1942 B.F. Goodrich / Schwinn New World

 

Here is  the 1942 B.F. Goodrich badged Schwinn New World, in more or less completed form. I've done a couple short test rides and set up the saddle and bars to a position that is fairly comfortable for me. 

 

It's hard to believe this bike began as just a core: frame, fork, and fenders. I've sourced many 1940s-era Schwinn parts and other parts appropriate for this bike. The wheel set is my own build: vintage Sturmey Archer AW rear hub, with Schwinn hourglass front hub. Rims are Schwinn S6. 

Given the year of this bike, I decided to go with a 1940s/WWII type aviation theme, as shown in the large, wing-shaped chain guard from the years just before that war. This matches nicely with a WWII style USAAF type pin on the saddle bag.  The tear drop emblems on the grips also go nicely with the wing/aviation theme, even if they are reproductions.

This many not be the absolutely final set up (I still have to test the saddle position out on longer rides, and we'll see how the very old Torrington pedals hold up with their new rubber blocks). But so far, so good. I think it looks pretty good, and I am loving that chain guard.

 

 

Specs:

Frame and fork: 1942 Schwinn New World, just under 22 inches. Basic steel with hybrid construction - some joints are electroforge welded and some are fillet brazed, original 1942 Schwinn torpedo blade style fork. 

Fenders: steel, Schwinn New World with correct wire braces in black paint.

Cranks: Schwinn dogleg one-piece, 4-hole clover sprocket.

Hubs: Sturmey AW 3-speed rear, Schwinn hourglass front. Sturmey Archer quadrant shifter. 

Saddle: Gyes three-spring roadster type.

Handlebars: Schwinn North Road style 

Wheels: Schwinn S6 rims, Sapim stainless double-butted spokes. 

Brakes/levers: Schwinn-built steel calipers and levers.

Lights: Kiley LED retro front, Soma Silver Bullet LED rear light.

Grips: Schwinn teardrop reproduction.