This 23" frameset has chrome fork tips. The serial number is J426457. If this information https://www.geocities.com/sldatabook/serial.html is correct, it's a 1962 Chicago frame? Am I reading the information correctly? Which model is it?

SD,

I can't tell from the picture because it is too small. It is not a Varsity or Continental. Probably LeTour and not a Voyageur II. (see https://www.geocities.com/sldatabook/...7074.html#1974) Also look here: https://www.geocities.com/sldbconsume.../74ccpg13b.jpg

The serial number looks more like a made in Japan model. Possibly September '74. Look at this portion from your link:

74-75 Traveler

That's actually a fairly interesting bike.
I'm using one for a commuter now.
It has a longish wheelbase, a decent geometry, room for rack & fenders
and it has the ashtabula bottom bracket (one piece crank) which I happen to quite like for utility bikes. They're easier for me to overhaul, a little narrower (keep pants out of chain, more comfortable to ride), and easier to adjust with a leatherman and a crescent wrench than a 3 piece crank.

Schwinn only had these made like this for a couple of years and then it became basically indistinguishable from the contemporary LeTour.

The only thing is the stem, which is a little bit of an odd size. However, the fork could be replaced and a standard 1" quill used.
Before:



and after:

Can a 3 piece crank be used on this frame? Are parts hard to find?

Yes, by using a 3 piece adapter.
Any crankset should work. The adapter can be found on ebay or at Harris. The hardest part is sizing the length of the cartridge BB needed for the correct chainline.

Pastor Bob is quite correct.
For some bikes they make sense, but for most they're no more important than color.

I bought the frameset in my original post for $15. I had no idea what I was getting into. Fortunately, when I get the original Nervar crankset for my '76 Superior, I will have the nice vintage Campy that is currently in the Superior to use. I want to do a nice job restoring the Traveler but I really don't know where to start. Are there replaceable decals if one want to repaint the frame? What exactly am I suppose to be looking for in a BB adapter for the Campy BB. Bob should know this one huh? This will be my first restoration. If that's what it's called.

Pastor Bob, Which componets did you use on your Traveler?

My '79 Traveler has a 3 piece crankset so it was easy to convert it to a triple.

For Sporty (pictured above) I used a Phil Wood BB.

For my Campagnoloed Continental, I used a Shimano UN54 cartridge BB (pictured below). In both cases I used a FMF adapter. PM JRrestore for decals. He can make anything you need.

Is this what they looks like? These are what I need huh?

https://www.bikepartsplace.com/discou...acket-adapter/

https://cgi.ebay.com/Phil-Wood-Bottom...1%7C240%3A1318

Correct adapter, wrong BB cups. The reference to "Italian Threads" is to the cups which hold the BB in the adapter. But you can buy a set of "English Threads" Phil BB cups which will work with this adapter, but they will cost more than this Shimano UN 54: https://www.bikepartsplace.com/discou...acket-bb-un54/

Pastor Bob, are you suggesting that I can use Bottom Bracket - BB-UN54? I will still need the https://www.bikepartsplace.com/discou...acket-adapter/ adapter, correct? You will have to forgive my ignorance here.

Yes you still need the adapter. Roger

Please forgive my ignorance of US bottom brackets, but will the adaptor shown fit a bottom bracket with no internal threads?

I've got an old Tensor Sport bike (frame made in West Germany in the 1970's, very low end. It has a Thun chainset (bent) with chrome steel cranks. The right crank & chainwheel is fixed to the axle. The left crank is fitted with a cotter pin. The left cup is held in place with a nut that threads onto the axle. The BB shell is larger diameter than normal and has no threads. The BB cups are thin plate with a lip that goes OVER the outside of the BB shell and they are free to rotate. I'd like to fit a normal square taper BB and chainset.

Sorry no pictures or measurements as I haven't got the bike here. Does it sound like this type of adaptor is what I need?

Possibly, but without pictures I couldn't be certain. The adapter fits in a BB shell designed for a one piece crank. The empty BB shell would look similar to this one.



For this type of crank.

There are several lengths of Phil Wood BB with English threads. Which length do I need?

SD,

There is no easy answer to this question. It all depends upon the crankset and frame. Each combination can be different, thus requiring a different length BB spindle. The other factor has to do whether you are using a double or a triple.

My suggestion is to decide on the crankset you want to use, buy and install the adapter, then take the frame and crankset to an LBS and see if they would like to help you fit the two together. If they are not friendly about helping, go to another. My guess is they should not charge more then 1/2 hour for labor plus the cartridge BB (about $25 for a Shimano UN 54, less for others).

Best of luck.

Pastor Bob, I guess it doesn't matter at this point. I was going to use the Campy double crankset that I'm taking off of my Superior. I just got the frame and it turns out to be a Traveler frameset but the fork chrome is flaking off badly. Don't suppose anyone has a front fork with good chrome on it?

Thanks Bob, it looks to be the same (but without the immaculate paint job!) I've just managed to win one pretty cheaply on e-bay, so should be able to confirm if it fits in a week or so. Once again, thank you for the iinfo. Stuart