Originally Posted by Metacortex

Please post a pic of the bike as well as the serial number stamp. It sounds like a 1974 Schwinn Approved Traveler (in your case made by Bridgestone in Japan for Schwinn), a model which I believe first appeared in 1974 and was essentially a renamed version of the '72-'73 World Traveler (the very first imported Schwinn). The imported (World/Schwinn Approved) Traveler didn't appear in the Schwinn catalogs until 1975 even though it had been available since 1972. Here is the 1975 catalog page:

IMAGE

There are what appear to be a 1974 and a 1975 Traveler on eBay:

Schwinn Traveler 10-speed bicycle ca. 1974 | eBay
Schwinn 1975 Traveler Vintage Men's Bicycle 27" 10 Speed | eBay

EDIT: Here is a '74 ladies model on eBay: vintage 70's schwinn traveler Road Bicycle WILL SHIP | eBay