Reviving 1940s Schwinn Bottom Bracket Parts

Here's a nice little trove of pre-war and immediate post-war Schwinn parts: dog leg cranks (one worn, the other very clean), bottom bracket parts, four-hole pre-war Schwinn chain ring, and cottered "AS&Co" Schwinn cranks. 

A few notes:

• The four hole clover chain ring is what you want for the pre-war Schwinn New World bikes with one-piece cranks. This chain ring looks a lot like the common, post-war types, but has three extra peg holes. The 46-tooth chain ring pairs nicely with a 22-tooth cog and three speed hub.

 

• The dogleg cranks are appropriate for pre-war and wartime New World bikes. The correct crank is the number "502". This is a crank that was used on women's balloon tire cruisers, and on the Schwinn lightweights (both men's and women's lightweights). The "501" is for the men's balloon tire bikes and is slightly longer than the 502. The 502 is what you want for the New World bikes (men's and women's both use the 502).

 

• The three-piece "AS&Co" cranks are correct for pre-war and immediate post-war bikes. A 1940-41 New World will use them, as will the late 1940s and early 1950s Superiors. Schwinn produced these cranks, but the design appears to be inspired by a 1930s BSA or Hercules design (BSA actually made a similar chainring using its own initials). 

 

• The quality of the chrome plating from before WWII is decent, but I think the plating from right after the war (1940s-50s) was a bit better. All the parts are pretty durable and well-made from a functional standpoint. 

 

• Clean-up is done using Evaporust or Oxalic Acid, followed by a rinse and light wire brushing. For heavier work, such as on the crank in the middle, a wire brush wheel on a bench grinding machine cleans up heavier rust. Wear a mask if using a mechanized brush!