Classic & Vintage - Super Sport BB shell supplier?

Just curious where Schwinn got the BB shells for the Super Sport bikes? I've noticed most are stamped P2, and also stamped with a tiny (1/4" or smaller) horses head. I've never seen anything like it. Did they
make the shells themselves?

On a side note, my 24" SS is home from the sandblaster at long last. It has a fresh coat of rust killer and the rust pitting is minimal. Filler primer should take ca of it all. Soon it will be orange Centari metallic, with a urethane clearcoat. I have a guy making a set of down tube decals for it in black. They won't be exact, but from 5-10 feet you won't be able to tell. It's good to have a friend with a vinyl cutting machine, hehe.,,,,BD


http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n267/Kustombyker/nakedSS.jpg

If you have a one piece Ashtubula crankset of course Harris Cyclery has the parts you need. Click here:
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/opc.html

Leave it to Schwinn to be unorthodox with those fillet brazed frames.

I honestly wonder if the extra time required to finish off these frames had any negative impact on their production - I can't see where a in-between model such as this would have a sufficient market, considering the fact that Joe Bike Boom Buyer would likely just as well take the cheaper Continental.

Just a rambling thought.

-Kurt

If you have a one piece Ashtubula crankset of course Harris Cyclery has the parts you need. Click here:
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/opc.html

I think you missed the point of the post. I'm not looking for BB bearings and cups? I was think who actually made the shell that the bearing cups mount in. The bike is a larger frame that I'm swapping parts over, that bike has had a 3pc. conversion for a while now.:D

Kurt, I think if they had only used a euro bb shell and a three piece crank, they would have sold better. When I converted mine the weight drop was substantial. It felt like 3-4 pounds difference. I'm also losing the stem shifters in favor of some barcons. That should drop another 1/4 pound, hehe. The funny thing is that they kind of shot themselves in the foot with EF construction, and then fillet brazing on the nicer models. The "Joe Blows" wouldn't see the difference in quality, and then pick the cheaper bike. Thank goodness they were at l;east somewhat popular so we can find them cheap now.;),,,,BD

I passed one up for $30 yesterday. It was too small, a little beat up, and I was running late. A shame.

I believe Schwinn made the BB shell themselves. Roger

Kurt, I think if they had only used a euro bb shell and a three piece crank, they would have sold better. When I converted mine the weight drop was substantial. It felt like 3-4 pounds difference. I'm also losing the stem shifters in favor of some barcons. That should drop another 1/4 pound, hehe. The funny thing is that they kind of shot themselves in the foot with EF construction, and then fillet brazing on the nicer models. The "Joe Blows" wouldn't see the difference in quality, and then pick the cheaper bike. Thank goodness they were at l;east somewhat popular so we can find them cheap now.;),,,,BD

Are you sure? I doubt that even those who bought the Sports Tourer would be too concerned about the BB shell type used. Anyone halfway serious about riding would laugh their heads off at the built-in kickstand.

For that matter, remember that Schwinn did make a fillet-brazed machine with a proper BB shell - the Sports Tourer? That thing is 10 times harder to find then the Super Sport, and if I am not mistaken, was sans-kickstand. I don't know about you, but I'd say that it is a reasonable indicator that folks couldn't tell the difference between these two either - and bought the SS instead. Any halfway serious folk would likely still balk at the two braze-on cable stops on the downtube preventing the mounting of clamp-on D/T shifters.

Heck, most folks probably couldn't tell the "Super Sport" and "Sports Tourer" names apart at first glance - I confuse them occasionally as well.

I don't know, but if you ask me, Schwinn's marketing and product development department still hadn't shaken itself off the balloon tire or middleweight era, and were still trying to sell their bikes in such fashion.

-Kurt

I think Kurt's right about the marketing aspect; they just never seemed comfortable filling the gap between Typhoons and Paramounts.

I think Kurt's right about the marketing aspect; they just never seemed comfortable filling the gap between Typhoons and Paramounts.

Well, Mike, I'd guess they sold quite a few Schwinn Varsities!

Neal

Are you sure? I doubt that even those who bought the Sports Tourer would be too concerned about the BB shell type used. Anyone halfway serious about riding would laugh their heads off at the built-in kickstand.

For that matter, remember that Schwinn did make a fillet-brazed machine with a proper BB shell - the Sports Tourer? That thing is 10 times harder to find then the Super Sport, and if I am not mistaken, was sans-kickstand.My Sports Tourers have kickstands. My 65 Super Sport didn't come with a kickstand.

I don't think anyone halfway serious about cycling even considered this model line of Schwinns, but rather looked towards the Paramount and other brands. For the recreational rider/average Joe, they were and still are great bikes, even forty years later.

I nearly bought a used SuperSport with paper route money back around 1979, but it was too big. I remember the consensus at the time, at least around our area, was that it was a pretty decent bike, in spite of the one piece crank.

Many times since then I'd wished that SS had been the right size. Finally got one this Spring. I quite like it. First thing I did was remove the 3 piece adapter and put in a 1 piece crank. :D

For that matter, remember that Schwinn did make a fillet-brazed machine with a proper BB shell - the Sports Tourer? That thing is 10 times harder to find then the Super Sport, and if I am not mistaken, was sans-kickstand. I don't know about you, but I'd say that it is a reasonable indicator that folks couldn't tell the difference between these two either - and bought the SS instead. Any halfway serious folk would likely still balk at the two braze-on cable stops on the downtube preventing the mounting of clamp-on D/T shifters.

-Kurt
I believe you're referring to the S/S Tourer. '68 model only. TA cotterless alloy cranks. Very rare. Equipped with kickstand. Everything else standard Super Sport - Huret derailleurs, pie plate, etc.

No, I was referring to the '73 model, if I am not mistaken.

-Kurt

I remember the consensus at the time, at least around our area, was that it was a pretty decent bike, in spite of the one piece crank.


It's pretty much the same between my fellow flea market shopping bike hoarding buddies and I. They're WAY better made than a Varsity Or Continental, and that's saying something. Those bikes were bomb proof! The kickstand, one piece cranks, and D/T cable guides are the only thing seperating them from what most perceive as a "real" bike. It's the main reason I am custom painting
one my favorite color. The cable guide thing goes away with a set of barcons, hehe.

The cable guide thing goes away with a set of barcons, hehe.

Or grind them off to get them out of the way, once and for all! :D Then you can use either downtube, barend, stem, or even brifter :eek: shifters! Whatever the heart desires. :)
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/pastorbobnlnh/Super%20Sports/SportyChrisKingApr2108.jpg