So what is it Schwinn guys help please

[Uncle Stretch]

Ok so I have this Schwinn boys bike the serial # said it was 8-15 or 8-16 of 1957. We looked at it once before when I first got it and everybody thought it was a something. We found a picture that kinda looked like it and the model was an american I think. CCR thinks its a regular frame. I thought because it came with 26x 195's that it was a middle weight. Anybody know for sure?

 

[Rat Rod]

What is the serial number?

I can't find a 1957 Schwinn frame in their catalogs that matches that.

I'm with CCR on this one...not sure that I've ever seen that frame design as a middleweight bike.

In 1956 they made a Hornet and a Spitfire with that frame design, but they didn't make them in 1957.

Here's a page from the 1956 catalog.

 

[Uncle Stretch]

The serial number is 7d35797

 

[user 135]

What I found in another thread.

S-7 wheels take 1 3/4" tires which are a different diameter than the 1.75 or 2.125 tires which fit S-2 rims. No way they will interchange. You will find the Schwinn S-7 wheel and tire is larger than a standard rim with a 1.75 tire mounted.

To determine if your frame is a balloon or middleweight, use the first 3 fingers on your hand. Just behind the seat post clamp there is a triangular area formed by the tubes coming up from the rear end and the upper fender bracket. If you insert your 3 fingers into this triangle area, resting them on the fender bracket, you'll be able to tell the difference. On the balloon frame, your fingers will go into the triangle easily with room to spare. On a middleweight, your fingers won't fit...or, they will fit very tight depending on the size of your fingers, of course. I'll take some pics tomorrow of my frames and fingers and post them here so you'll know. B607

 

[2manybikes]

Serial number dates it as July of 1957, I have seen middleweights with the single straghtbar frame, but I think they only made them for a couple of years.

 

[Rat Rod]

So maybe it's even more rare...ha ha!

 

[CCR]

:lol: didnt mean to be an instigator :lol: just stickin my nose where it doesnt belong i suppose :mrgreen:

 

[Uncle Stretch]

Its all just for fun anyway. maybe I will learn something. or not
I think Hooch had some Schwinn pictures and for some reason it being an american comes to mind.

 

[deorman]

I could be wrong, but It looks like an early middleweight to me. :? Though you'd think they would be like 1.75"'s, original 1 3/4" tires are actually about the same size as 1.95" tires. Somebody may have switched the rims to make tire swapping possible. I have done that myself back when the bikes were still all over the place, but tires started getting hard to find. Middleweight frames will accommodate 2.125" tires, but older Schwinns that came with the larger size have not only more width, but more height as well. If you look at some ballooners, you'll notice that there's as much space between the fender and tire as there is with the smaller tire on the S-7 bikes. Notice the closeness of the chain dent to the tire as well. :|

 

[CCR]

just for reference, heres my 59 middleweight twinbar with 2.125's, theres about enough room to put a stick of gum between the fender and tire on the front fender. (was a tornado, with s-7s originally)

 

[karfer67]

on this bike one thing i did note was the fenders and the fact that they are painted not chrome. if the midweight wheels that are on it now came on it wouldn't they be painted? i know this is not the case with all middweights but i see it almost all the time on the early ones. and i think early tornados were mid no? then again i cant remember what year that model appeared see what rat roding bikes does to one's brain?

 

[deorman]

My Tornado had painted fenders w/chrome S-7's, but it was a later cantilever bike. Some one once tried to tell me no such bike existed :? , but I got it in great condition from the original owner. :|

 

[user 135]

My guess is a Hornet. Those catalogs don't state the tire size , so it can be hard to tell from the pics/illustrations. I did find a thread on 1956 Hornet that is a middleweight too. viewtopic.php?f=10&t=15487&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

 

[B607]

I'd say it's a Hornet for one reason. No welded kickstand tube. Gary

 

[Uncle Stretch]

So its probably a hornet middle weight. Thanks everybody for the input.

 

[CCR]

I'd say it's a Hornet for one reason. No welded kickstand tube. Gary

shouldnt there be holes the fender for a light then ? Im guessing a Spitfire, didnt those come with bolt on stands too ?

 

[CCR]

found a MIDDLEWEIGHT 1956 hornet and spitfire AD, but it says middleweights in the juvenile 20"/24" bikes .....

 

[Uncle Stretch]

Ok I vote for a Spitfire...sounds cool anyway. I wish I had some oven cleaner and could see what is under that red paint.
Under the red paint is the nicest steel . It also has 26x 1 3/8 tires Yuck

 

[Slick Rick]

Very easy way to figure it out. Take a measurement on the rear dropouts under the fender brace. 3"= HW 2 5/8"= MW :wink: Later & PEACE!!!!!

 

[CCR]

Very easy way to figure it out. Take a measurement on the rear dropouts under the fender brace. 3"= HW 2 5/8"= MW :wink: Later & PEACE!!!!!

:lol: thats TOO easy ... i think UncleStretch should poke it with a stick until the bike tells us what we want it to say :lol: