Arnold Schwinn & Co The World B10E or B9

[MazdaFlyer]

This old Schwinn showed up on Facebook Marketplace this morning. We did a short road trip to look at it and hauled it home. Another project or flip to keep an old geezer out of trouble and active. Some incorrect parts but the basics are there. Slight backward bend in fork.
My thought is that this was 28” wheeled bike or a transition period bike as 28”s were phased out and 26” balloons became the standard. Barn finds still out there.

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[macncheese]

Nice!

 

[Dizzle Problems]

Awesome score!

 

[Scribble]

Smokin !!

 

[MazdaFlyer]

Anyone care to chime in with origin year? Fork legs are 15” long with 2.60” clearance at fork crown. Rear fender clearance says 28” to me, but it has a 26” wheelset.
Did Schwinn have dual size 26”-28” option bikes during the transition period ‘32 to ‘34 or so?


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[MazdaFlyer]

———————————————————————
Itching to work on this bike, already have list of fixes and experiments. Think this is my RRBBO#14 project. Cleanup, source some parts, parts swapping and service of bearings would be the extent. The wheelset could go to 28”/700c or stay at 26”.
So for now it just gets moved around and photographed until May gets here.
Again if you have ideas on its birthdate speak up.


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[SILVERKINGPC]

Good find @MazdaFlyer ! Fork and stays look 26" and would suggest 1934 & up?
Basic early model motobike with the headbadge is a good thing, and it needs not much. Bars/Stem and fenders with some fat blackwalls would finish it up nicely! Headtube paint scheam looks a lot like this S-built frame, one of my favorites.

 

[MazdaFlyer]

20 degrees here...went out and turned the bike over old school.
Serial number is F10849 if that helps with tying down a year.

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[RustyGold]

Its super similar to this (and has the same badge)...

https://oldbike.wordpress.com/1917-schwinn-the-world-motor-bike-model-1760/

I wonder if the front end was swapped out on yours with something more modern to accommodate a switch from 28" to 26" wheels?

 

[RustyGold]

I think SKPC nailed it, B10E...'33-'35.

 

[MazdaFlyer]

Its super similar to this (and has the same badge)...

https://oldbike.wordpress.com/1917-schwinn-the-world-motor-bike-model-1760/

I wonder if the front end was swapped out on yours with something more modern to accommodate a switch from 28" to 26" wheels?

Thanks! I had looked at your link previously.
My thought is that the wheelset was swapped out at some point OR it was a leftover 28” frame set that came with 26” wheels.
I’ve read that Westfield Columbia Bikes using the same frame were offered in both 28” or 26” wheels around ‘33-‘34.
The question is did Schwinn do the same thing.
One serial number list I’ve seen shows the F***** number as a 1935.


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[RustyGold]

If you search images for schwinn b10e, you'll find several that have the exact same 'adjustable' rack that you have. I also searched for 'the world' badges by year, and the latest oval ones I found were '35.

Serial number wise...on the lists I saw it would be a '40 or '41...I don't think that is the case . Those prewar schwinn lists are all over the place, but most tend to agree that pre '35ish, there were no letters...just numbers. Maybe 'the world' models were serialized different?

Shots in the dark,
Jason

 

[MazdaFlyer]

I think SKPC nailed it, B10E...'33-'35.

Think I might be leaning towards the ‘35 end of things and based on a CABE thread, I think the “standard” 28” tires were offered as 10E model through 1935 or 26” tires as B10E model.
With the extra space in the fenders that shows up in the B10E 26” bikes the skinny 28”s would fit as well.
That’s one my experiments to try.


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[RustyGold]

I didn't know there was just a 10E...'B' for balloon, seems obvious in hindsight .

Sounds like you are in the ballpark

 

[MazdaFlyer]

I didn't know there was just a 10E...'B' for balloon, seems obvious in hindsight .

Sounds like you are in the ballpark

Schwinn newbie I am...after a little help here and some CABE help it’s becoming a little more clear.
In 1933 there were several models.

B10E Motorbike - 26” balloon tires, fully equipped, tank, rack, light, horn the works.
B9 Motorbike - 26” balloon tires, basic two bar bike.
B4 Camelback - 26” balloon tires, basic bike.
All three were 18” x 22” frames.
There were also 16” x 22” frame models.

I’m guessing these model continued for a few years.

REF: www.bikehistory.org for more Schwinn History information.