Pre-War Schwinn, European??
 

Thought I'd post here because I need a bit of help. I think this is a pre-war Schwinn, in the realm of a world bike with its classic diamond frame. However, I can't find any model number to speak of, and the badge says, "Original, PIONEER, made in Czechoslovakia." So I need a historian I think. I know Elgin Schwinn was born in Germany and made some bicycles there, but could this be one from that era? And around what year would it be? Also, I know a bicycle is worth only what someone will pay for it, but is there anyone that could give an estimate? Thanks for your time if you're reading this. The bicycle's in decent condition, some rust, but seems original including the hockey stick chain guard, all except maybe the grips on the handlebars. Oh...and the tires are Barum.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=252815http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=252816http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=252817http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=252818

1. Why do you think it is a Schwinn?

2. Why do you think it is prewar?

I'm definitely NOT an expert on prewar bikes, but that bike shares a lot of features from bikes that are much newer (crankset, saddle, handlebars, stem, dropouts, wheels, etc).

Sorry, it's not a Schwinn.

All Schwinns were built in Chicago, Illinois, from 1895 until the early 1970s when the company began importing bikes from Japan during the period when the company was headed by Frank V. Schwinn (Ignaz Schwinn's grandson), and later from Taiwan, China, and Hungary. Company founder Ignaz Schwinn was born in 1860, Hardheim, Baden, Germany, and died in 1948 in Chicago.

Ignaz Schwinn and his partner Adolph Arnold began building The World bicycles under the name Arnold, Schwinn & Co., in 1895 in Chicago.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7...Catalog/00.jpg

Thanks Scooper. That definitely helps.

Definetaly not a Schwinn or pre-war. Looks to be late 50's maybe early 60's British or European. If it was made in Czechoslovakia my guess is it a cold war era Soviet knock off of the British stuff of that era. Can't give you much help on value other than to say similar British stuff in good condition sells for $150-200.