I'm in the process of restoring a 60's vintage Schwinn Continental for a client. (I know...it's borderline OT....but hey, Schwinn call them Lightweight!).
Anyway, the original bars were very sorry looking, narrow and slightly bent downward from the course of their use. I suggested using a newer set of GB rando style bars, off a newer Continental. I never realized Schwinn's bars were GB, and that GB had also made the "Girder-Style" "S" marked stem. I was going to use the original AVA stem, which although a bit rough, could be brought back with some effort. I was never sure which AVA stem was the infamous "Death Stem" and I wanted the one I had ID'd before I decide which will ultimately end up on the restoration. Your esteemed input is requested.
AVA Pics :
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/
Mark Hoffman,
New Britain, CT