As a matter of fact , I'm almost 100% positive this seller is describing something I already have a photocopy of .
But THANKS Tom for mentioning it !!
Don't have time - but just have to mention - the coolest thing about "mass produced" "machine-made" "electro-forged" Schwinns , at least the ones made from about 1948 to about 1968 . . . may be . . . the incredible amount of information which is available about their serial numbers .
The factory records are complete , and are public knowledge , for those approximately 20 years or so , from about 1948 , to about 1968 .
Note - this is for the mass-produced bicycle frames !
Serial numbers on hand-made Paramounts , Superiors , Super Sports , etc. , will give you some nice info. But they can't tell you anywhere nearly as much as the serial numbers on the mass-produced bicycle frames , from that approx. 20 year period of time !!
It's fun to get a neat old bicycle - look up the serial number - find out the exact date it was made - go to a "perpetual calendar" - look up the actual day-of-the-week it was made - and finally , by comparing the serial number on the bicycle with the first serial number used that day and the last serial number used that day , you can actually make a pretty good guess about what TIME of the day it was made !
I know my 1951 Schwinn Black Phantom ( I bought it stripped-down and cheap ! ) was made mid-morning , of Tuesday 11 September 1951 . . . Which is almost exactly 50 years , to the hour , before an event in U.S.A. history which has been talked about a lot lately . Kind of weird huh ?
Raoul Delmare Marysville Kansas
----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Sanders To: Raoul Delmare Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2003 8:04 AM Subject: you may really need this...dates Schwinn bikes...$3.50!