Mystery Schwinn
04-09-22, 05:33 AM
#1
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Mystery Schwinn
Hello. I found this bike for sale, the seller doesn't seem to know much, but claims it's from the 40s or 50s. I'm really stumped on it as I can't find anything that quite looks like it. Anyone know approximately what year it is? Any guess of model?
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Last edited by BikingViking793; 04-09-22 at 05:38 AM.
04-09-22, 07:38 AM
#2
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Late 50s-Early 60s Racer 3 speed that someone converted to a 10 speed using garbage-tier department store bike components.
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04-09-22, 07:50 AM
#4
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Mystery indeed! Quick research on Schwinn multi-speed bikes with derailers, shows 1960 (1959 ?) as the first year of production of the 8 speed Varsity (quickly moving to 10 speeds). The head badge on the OP’s bike is similar (if not identical) to the 1960 catalog pic of the Varsity. Unfortunately, that confirms little to nothing. The mystery bike could possibly be a late ‘50s “concept” prototype put together for a manufacturer’s trade show but honestly, in its current configuration, looks more like a “Franken-bike”! The stem, brake levers and stem shifters seem out of place on a “racing” bike.
I’m going to qualify all of the above with “I’m clearly NOT an expert on vintage bikes”! It is fun tho to speculate
.
I’m going to qualify all of the above with “I’m clearly NOT an expert on vintage bikes”! It is fun tho to speculate
.
Last edited by sovende; 04-09-22 at 07:54 AM.
04-09-22, 08:02 AM
#5
Senior Member
Mystery indeed! Quick research on Schwinn multi-speed bikes with derailers, shows 1960 (1959 ?) as the first year of production of the 8 speed Varsity (quickly moving to 10 speeds). The head badge on the OP’s bike is similar (if not identical) to the 1960 catalog pic of the Varsity. Unfortunately, that confirms little to nothing. The mystery bike could possibly be a late ‘50s “concept” prototype put together for a manufacturer’s trade show but honestly, in its current configuration, looks more like a “Franken-bike”! The stem, brake levers and stem shifters seem out of place on a “racing” bike.
I’m going to qualify all of the above with “I’m clearly NOT an expert on vintage bikes”! It is fun tho to speculate.
I’m going to qualify all of the above with “I’m clearly NOT an expert on vintage bikes”! It is fun tho to speculate
.
04-09-22, 08:08 AM
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Marginally impressed that someone found a front derailleur that fit, a few used "undersized" seat tubes but not that many
04-09-22, 08:23 AM
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They obviously had to change the hub, or more likely the whole rear wheel, so it could have been a single speed, or 2 speed kickback Racer too, but definitely a Racer.
Tim
Tim
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04-09-22, 10:09 AM
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04-09-22, 01:25 PM
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Location: Menomonee Falls, WI
Posts: 1,829
Bikes: 1984 Schwinn Supersport, 1988 Trek 400T, 1977 Trek TX900, 1982 Bianchi Champione del Mondo, 1978 Raleigh Supercourse, 1986 Trek 400 Elance, 1991 Waterford PDG OS Paramount, 1971 Schwinn Sports Tourer, 1985 Trek 670
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Tim
Last edited by tkamd73; 04-09-22 at 01:30 PM.
04-09-22, 06:18 PM
#11
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. I'm hoping to not get the "don't post if you don't know WTH you're talking about" scolding 
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