frame number info..

[gold city]

hey guys, i'm new to this forum. i don't know a whole lot about these old bikes, so i thought i would join up and get educated, and to see and talk about some cool old bikes. i've got this old bike and i was wondering if any one could help me identify my bike. i found the frame numbers on it. it's on the right side of the bike just below the seat on the seat post. the numbers are F5505P. i don't have any badging or anything, i just got the frame number. if you guys could help me out that would be awsome. thanks. andy.

 

[chimichanga]

hey guys, i'm new to this forum. i don't know a whole lot about these old bikes, so i thought i would join up and get educated, and to see and talk about some cool old bikes. i've got this old bike and i was wondering if any one could help me identify my bike. i found the frame numbers on it. it's on the right side of the bike just below the seat on the seat post. the numbers are F5505P. i don't have any badging or anything, i just got the frame number. if you guys could help me out that would be awsome. thanks. andy.

First post an intro here viewforum.php?f=9 lol Welcome to the site. By any chance do you have a picture of the frame?

 

[Markm]

well Andy, we're gonna need a little more to go on...got pics? a drawing?? :mrgreen:
Be sure to post an intro and any more info you have. Someone here will know...I guarantee it!

 

[bits n pieces]

i would say schwinn middle weight

 

[ratina]

Thats not a Schwinn serial number, but the rims/tires and possibly fork look schwinn. Schwinn serial numbers were located on the steertube, left rear dropout or bottom of the crank housing.

Can you post some better pictures?

Chainring looks like a Ross but its hard to tell from the pic

 

[Slick Rick]

The stem and bars are out of focus but look as though they could be Schwinn as well. The kickstand really appears to be a Schwinn type. Are the #'s you found stamped? Have you found any others anywhere else? Is it just me or does anyone else find the number placement strange?I would rule out the possibility of this being a middleweight as those full size balloon fenders just seem to fit really well. :?

 

[Slick Rick]

If that ser.# were on the underside of the bottom bracket, and the "P" was a mis-read digit,this one would date to 1951.If it is a Schwinn balloner,and I wouldnt rule that out as of yet. :wink:

 

[bits n pieces]

frame looks like my schwinn, schwinn kickstand, schwinn parts, more than likely it is a schwinn. i couldnt find my ser# on the charts either. it even looks to have the schwinn stem.look at the front and see if you cant locate the 2 tiny screw holes where the schwinn badge screws on. then check for more #s.

 

[Slick Rick]

Hey Bits and Pieces give me the entire ser.# and I will see if I can find it for you. :wink:

 

[bits n pieces]

ive sold it, it was originally black with white wheels with black pinstripes on the wheels and white on the frame. none of the parts in the pic are original .the chaingaurd is from a womans bike.i ll post the pics just for comparison to this bike above, i dont want to hijack the thread. my serial was by the downtube also.no really good pics though. wasnt schwinn the only company with the made on stand? and i heard the only thing that seperated the models that used the same frame was the parts used? im no expert at all but that stuck in my mind from somewhere.

 

[gold city]

It did have a badge on it when we got the bike. It was a schwinn badge but glued on. The holes didnt line up. The holes on my bike are 3.25 inches apart. The numbers are stamped and correct. I just sanded the ten coats of paint off the bottom of crank housing, both rear kick downs and found no code. Here are some pics I hope this helps.

 

[jre0123]

That Serial # isn't Schwinn. I think it is a Bicycle License # Check under the crank or the left rear drop out. Schwinn Serial # will have one or Two letters then a #.

 

[bigj]

My guess is that is a license number or owner added I.D. number also.

 

[Slick Rick]

I will be the first to say it, you have a Schwinn. It is so obvious by looking at the frame and other coponants on the bike.The 3 1/4" spacing on the headbadge mounting holes is correct for the earlier, larger oval headbadge.The AS seatpost clamp is an earlier version as well.The next measurement to take will be under the fender mounting bracket on the top rear drop-outs.3"=Ballooner 2 3/8"=Middleweight. I am pretty sure yours is a ballooner/heavyweight as those full size fenders seem to fit really well.I'm also pretty sure you will find a ser.# under all that paint, just keep looking.You may want to pull the fork and look for the locking tab inside of the headtube.This would indicate that it was a deluxe model, B-6/Phantom. :wink:

 

[gold city]

Finally found serial code on left of rear axle. Code reads M00353, the bike has 3 inches between rear drop downs at the fender bracket, and has a tab inside front fork tube. What is my bike? Thanks, Andy

 

[jre0123]

8/12 1954

 

[Slick Rick]

You have a 1954 Schwinn deluxe balloon bike. I was looking through the Schwinn dealer specs. and I did'nt see a B-6 model listed in 54, so your bike may well have started its life as a Phantom.I am no expert so I will stop there. :wink:

 

[jre0123]

I'm thinking it was a Schwinn wasp with the blade fork on it.

 

[Slick Rick]

I suppose anything is possible, but consider the "tab" on the inside of the headtube. This was done to hold the longer and slotted bottom bearing cup for the locking springer fork.This syle of frame was truly a deluxe offering, and F.W.Schwinn was notorious for impromptu quality/inventory checks. He would have had someones butt on a platter for something like this, and his employee's knew this all too well! We know for sure that it was built to accept a locking fork, and the only model that year(cantilever frame) that took a locking fork was a Phantom. Or at least thats what I saw looking at the 1954 dealer list of models. :wink

 

[gold city]

thanks for all of your help you guys have been great im glad someone walked into my store and showed us your site will continue to watch your site will hope to contribute also do any of you guys know what me head badge is suppose to look like or were to get and can you send me to other cool Schwinn sites