hi there, i just purchased a beautiful 1985 (still looking to confirm) Schwinn World Tourist. now this is my first vintage bike and non-road bike and i've never seen or toyed w/ this type of rear rack, seen here.

now i know this is very dumb question, but what is the practical application for this rack? i know it has two nice spring-loaded arms that lift vertically, but i would still want to use something to support it width-wise such as bungess which i do regularly w/ my other rear racks.

is there a missing component, as in a nice little basket or box that goes along w/ the rack? how do you set up or use the rack to carry your goods, groceries, books, picnic items, etc.?

nope nothing is missing...you could attach a basket or box to the rack with some pretty basic hardware...its not really that good of a rack for panniers though as there really isn't that much metal on the sides to prevent a bag from going into your rear wheel.

The spring loaded arm is also called a rat trap (obvious similarity).
You can stick stuff under the trap and it will hold it in place if its the right shape and the planets are properly aligned...and its a tuesday...and you're on Prince Edward Island. I don't have much luck getting things other than a rolled up towel to hold in racks like those... I'm like you, I use bungees.

That rack is actually still in production today. It was made by Pletscher you could hang panniers from them, use a rack top bag, or add a milk crate or wine box. I have several of them still mounted on bikes and in daily use. The one typically used on Schwinns did have the Schwinn Approved logo on it, I have one or two of those too.

Aaron

I have a similar rack on one of my bikes and I use it with a purpose built bag. In fact, I used it today when I had to take a package to the Post Office.

There are a number of bags that would work good on that rack. Here is a random picture of one such type of bag.

$110? I've got one I'd let go for half that.

I recently got an new, unused Pletscher Modell C for $13.95.

yeah but was it "Schwinn Approved" ?

No, but it was "wife approved".

And that is much more important.

I've heard that the Pletscher mousetrap was designed to hold a wine bottle...nice, even if mythical.

I heard it was a basketball.

Dunno what they were designed to hold, but I have hauled plenty of stuff on them. The strangest was probably my big double bit axe. Had the handle sticking out the back with a flag on it.

Just checked my parts collection and I have 3 out there, one is actually Schwinn Approved! Need to get that puppy on Ebay ASAP so I can cash in on the $100 price tag.

Aaron

I have several of those " Schwinn Approved " racks. I remember as a kid, we would take our jackets off, put our books inside of our jackets, fold the corners of the jacket, & put it in the rack.

One really needs bungee cords to retain stuff under the rat-trap. Pfletscher brand racks were very common, not only on Schwinns, but on many other bikes. Lots of bike shops, especially those selling European brands, carried the Pfletscher rack.