Help identifying old Schwinn balloon tire bike
09-14-20, 04:17 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Help identifying old Schwinn balloon tire bike
I'm hoping I chose the correct sub forum for id'ing an old Schwinn bike. If not, send me that way, please. I'm new here.
So I bought a bike this summer and started going through it cleaning it up and making it ridable again. Obviously, as I went through the cleaning process my curiosity wanted to know what year this was made and which model this is.
What I know is the serial number is under and in line with the crank. When I type in the serial number into the lookup tool over at bikehistory.org it says 1959. But in 1959, I read the serial number is on the rear dropout. The serial number has 2 letters in the beginning followed by 6 numbers, which is confusing.
The decals say "Cruiser" and I cannot find any mention of a model named Cruiser until the 80's.
The model of the bike, I can't seem to get started on without the year. Can anyone tell?
Can the hive mind please help educate me on the path to understanding, as I hope many more Vintage Schwinn find their way into my garage.
So I bought a bike this summer and started going through it cleaning it up and making it ridable again. Obviously, as I went through the cleaning process my curiosity wanted to know what year this was made and which model this is.
What I know is the serial number is under and in line with the crank. When I type in the serial number into the lookup tool over at bikehistory.org it says 1959. But in 1959, I read the serial number is on the rear dropout. The serial number has 2 letters in the beginning followed by 6 numbers, which is confusing.
The decals say "Cruiser" and I cannot find any mention of a model named Cruiser until the 80's.
The model of the bike, I can't seem to get started on without the year. Can anyone tell?
Can the hive mind please help educate me on the path to understanding, as I hope many more Vintage Schwinn find their way into my garage.
09-14-20, 04:21 PM
#2
Member
Thread Starter
Pics for identification
I'm hoping I chose the correct sub forum for id'ing an old Schwinn bike. If not, send me that way, please. I'm new here.
So I bought a bike this summer and started going through it cleaning it up and making it ridable again. Obviously, as I went through the cleaning process my curiosity wanted to know what year this was made and which model this is.
What I know is the serial number is under and in line with the crank. When I type in the serial number into the lookup tool over at bikehistory.org it says 1959. But in 1959, I read the serial number is on the rear dropout. The serial number has 2 letters in the beginning followed by 6 numbers, which is confusing.
The decals say "Cruiser" and I cannot find any mention of a model named Cruiser until the 80's.
The model of the bike, I can't seem to get started on without the year. Can anyone tell?
Can the hive mind please help educate me on the path to understanding, as I hope many more Vintage Schwinn find their way into my garage.
So I bought a bike this summer and started going through it cleaning it up and making it ridable again. Obviously, as I went through the cleaning process my curiosity wanted to know what year this was made and which model this is.
What I know is the serial number is under and in line with the crank. When I type in the serial number into the lookup tool over at bikehistory.org it says 1959. But in 1959, I read the serial number is on the rear dropout. The serial number has 2 letters in the beginning followed by 6 numbers, which is confusing.
The decals say "Cruiser" and I cannot find any mention of a model named Cruiser until the 80's.
The model of the bike, I can't seem to get started on without the year. Can anyone tell?
Can the hive mind please help educate me on the path to understanding, as I hope many more Vintage Schwinn find their way into my garage.
09-14-20, 04:23 PM
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Pictures of the whole bike
09-14-20, 06:44 PM
#7
Member
Thread Starter
I read the serial number under the crank to be EZ894441. Over at bikehistory.org this serial says 1959. They also say 48-52 serial numbers are under the crank. The serial numbers moved to the dropouts in 52 through 71. Is this incorrect data?
09-15-20, 07:42 AM
#8
Senior Member
09-15-20, 09:50 AM
#9
Member
Thread Starter
Thank you for the help. I see I was looking at the older bikes. I haven’t seen much on the newer stuff, say mid 80’s to today. Seems a bit vague, but I have learned quite a lot already. Willing to learn more if anybody is willing to teach.
09-15-20, 11:00 AM
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https://www.sheldonbrown.com/chicago-schwinns.html
Scroll through that web page and you could read a huge amount of info.
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