Classic & Vintage - 0030 hours @ witts end trying to ID 64 schwinn

Its serial #B425654 which gives it a manufacturing date of 05/07/1964. It is a lugged frame with a chrome fork ends ( full chrome under paint), but does not have chrome stays or cast drop outs so it is not Paramount. The 64 schwinn litature on line, points that out and gives excellent discriptions of the models for that year, but does not discribe my lugged frame with cotterless crank, chrome fork, and stamped steel drop-outs. The head badge says "SCHWINN APROVED JAPAN" but I do not know if it is the original because it has been refastend with screws. Does anybody has any suggestions as to what model I have?

Assuming the bike is a schwinn and the badge is correct the bike is not a 1964 schwinn.I do not believe there were any 1964 schwinns made in japan.Any lugged 1964 schwinn would have to be a paramount I believe.

Its serial #B425654

Schwinn bicycles from Japan have a production month letter in either the first or second position and a production year number in the other (first or second) position. Your example: B425654 = February, 1974/84. For some Japanese built Schwinns the headbadge will have a 4-digit stamping that represents the Julian day and the last digit of the year (0524 represents the 52d day of 1974 or 1984 -- use decals and component date codes to determine the decade).

Do you have a photo?

Bob Hufford
Springfield, MO

No decals had had at least two coats of paint over the original. I will look at the components later(bike given to me as basket case) they are in garage in box. It helps knowing I am looking at a 1974 model. No stamp on the head badge , mt other 2 schwinns do though but this one is older. Mr. Hufford kudos on a wonderfull schwinn resorce in the litewight data book you have on the internet, thank you.

Schwinn did not import any Panasonic-built japanese road bikes till approx. 1971 -1972, which were the World Traveler bikes. Sounds like it is a Paramount . I believe that Schwinn was building lugged frame Paramounts in a separate production facility and that they used chrome on the lower 1/2 of the fork.

Well I had time to look it over and compare it to pictures of 1974 le tour's and it matches. A point of confusion for me was the tabs brased on the down tube. The frame has a set to keep the shifters / cable stops from sliding up or down, I assumed this was a factory set up for down tube shifters. As I look through the box of componets supplied with the box I found interesting stuff but nothing matched, the crank arms do say "le tour" and have a 53 chain ring but the previous owner says that it is not the original but it appears to be more original than he thought

Thank you all for your help IDing a 1974 letour