Howdy, I recently purchased a '68 drum brake 5-speed Schwinn tandem with HD S7 wheels. It was missing the chainguard and the fenders, with several components replaced; seats, pedals, front handlebars. A PO had changed the shift cable and installed the lever backward, guy I bought bike from couldn't get it adjusted and was scheduled for his third knee operation. Anyway, got that lined out and rode it around a bit. Still hate the long, ponderous, heavy feel, so I robbed the wheelset off and put them on a straight bar Spitfire with just the least bit of effort. From what I understand the Spitfire was Schwinn built for department/hardware store sales. It had a skiptooth sweetheart sprocket, looks like the crank was forged in '57. It had been hanging in the machine shed for years, and without wheels I thought it was a smaller frame. Wanted front brakes on my thrift store imitation so swapped on a chrome Akisu fork from a '77 ladies Continental. Got to love interchangeable parts. Somewhat fond of FF front freewheel cranks, put some of those on for the mock-up, along with changing the AG rear derailleur to a Suntour Honor. Sort of a middle weight cross between Alan Bond's green clunker bike, and Ian Stewart's bomber. Anyway here are some pictures.
Some thumb shifters, red dot levers, and some truss bars from a ladies Monark Rocket.
Some thumb shifters, red dot levers, and some truss bars from a ladies Monark Rocket.