Restore, Sell, or Toss? Pair of 1940's Arnold Scwhinn New World Bicycles
06-29-14, 10:04 AM
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Restore, Sell, or Toss? Pair of 1940's Arnold Scwhinn New World Bicycles
Hello Forum,
Picked up these 2 Barn Finds this weekend for $125 (for the pair). I have worked on restoring bikes before (mostly 80s and 70s), but never worked on something this old, dirty, rusty, and rare. They look like great bikes with some TLC. Need more info on what they are, if they are too far gone, worth fixing (and where to get parts), how to best clean, or better off selling or scrapping.
Thanks!
Picked up these 2 Barn Finds this weekend for $125 (for the pair). I have worked on restoring bikes before (mostly 80s and 70s), but never worked on something this old, dirty, rusty, and rare. They look like great bikes with some TLC. Need more info on what they are, if they are too far gone, worth fixing (and where to get parts), how to best clean, or better off selling or scrapping.
Thanks!
06-29-14, 10:15 AM
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/125859403@N07/ MORE PICS!!
06-29-14, 10:17 AM
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They look pretty good to me. Do they both have cottered cranks and quadrant shifters? There should be a date on the rear hub: it'll say Sturmey Archer, AW, and a few numbers. I'm guessing you'll see only one digit; AW. 9 would mean 1939, AW 0 would mean 1940. Later in the 40s they added a 4, so 47=1947 but your bikes are older than that.
Are many parts missing?
Are many parts missing?
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06-29-14, 10:28 AM
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Bicyclerider4life
1) Do not scrap them.
2) Parts should be fairly easy to find, and relatively inexpensive (excluding the Brooks saddles, of course, those are always spendy)
If you are comfortable restoring other bikes, I see no reason not to tackle these. The procedure is the same.
3) If you decide to sell as/is or restored, do websearch for comps, and go from there.
2) Parts should be fairly easy to find, and relatively inexpensive (excluding the Brooks saddles, of course, those are always spendy)
If you are comfortable restoring other bikes, I see no reason not to tackle these. The procedure is the same.
3) If you decide to sell as/is or restored, do websearch for comps, and go from there.
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06-29-14, 10:52 AM
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On the women's bike one of the grips is missing and the other is cracked. AS Hub Number AW 9
On the men's bike the back rim is rotted and broken byt the hub is still intact. AS Hub Number just AW
As you can see they both have their levels of rust, pitting and flaking.
Any idea on any good sites for restoration? I dont want to clean w a damp rag and find later I shouldnt have
On the men's bike the back rim is rotted and broken byt the hub is still intact. AS Hub Number just AW
As you can see they both have their levels of rust, pitting and flaking.
Any idea on any good sites for restoration? I dont want to clean w a damp rag and find later I shouldnt have
06-29-14, 11:39 AM
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A S & C O, that is: Arnold, Schwinn, and Company.
If as you say you got the bikes together and they appear to be a pair, then they probably are a pair, both bought ca 1940.
The rims are probably Schwinn Superior rims, but any Schwinn 26 x 1 3/8" rim should work. Note, no other manufacturer's 26 x 1 3/8 rim will fit. You need a 597mm rim, not a 590 mm rim.
If as you say you got the bikes together and they appear to be a pair, then they probably are a pair, both bought ca 1940.
The rims are probably Schwinn Superior rims, but any Schwinn 26 x 1 3/8" rim should work. Note, no other manufacturer's 26 x 1 3/8 rim will fit. You need a 597mm rim, not a 590 mm rim.
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06-29-14, 09:29 PM
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Much crustier than mine, but I am missing bars, seat post, saddle and chain guard, rear brake.
06-29-14, 09:30 PM
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I am shocked, shocked.
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06-29-14, 10:07 PM
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A S & C O, that is: Arnold, Schwinn, and Company.
If as you say you got the bikes together and they appear to be a pair, then they probably are a pair, both bought ca 1940.
The rims are probably Schwinn Superior rims, but any Schwinn 26 x 1 3/8" rim should work. Note, no other manufacturer's 26 x 1 3/8 rim will fit. You need a 597mm rim, not a 590 mm rim.
If as you say you got the bikes together and they appear to be a pair, then they probably are a pair, both bought ca 1940.
The rims are probably Schwinn Superior rims, but any Schwinn 26 x 1 3/8" rim should work. Note, no other manufacturer's 26 x 1 3/8 rim will fit. You need a 597mm rim, not a 590 mm rim.
06-29-14, 10:13 PM
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A more period correct restoration would be to get a 584 mm - 650B wheelset. There are nice tires available in the size such as Panaracer Col De La Vie and they ride like a dream.
06-30-14, 09:17 AM
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Maybe he can get information from the seller of this stuff so he can almost quadruple his money! Then they can share it.
And be friends.
And not just show up to get information from his friend when he has something he wants to sell and not give his good friend any sort of information or help in return. Friends don't do that to each other.
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
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06-30-14, 09:22 AM
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CL pictures make 'em both look like true POS rust crusted boat anchors.
Slick can do as he pleases, and I wish him the best on his quest.
Slick can do as he pleases, and I wish him the best on his quest.
06-30-14, 10:15 AM
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I enjoy blasphemy and apostasy of all kinds so what I would do is rebuild the wheels with 590 or 584mm rims, install tires to match, and use whatever saddle, bars, or grips you find comfortable. You'll have a durable townie that will be fun to ride and to look at. Sunrace, the new owners of Sturmey-Archer, have made available what they call "heritage parts" so your LBS can rebuild the rear hubs or source the parts for you to do it yourself. They're too good to scrap and too useful to think of as restoration icons. Good find!
06-30-14, 07:55 PM
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I gave up on trying to flip bikes in that are this far gone. Always tempting, but rarely pays off unless it something uber rare or has a bunch of cool accessories. OP would do well to break even on this.
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