel is MUCH HARDER material than regular steel... hence, the weaker appearing marks. Probably the same machine that left better defined marks in the 'softer' steel rims.

 

[pkleppert]

Magnet won't stick to them

 

[Vintage-Whizzer]

the way i understand it, the knurling was an unintended result of manufacturing. Probabaly all S2 had knurl marks but the early ones were buffed out. I have heard and it makes sense that the machine that rolled the hoops used a knurled roller to aid in traction on the rim. Likely the cost of buffing these marks out drove them to a decision, and the cheapest route was to increase the depth and quality of the knurle pattern. Even the "unknurled" hoops have the marking on the inside from the rollers.

I noticed my 1949 S2's have double knurls on the inside as well as the outside, and my 1948 S2's have no noticeable knurls on either side. So I wonder if they were buffed out, or if they just used a different process which was then changed in 1949? In the first 2 pictures below you can see the 1948 chrome S2 on the left, and the 1949 S2 on the right. The last pictures show another 1948 S2 rim with no knurls on either side. Another difference is the inner width. It seems that after 1949 the rims are a little wider on the inside. Anyway, I hope this helps.

 

[Jeff54]

Interestingly enough I've had a C2383, four numbers on dropout verses 5, go figure? , presumably: 1952: 05/22 to 05/29 ------- C19052 ------------------ C40174 'Goodyear'.

restored about 20 year ago and didn't think on it during or after, after I'd responded to this thread, until now. Heck I haven't even bothered with it much in all those years too. I restored it for me daughter so, I just air it up and brush off from time to time. Not to leave out the last time I looked at serial numbers was 20 year ago and I'd thought it to be a 48, which is why I took another look just now. for whatever reasons as, I also totally didn't know the serial number would have been on BB and or forgot since then. .

I guess for the large guard paint scheme and truss rods it's a Hornet. but, before restoring, the guard was good enough condition that, if there was a decal it should have been there as the other Goodyear guard decal is but it's not. When found at a junk dealer in a field with other rotting bikes it was pretty rusty and I had to wipe white on the sides of the rims to enhance them. I'd wiped it on so it would spread thin, just cover the bad and keep from getting on the stripes even a few placed within the stripes. . I color matched the Green at auto paint and then wiped it on a few places on frame and fenders as well, lightly but, just enough to blend in without over painting the whole thing orcrossing into the white or over any decals . But, everything down to the seat, knuckle buster stem, handle bars etc are no doubt original so, I have good odds the rims are as well. Yet we've all slept since it was made; anything could have happened

Yet an oddity in more than two ways; serial number, no decal and what else?

I hadn't given them much more thought regarding this thread and non-Knurled in 1948. Heck I completely forgot bout this: They're not knurled. And, which is interesting, while they are S2 or balloon designation, Not marked S2 too, just Schwinn tubular [edit; wait never-mind that, just in case I triple checked, the S2 is there but, way out on the other side of the next spoke particularly quite a ways away, but very light stamp. regardless they're not knurled, and definitely not covered over wit me light, thin paint jobby.} : (guess it's time for another cleaning though) :

Perhaps it's an oddity for being a wholesale unit, tossed extra, laying around reject serial number or discontinued stuff onto it before delivering to Goodyear OR? otherwise, Schwinn was doing a crappy job center knurling them in 52 and by this time Schwinn was fitting the Tubular stamp pretty well, balanced where the stamping fit without getting holes poked for spokes, they could be mistaken as 48's;

 

[GTs58]

I didn't know Schwinn was decaling or making bikes for Goodyear. There were only a handful of models that actually had a chain guard decal with the model name prior to 1953.

 

[Jeff54]

I didn't know Schwinn was decaling or making bikes for Goodyear. There were only a handful of models that actually had a chain guard decal with the model name prior to 1953.

whelp I were wondering bout that so X that off if'ns they didn't. I simply felt like adding it in, besides who cares, as topic isn't about decals, but fricken rims.

 

[Vintage-Whizzer]

I didn't know Schwinn was decaling or making bikes for Goodyear. There were only a handful of models that actually had a chain guard decal with the model name prior to 1953.

I owned a BF Goodrich Schwinn with a C serial number under the bottom bracket, a pencil kickstand, and non knurled S2's. It was a late 1947 or early 1948.
Allot of people confuse 1940's post war bikes with 1952's because of the repeat in serial numbers due to the lost records in 1948. If your bike has a C-serial number, and it's under the crank, it is probably a 1947 or 1948. You can distinguish if it is a 1947 or a 1948 by the rims. If it has drop centers it is probably from 1947, and if it has non knurled S2's, it is probably from 1948. From what I have heard, the S2's came out in 1948, but they may have started in late 1947? If any of this info is wrong, please correct me. I really do not want to steer anybody in the wrong direction. Thank you!

 

[Jeff54]

I owned a BF Goodrich Schwinn with a C serial number under the bottom bracket, a pencil kickstand, and non knurled S2's. It was a late 1947 or early 1948.
Allot of people confuse 1940's post war bikes with 1952's because of the repeat in serial numbers due to the lost records in 1948. If your bike has a C-serial number, and it's under the crank, it is probably a 1947 or 1948. You can distinguish if it is a 1947 or a 1948 by the rims. If it has drop centers it is probably from 1947, and if it has non knurled S2's, it is probably from 1948. From what I have heard, the S2's came out in 1948, but they may have started in late 1947? If any of this info is wrong, please correct me. I really do not want to steer anybody in the wrong direction. Thank you!

Thanks, that prob splains why I'd originally, 20 year back , thought mine to be a 48.. yet, 4 danged numbers plus crappy non-existent knurling too boot.? eugh. maybe i'll just grind the kickstank to a point some day fer the hecks of it and it'll become a 46, 48 and 52, plus add in a hornet decal 53 all in one. . [grin]