1941 Schwinn New World - Progress

 

Here is a quick update on the 1941 Schwinn New World project. 

This bike began as a bike core from eBay and had been parted out. It is unusual in that it has a plain "Schwinn" downtube decal and a "Planes and Trains" badge. The frame is otherwise the basic, fillet brazed pre-WWII New World.

 I've been rebuilding the core as a traditional three speed bike with a Sturmey Archer AW rear hub. 

The rims are new-old stock S6 chrome rims from a closed-down bike shop. I decided to go with those because they are straight and run smoothly. They should perform nicely. Spokes are double-butted old stock Torrington spokes.

This bike has "Schwinn Built" caliper hand brakes with the old-style hooked springs, and Schwinn built brake handles. 

The handlebars are a really nice item - old Schwinn New World style bars that have a little extra rise to them than the regular bars. I was thrilled to find these bars because they are the right profile, but with a little extra rise for an upright, traditional three speed bike position.  Stem is a tall "razorback" type.

The original front fork, which was not even and seemed to have a weak (bent and re-bent) blade has been replaced with a good, matching fork from a late 1940s New World. The rear fender has a very nice, intact red glass reflector. 

The crank set is a pre-war #502 Schwinn dog leg crank and four-hole sprocket. 

Seat post is a Cr-Mo type for a Schwinn seat tube and standard 7/8 saddle clamp. Saddle is a Gyes three-spring roadster type. I have a nice Acorn saddle bag that should go with it.

Tires are basic Kenda black walls for Schwinn S5/S6 rims.

I still have to decide which pedals I want to use.

I still need to set up the brake and transmission cables. I have a nice Sturmey Archer quadrant shifter for the top tube for this bike.