Schwinn bicycle serial numbers - |SCHWINN BICYCLE SERIAL NUMBERS
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The Schwinn Web site had a Collectors' Page with info on dating, serial numbers, etc. But the link now goes to a message saying that the forum is closed. If you find yourself in Chicago, you might check out the Bicycle Museum of America and the Museum of Science and Industry. Chicago Schwinn where is the serial number? Smith and wesson model 586 serial numbers. I have a beautiful baby blue Chicago Schwinn, the only reason I know that is the chrome plate on the neck of the bike. Other than that, it is what I would consider a beach cruiser. But then it has the Chicago headbadge. Pastorbobnlnh 06-04-11 05:58 AM. Serial Numbers Chicago built Schwinn Serial Numbers for the years 1960 - 1969 are found on the left rear axle-hanger or fork-end on the frame; for the years 1970 - 1979 (Chicago built) they are on the headtube of the frame where the fork enters from the bottom (actually, this begins in April of 1970).
Identifying a straight bar, cantilever, and DX frame
Since Schwinn first introduced the balloon tire bike in 1933 there have been a number of different frames used. The very early frames were of the motorbike or camel back style. The Aerocycle had a unique frame and there was a double bar roadster frame as well as a camel back in the later style frames as well.
- The serial numbers will schwinn a numbers numbers the second position representing the month it was produced, dating a number codes the third position bikes the year. Take the date of production gathered from the serial number, number model printed on the bike itself, and the overall visual design and compare it to a Schwinn pricing table like.
- Schwinn serial numbers may be found in several different places on the bike. Most bikes from the 1960s are stamped with the serial number next to the spot where the rear wheel axle connects with the frame. Starting in the 1970s, many bikes were manufactured with the serial number on the Schwinn seal, located somewhere on the bike's frame.
This article is not going to cover all the varieties of frames Schwinn built through the years of which there are many. Essentially there are three basic styles; the straight bar, the DX, and the cantilever frames. Many different models were built on these frames. I am not going to try and associate the models to the frames because both straight bar and cantilever frames were used for Autocycle models and trying to explain Motorbike, Cycleplane, Standard, Super Deluxe, etc… gets complicated. This article will not cover either girls or juvenile models. The girls frames were pretty much the same and were differentiated between model lines largely by paint schemes or equipment e.g. tank, light, or rack. The juvenile models mimicked the adult models to a large degree. In the prewar years Schwinn offered their boys 26” tire models in several different frame sizes (16”, 18”, and the so-called ‘tall frame’ 20”). After the war all boys 26” tire frames were 18”.
While this may seem obvious the first thing to do is to make sure you are looking at a Schwinn frame. This is not as simple as it sounds because nearly all manufacturers made very similar frame styles. You will need to pay attention to paint schemes and colors, seat binding posts, drop outs, serial number structure, font, and size, welding construction, and other ‘tells’.
Prewar frames discussed here will have the following characteristics: rear facing dropouts (Fig. 1), no built in kick stand provision, and the head tubes on boys models are shorter than girls models which means the forks will not interchange. There are other differences between pre and post war frames but these are the main characteristics.
Post war frames will have front facing dropouts (Fig. 2), the head tubes are the same size between boys and girls bikes which means the fork whether an Ashtabula, truss, or springer will interchange. Except for some low tier ‘50s models all bikes will have a built in kick stand (Fig. 3). Middleweight frames (tire size 26” x 1 ¾”) will be narrower than balloon tire bikes.
A quick way to determine whether a frame is a balloon tire or middleweight (cantilever or straight bar) is the “three finger method”. An adult male with average size hands should be able to get three fingers comfortably through the rear seat cluster triangle on a balloon tire frame (Figs. 4, 4-1). Not so on a middleweight frame (Figs. 5, 5-1)
As previously mentioned the first balloon tire bikes had either a motorbike or camel back style frame. Starting in 1935 Schwinn introduced a new style frame. The first design straight bar frame is generally called a ‘double diamond’ due to the straight seat stays which create a triangle or diamond shape to match the front part of the bike (Fig. 6).
For 1936 the straight bar frame had curved seat stays and this feature would remain through the end of production of the straight bar frame (Fig. 7).
In 1938 Schwinn introduced the iconic cantilever frame (Fig. 8). Since its introduction the cantilever frame has been copied by nearly every bicycle manufacturer.
In 1939 Schwinn introduced a budget minded line called the DX. At first glance the DX frame (Fig. 9) looks very similar to the straight bar frame. Upon closer inspection however you will notice that the bottom bar (underneath the top tube) has a slight curve to it. For this reason the tanks between a straight bar and a DX will not interchange. The first year frame (1939) shown in Fig. 9 has built in drop stand ears. 1940 and later DX frames will not have these ears and look like Fig. 1. This is one of the few Schwinn frames to ever have this feature. The DX frame was only used until 1953 which is before Schwinn introduced its middleweight line so all DX frames are balloon tire bicycles.
Chicago Schwinn Serial Numbers
By identifying whether or not a frame is pre or post war along with the style it will aid in potentially narrowing down the model of bike even if it lacks other identifying features such as a name on a chainguard which is never found on prewar bikes. As mentioned above there are many other differences on these frames, Besides the different sizes the straight bar and DX frames may have straight or curved down tubes and the tanks for B and BC straight bars will not fit C model straight bars and vice versa.
Mr Serial Number On A Schwinn
Armed with this information you should be able to determine whether you have a straight bar, DX, or cantilever frame. Enjoy the ride!