Today's Bike Stuff Finds at Alameda Antiques Fair...W/Questions on 1949 Schwinn Racer

[Carltonator]

I spotted this Schwinn race bike today at Alameda...seller was asking $2,000.00...said got at estate sale....seemed like exceptional condition...is this a rare bike?

Also saw this Spokes tool priced at $100.00...and a wood rim for $90.00....didn't buy any of them...

 

[GTs58]

The seller is 10 years off. Looks like a 1939 Superior Racer. And yes, they are pretty uncommon. (rare) Paramount hubs maybe?

 

[Andrew Gorman]

I agree- early superior set up for the track. There were several velodromes in the Bay area in the 1930's-40's there's one left in San Jose-

Home Page - Hellyer Velodrome

Welcome to the Hellyer Park Velodrome website. The Velodrome is a bike racing track located in Hellyer County Park in San Jose. We host track racing in the summer months and riding/training sessions all year.

hellyervelodrome.com

 

[GTs58]

That Superior is extremely nice. I wonder if it has had a restoration or if it's original. The multi color box pins are all there, decals and the chrome looks fresh. Unreal condition if it is original! Schwinn Continental racing hubs too.

Here's the 39 catalog page, so Green may have been offered in 1940? @detroitbike

 

[Carltonator]

GTs58, and Andrew...great info thanks so much...was the seller's $2,000.00 about market value?...I really liked the condition

Could it have been used for either professional or amateur racing?....How did the Schwinn Superior compare to other race bikes of the 1939 era in regards to speed, durability, etc...

 

[Carltonator]

GTs58...thanks for the catalog page....great info...

The seller had a small square snapshot type photo of three young men standing outdoors around a waist high stand with the bike on top of it...one was holding a glass milk bottle half drank....he had on a jersey with a name embroidered on the chest that I couldn't make out...and darn it I forgot to take a photo of it...after i examined it carefully with a loop...I got the sellers contact so could get it...

 

[49autocycledeluxe]

I would bet it's a repaint and the "decals" are painted on.

 

[Andrew Gorman]

Superiors were a notch below Schwinn Paramount's and there were a lot of professional grade frame builders above Paramount's. DeSimones were in San Jose. I have a New World fixie that is supposed to be a velodrome rental bike in the bay area ca. 1940's. At a guess, a Superior could have been ridden by low budget pro or a better financed amateur. More serious guys could have sprung for a custom bike or a Paramount. Dig into the newspapers and maybe find out? Anything "Track Bike" seems really hot right now. I have no idea how Professional bike racing was in the bay area ca. 1940, but the bike could have been shipped in from anywhere...

 

[gkeep]

Thanks for posting these shots, what amazing condition! Switch out the rims to save the old ones and that woul dbe a fun rider, you could turn some heads at an Eroica. An old friend of ours sent my wife a photo in a text yesterday but I could not make out the downtube lettering. Did the seller say if they picked it up at a local Bay Area estate sale? They are clearly not trying to quickly unload it at estate sale or garage sale prices.

 

[Carltonator]

Andrew...I have so much else going on to research (big cycling feature coming) that I can't take time to research but wow it's interesting...I'm just getting into early racing...

gkeep...I think he said it came out of Burlingame....yeah it seemed pricey even though I'm just learning....although the condition could merit...