Jonswan
Look Ma, No Hands!
I bought three prewar straight bar bicycles this weekend at an estate sale and need help in positively identifying and dating them. Once I know what they are, I will decide which to keep, which to sell.
The seller thought these were made of gold and I did not know much about pre war ballon tire Schwinns except they are cool and I wanted one. After some negotiation, I bought all three. They look terrible, dirty and rusty but the frames are solid and all are 26". I may keep one as a rusty rat rod, restore a second one to original and sell the third once I know what I have. I did some research on these bikes and now understand the early Schwinn factory records were lost in a factory fire so identifying them is more difficult. There is a link to prewar serial number on Bicycle Chronicles' website http://www.bicyclechronicles.com/#!serials/cid0 Two frames are badged "La Salle Chicago Cycle Supply Co." and the one does not have a badge. La Salle apparently rebadged Schwiin bikes between 1931 and 1940. Any help, references, links is appreciated. Here they are:
From left to right, bike #2 (early straight bar type), #1 middle bike with basket, bike #3 right side, broken handle bar.
Bike #1 with basket, serial # B79926, crank is stamped with "S" and '610"
I put new black 26" x 2.125" brick pattern tires and new tubes on the basket bike last night, it looks great and I am going to keep it this way for now. A local bike shop is digging out a used but usable skip tooth chain and some pedals for me and I will take her out for a ride.
The seller thought these were made of gold and I did not know much about pre war ballon tire Schwinns except they are cool and I wanted one. After some negotiation, I bought all three. They look terrible, dirty and rusty but the frames are solid and all are 26". I may keep one as a rusty rat rod, restore a second one to original and sell the third once I know what I have. I did some research on these bikes and now understand the early Schwinn factory records were lost in a factory fire so identifying them is more difficult. There is a link to prewar serial number on Bicycle Chronicles' website http://www.bicyclechronicles.com/#!serials/cid0 Two frames are badged "La Salle Chicago Cycle Supply Co." and the one does not have a badge. La Salle apparently rebadged Schwiin bikes between 1931 and 1940. Any help, references, links is appreciated. Here they are:
From left to right, bike #2 (early straight bar type), #1 middle bike with basket, bike #3 right side, broken handle bar.
Bike #1 with basket, serial # B79926, crank is stamped with "S" and '610"
I put new black 26" x 2.125" brick pattern tires and new tubes on the basket bike last night, it looks great and I am going to keep it this way for now. A local bike shop is digging out a used but usable skip tooth chain and some pedals for me and I will take her out for a ride.
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