Please School Me On Schwinn Straight Bars!!!

[oldfart36]

Sorry to be a pain guys, but it seems I'm always cloudy on Schwinn straight bar frames. Of course the single bars are the older versions, but it's when I climb into the double bars that I loss it every time.

Example: I just found the double straight bars frame in the picture below. I'm guessing it's a late 50's Tornado or Typhoon. No number on the dropouts, or under the crank on the frame.

When exactly did Schwinn go too the straight double bar, what models ect.

Thanks.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Yours would be an earlier '50's My tornado is a 1960 and the center dual bars are not connected to the seat stays like yours is. If you post the serial number that is on the left rear dropout (Where the rear wheel bolts on) that will tell you the year then catalogs can narrow it down further.

 

[oldfart36]

Ok, I really didn't think the number was on the left drop out because the factory paint was thick enough to pretty much hide it. After some caressing, I've got a number;;;;; J131269

After looking up the number it appears to be a 1953, but if you'll noticed there's an extra digit in the serial number????

 

[oldfart36]

Well, I think I fell into the trap of wanting the bike to be older then it is. My bone head , After looking up the number correctly, it's a 1961.

One of the guys that pointed out my mistake to me did mention that this is a fairly rare frame, only made for 60-61.

 

[Slick Rick]

If that frame was earlier than nov/ dec 61 I would be sincerely surprised. You MORE than likely have a 62 Typhoon there. Schwinn catalog part # 1901B. This frame does show up as early as aug 61 as a Tornado or a Skipper, although it is missing the welded on kickstand tube and therefore sports a bolt on kickstand. Not the case w/yours. :wink: I have had five of these BTW, I currently have two in my stable. :mrgreen: Everyone will now want to argue the info I have passed on. :roll: Just goes with the territory I suppose. :lol: Later & PEACE!!!!!

 

[Slick Rick]

O.K. I'm a blind ol dude! Yours does sport a bolt on kickstand! And the Chainguard is proper for either a Tornado or Skipper! But I will stand pat on the aug of 61. At least in several years og hunting/looking that is the earliest one of that frame I have ever seen personally.

 

[Slick Rick]

My ser.# list shows sep 13 of 61. :wink:

 

[oldfart36]

O.K. I'm a blind ol dude! Yours does sport a bolt on kickstand! And the Chainguard is proper for either a Tornado or Skipper! But I will stand pat on the aug of 61. At least in several years og hunting/looking that is the earliest one of that frame I have ever seen personally.

Hey now, Us blind OLD dudes need to stick together :wink:

I welcome and want all input you and all the guys may have. Health conversation is what I'm here for, and you curtainly fall into that catagory. Thanks for your input, and I look forward to hearing from you more.

One of the things I'm still wondering is, just how rare this frame is?

Plus, I'm pretty sure the seat is original to the bike, but the Tornado and Skipper seats of the year didn't come with the bumper bar.

 

[Slick Rick]

I wouldn't even know how many frames were made in that configuration. It was however a one year only frame, and the premier of the Typhoon. Typhoon was a base model/cost bike, so there were probably quite a few sold. While that seat probably wouldn't have been an original offering on that bike, dealers could/would outfit a new bike they sold any way the customer liked. :wink: