How Did I do Today? (Schwinn Content) +Mystery Schwinn

[Tailwinds]

Everybody loves a good mystery, here's mine....
I'm a new guy here. My name is Brian and I'm addicted to bikes. There, I said it. I have several years under my belt riding and occasionally building modern road bikes but I'm new in the world of vintage bikes, their standards, brands, history, well, pretty much everything.
I've been scrounging for a couple of weeks for some parts to build my wife a cruiser and a rat/ board track bike for me.

But today......
I found on Craigslist and paid almost nothing for:

And this men's frame which has some real potential IMHO, but, what is it????
Serial #K132784 (I come up with a build date of Oct 12, 1961, is this correct?)
Twin Straight Bar

 

[Slick Rick]

SCORE!!!! Most likely a Tornado on the mans frame, nice ladies bike as well! Lots of nice parts if you were inclined to part out, I wouldnt.I am a wee bit jealous of that red carrier, I have been looking for a nice original one for my DX and that one would fill the bill nicely. So exactly how much is almost nothing for this excellent haul, if you don't mind me asking? Later & PEACE!!!!

 

[Tailwinds]

The two blue carriers are a bit bent up, but the red one really is pristine, I could part with it.

I have discovered that the red frame is a repaint, it has a light, bright blue underneath....

I hesitate to say what I paid for all that stuff. Not pictured are some more items I got too. 3 additional saddles, all from late model bikes. 3 or 4 stems, late model. Some beautiful Nitto aluminum drop bars from an 80's road bike. Some Deore LX derailleurs from a MTN bike. A coleman white gas camping lantern from the 70's. A big green 2-burner coleman cooking stove, white gas, also from the 70's (I was excited about that, I had been wanting one, the old white gas ones particularly). And some other misc. bike and camping stuff.

I was honestly NOT trying to drive the hard bargain, and I was forthcoming with the sellers that all I had in my pocket after last night's trip to the micro brewery was $30. Sooooooo, that's what I got everything for.

Take my word for it, I've had my fair share of crappy luck, but today I feel like I tripped and fell in a pile of dog poop in my front yard and it turned out to be crude oil. I've been running around the house like a 9 year old all day

 

[deorman]

Your wife's "new" bike is awesome! 8) Time to twist a few screws for yours. :wink:

 

[tulsacruiser]

Im so freakin jealous on all of it, especially on that straight bar frame. If you decide to get rid of it, Hit me up!

 

[B607]

Great finds! The girls Hornet looks 100% original. I'd keep it that way. The red frame is a middleweight and much newer than the girls ballooners. The tank for the red frame is probably worth more than the two girls bikes combined. Hang on to it. Gary

 

[John c]

Sweet! I'll trade you a complete bike for the tank off that red bike!?!?!? Nice score and a good haul to keep you hooked! Lol.

 

[John c]

Sweet! I'll trade you a complete bike for the tank off that red bike!?!?!? Nice score and a good haul to keep you hooked! Lol.

 

[Slick Rick]

I would be "Running around like a nine year old" as well! Well then, seeing as you "could part with it". (The red carrier) Is it complete? Lets make the whole deal a free deal, I'll start with a $30.00 offer on the rack. LMK Later & PEACE!!!!

 

[Rustinkerer]

Holy Carp, you done scored!!! :shock: That Hornet is a $200+ bike, and the red bike is a 61 Deluxe Tornado with the tank and white fenders, a fairly rare bike! AND you got another one with chrome S-2 rims and the wing chainguard! WOW! -Adam

 

[1manta]

Congratulations on a great score! You did very well. You have all the goodies there to make a very nice Tornado. Enjoy!

 

[SCHWINNRAY69]

Great score :wink: If you part out, how much for the seat on the Hornet :roll:
Nick :mrgreen:

 

[Tailwinds]

After sorting through all the red parts and doing some homework I'm led to believe that I'm a headlight away from having a complete Flying Star....

We worked on the complete Hornet Deluxe all day and I've got to say that it's a fantastic and beautiful bike. The horn works, the headlight works, it's got the usual rusty patches and patina, but it cleaned up quite well (pics to follow). It's a shame the girl's bikes don't carry the kind of value/demand that the guy's bikes do because that hornet is really in great, complete, original condition. We're going to try to sell it as a complete bike in a few weeks at a local classic bicycle show and swap.

I've gotten bombarded with requests for parts since I started this thread, but I never anticipated that I'd get soooo many. Until we can decide how we're going to proceed with the red bike I'm going to hang onto everything. If we part it all out I'll certainly post that here and in the for-sale section.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Rustinkerer]

Ah, I couldn't remeber offhand if they had a deluxe Flying Star too, same thing as the D.Tornado except for the chainguard graphics. Maybe if you look at your guard in the sunlight, you can see the ghost outline of which model it is. -Adam

 

[Tailwinds]

Good suggestion Rustinkerer, just barely legible, but indeed a Flying Star.
I took the Hornet over to my folks this afternoon to let the family check it out. We all took turns riding it up and down the street.
It's amazing how everybody couldn't help but smile while riding that old thing.