Looking at my cheap photocopy of a 1954 Schwinn dealer catalog , that frame and front fork look fairly universal .
First , don't be too surprised if you don't understand the names of the Schwinn models from the 1950's . They can be quite confusing . We think we know the difference between say a Varsity and a Continental , but we probably don't . From the period of getting things going again after WW II , 1945-1946 , up until the period of Schwinn's complete re-design of the adult lightweight bicycles , in 1959-1960 , some model names were used , which would later be seen on some COMPLETELY different bicycles .
Comparing middle-1950's with middle-1960's :
Super Sports was not like Super Sport
Continental Tourist was not like Continental Tourist
Varsity was not like Varsity
etc. etc. etc.
The Continental Tourist was fillet-brazed by hand .
The Super Sports was factory-machine-made , mass-produced .
The 1950's were different .
Next , that particular frame and front fork on eBay could be from any of the nice factory-machine-made Schwinn "lightweights" of the 1950's .
They all used tubular front forks , and narrow 26-inch tires .
According to this photocopied 1954 catalog in my lap , the front fork of a Continental Tourist would have fender eyelets on the fork blades ( a couple of inches above the drop-outs , very English looking to my eyes ) , and the Continental Tourist used a beautiful , steel , cottered , 3-piece , Schwinn-Built crankset ( with a smaller bottom bracket shell of course ) .
But the frame and front fork on the odd creation on eBay appear identical to these Schwinn models for 1954 ( probably most any year in the 1950's ) :
Traveler Varsity Sports * Super Sports * Collegiate
* The Sports and the Super Sports had dropped handlebars .
And yes , except for being up-side-down , that handlebar on the eBay bicycle looks identical to the handlebars on :
Continental Tourist Traveler Varsity Collegiate
So , we know it's not a based on a Continental Tourist .
That leaves three models on which it could very-very easily be based .
And yes , those Schwinn fork crowns , used on the adult lightweights , from the 1930's , up until 1960 . . . Those were some very nice looking fork crowns !
Now , who can explain that front chainring / chainwheel ??
Raoul Delmare
Marysville Kansas
> > Item number: 2185504502
> > Title: RARE SCHWINN ONE OF A KIND
> > Description:
> > IF YOU COLLECT SCHWINNS, THIS IS ONE YOU MUST HAVE. IT WAS BUILT BY
> > SCHWINN AND SET A WORLD SPEED
> > RECORD BEHIND A RACE CAR. IT IS THE ONLY ONE MADE AND WAS IN THE
> > SCHWINN FAIMLY COLLECTION.IT IS
> > IN ORIGINAL CONDITION. S/H $35 IN 48
> >
> > Well, I don't doubt that it's one of a kind, I'm sure a Schwinn maven
> > could glance at the decals and tell instantly the model that this bike
> > started life but it looks to me that somebody stuck a stayer chain wheel
> > on an ordinary kid's bike. Ridden to a world's record? I rather think
> > not. Not with that kid's saddle, a conventionally raked fork and
> > handlebars which hardly permit an aerodynamic tuck. "In the Schwinn
> > family collection"???
> >
> > What is this thing?
> >
> > Martin Needleman
> > Annapolis, MD
> > ------------------------------
>
> At first glance it looked like an early 60s lightweight (to me anyways),
> like a Traveler or a Racer. Seat looks about right, flip the handlebars
> upside down, change the crank and freewheel, and you're done. I remember
> seeing something similar looking in Schwinn's collection when James Hurd
was
> the curator, my memory isn't what it used to be, but I'm thinking that
bike
> was red and had a leather saddle.
>
> Before I wrote it off completely I noticed the fork, as it appears to be a
> tubular fork rather than Schwinn's forged variety. Bike appears to have
26"
> wheels, but I'm guessing. I don't recall Schwinn using tubular forks on
> their 26" lightweight models. Considering the componentry, perhaps this
> was a mock up used to create something else, a one-off custom made for one
> of the kids, or someone stumbled across someone's creation that has
nothing
> to do with Schwinn. I had a friend that put together a 4 speed
Continental
> using a 65t sprocket from a Schwinn exerciser once.
>
> Did the seller offer any kind of evidence to anyone that this was
purchased
> at the Schwinn auction?
>
> Greg Groth
> Chicago, IL.