Today we have a few photos of a very nice 1947 Schwinn Continental. This early version of the Continental, unlike the later 10-speed bikes, is a hand brazed frame of Cr-Mo tubing with a premium paint and decal finish. It has very nice, stainless steel rims and a good set of hubs.
Sometimes I meet other collectors/riders who want a premium three speed, but also something out of the ordinary. One of the bikes I often recommend is the 1940s-50s Schwinn Continental. These bikes are reasonably light weight for their time, and ride very nicely once property set up with a good saddle. The only drawback are the 597mm rims, which have limited tire choices today (Kenda tires mainly).
These Continentals are handsome bikes made to a high standard, roughly equal to a mid-range Raleigh of the same time period. They're certainly a step above the basic models, though perhaps not quite as high in performance as a Raleigh Clubman. They have a certain cachet, being an old, Made-in-USA product.
There are other options for "unusual" three speeds for the person who wants an out-of-the-ordinary bike. But the Continental is certainly something to add a little variety to the more usual Raleigh Sports and similar bikes from England.
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