Any help with Spitfire ID

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Hank Street

Do it right, do it light. Do it wrong, do it long.
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I just got this Spitfire from an estate sale for $25. Definitely needs lots of TLC. But I’m not seeing a serial number in any of the usual spots, any ideas as to year? Thank you.
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Check the bottom bracket for a number. It looks like late 40's/early 50's. Definitely a good deal at 25 bucks.
 
My info shows the Spitfire came out in 1951, and had that frame style, DX. Then it went to a straight bar frame in 1954. That means the number could be on the bottom bracket or left rear dropout.
 
My info shows the Spitfire came out in 1951, and had that frame style, DX. Then it went to a straight bar frame in 1954. That means the number could be on the bottom bracket or left rear dropout.
Had to remove some paint on the bottom bracket, but I found it. 1/18 1957
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The bottom bracket numbers were 1952 and earlier. After that would be on the dropout. B would be late 40's, but Spitfire wasn't made back then, supposedly. I'll do some digging.
 
This is what the other shows, so maybe not a 57? You definitely know more about this than I do, thank you for your help. Looks like they recycled that number series three times. So if you’re saying they switch to rear in 53, it is probably a 52 then. That number fell in between 03/04 and 03/31 in 1952.

93A224FD-B29F-4451-9D13-EC264A0FA143.png
 
So, it looks like you have the original handlebars and stem, and also the seat. The chain guard is a replacement. Your bike may have come as a skip tooth, but they would have had to change the rear wheel and chain wheel to make it for a standard chain. That's a Schwinn chain wheel and the ND rear hub was used way back then also, so the driveline may be original also.

Either way, you have a late 40's DX style Schwinn bike. I'm jealous.
 
That serial number lookup tool doesn't take into account numbers on the bottom bracket.
 
I checked my numbers book, it could be 1952, with a B plus 5 digits, except all the catalog illustrations show a different frame, straight bar style, yours is DX style. There's a 46/47 DX for sale here that looks like the same frame as yours.
 

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