4th of July - 250th Anniversary, and American-made Three Speed Bikes

 A Happy 4th of July, and a 250th one at that. The weather here is quite hot, which is fitting for summer time. Appropriately, I have been enjoying rides on these American-made, Schwinn three speed bikes this week.

1957 Schwinn Traveler

 

1960 Schwinn Traveler

Notes on Schwinn Handlebars for Three Speed Style Bikes

 

Handlebar shape and position are an important factor of getting your vintage bike to fit correctly. American "lightweight" three speed style bikes have an added complication in this arena: stems that are often much shorter than their British counter parts. The shorter, American stems reduce the up/down adjustment of the bars and make the bar shape doubly important. 

Fortunately, Schwinn had a system for classifying its handlebars.  Knowing which model of bars are most comfortable for you can help avoid fitting problems or can help you find the right bars for your particular vintage bike. 

Below are my notes on Schwinn handlebars, including some of my personal favorites. 

Note: Schwinn's early handlebars will not have a model number or date code stamped into them. However, Schwinn's later handlebars often have a bar model number and date code stamped into the center of the bars. 

 

Early-style Schwinn touring bars

 

Early Style Schwinn Touring Bars (1930s-50s): These early bars are narrow (usually 18 to 20 inches wide), with ends that come straight back. The ends do not sweep back much on these bars. Rise on the bars can be anywhere from flat to +3.5 inches. They appear to have been made so they can be reversed into a sporting type position. These bars are correct for the early Schwinn touring bikes. It helps to have a fairly long stem with these bars because they don't give a great deal of adjustment. They are smaller than their contemporary, English-made counterparts. These bars have a somewhat unique look because of their straight-back ends and narrow profile. These bars aren't bad, but certainly not the most comfortable bars I've ever used. But if you are looking for proper touring bars for one of these older bikes, this style of bar is a "correct" option.

 

Example of early bars with rise - but some are nearly flat

 

Common Schwinn Touring/North Road Style Bars - 1960s

Schwinn #7819 Bars (1950s-60s):  For quite a few years in the later 1950s and into the 1960s, these were the go-to touring bars for Schwinn three speed style bikes. Width is in the 20 to 22 inch range. Rise is in the 3.25 to 3.75 inch range, depending on year.  This was Schwinn's take on the "North Road" bars being produced by Raleigh for the Raleigh Sports type bikes. These are not bad bars and a good option for your 1950s-60s Schwinn. Some of these bars have a number stamped into their center, some just say "Schwinn" stamped in the center, and some have no center stamping.

About 3.5 inches of rise on these 1960s bars - not bad

 

 

 

 

Schwinn #7830 bars - more rise and very comfortable

Schwinn #7830 (Second Pattern) Bars (1960s-70s): These are a somewhat later bar with a little more generous rise than the 7819. These bars should NOT be confused with the earlier #7830 that was a bar specifically cycle truck cargo carriers. Apparently the #7830 was repurposed later as a medium-sized touring bar, hence why I call this a "second pattern" of that bar number. Width is 22 to 23 inches, rise 3.5 to 4.0 inches. These bars can be a substitute for 7819 where you are stuck with a shorter stem but want more rise and a little more width. I find these to be very comfortable bars and they are a "go-to" for me when I need a little extra rise or width because of the particular stem on a bike.  These bars are not especially prone to reversing because of their rise/drop. These bars were meant to be ridden upright.

7830 center stamping

 

7830 Rise - a reasonably generous 3.5 to 3.75 inches

 

 

Schwinn #7881 - larger touring bars

Schwinn #7881 Bars (1960s and 70s): These bars are similar in shape to the 7830 but even a bit wider and with a bit more rise. These bars are about 23-inches wide, with 4.5 to 4.75 inches of rise. These bars are a good choice when you want an even more upright ride, or you're dealing with a short stem. These bars are comfortable, though if you're used to English North Roads, they will feel quite large. If 7819 and 7830 still don't get those hand grips up high enough for you, try #7881. These bars are not especially prone to reversing because of their rise/drop. These bars were meant to be ridden upright. These bars were original to late 1960s through early 80s bikes, but are a good option when you want to raise those handle points on any Schwinn touring bike. These bars replaced the #7819 as the go-to bar for touring bikes, probably because the American stems tended to be short and a more generous rise was needed to bring some adjustment to the table.

#7881 - very generous rise of 4.5+ inches

 

#7881 Stamping

#7881 - notice the generous rise and fairly wide pattern

 

The Bottom Line:  If you are not wedded to originality, try several different kinds of bars and see what is most comfortable to you. American-made three speeds generally have less stem height adjustment than their British counterparts. So use those handlebars to make up for it and to get the comfortable riding fit you need for the bike. Don't be afraid to experiment to get the most comfortable ride possible.

 

 

 

 

The Long Days of the Year... and the Frustration of Getting Sick in the Summer

 

1948 Raleigh Sports Tourist

The long days of the year have arrived. I love long, summer days where there is plenty of warmth and daylight for a good ride after work. I'm not much of a morning person, but I do love a good ride in the evening after I am done for the day.

What I especially do not like is getting sick when the weather is good. The Mrs brought in a mystery flu from work, which I promptly also caught. It's more than the average cold, and it leads to lots of sneezing and nose-blowing. It also tends to hang on for a couple of weeks... Not good...

I hate being sick this time of year because usually the weather and daylight are conducive to riding. I don't like being sick in general (who does?), but I tolerate it when it's January, the days are short, and the temperature is below freezing all the time. But this time of year... it stinks to be sick when the weather is good and there's plenty of daylight.

I lost two days of riding weather to this illness, though not more than that so far. I am recovering slowly but steadily and have been riding again (albeit somewhat shorter rides) this week. This week's bikes are my 1957 Schwinn Traveler and my 1948 Raleigh Sports Tourist.

1957 Schwinn Traveler

The Sports Tourist received a somewhat better kickstand than I had on it. The previous one was kind of loose and worn, though nothing terrible. This kickstand is in better shape. I used a later, Pletscher/ESGE stand made specifically for the Raleigh Sports/Superbe. They fit reasonably well and provide good stability with their rubber feet.

 I'm gradually getting better and hopefully will be back at 100% fairly soon. Keep on riding...

 

Summer Weather

Hot and humid here this week, which I don't really mind. We're headed into summer and the days are nice and long: plenty of daylight to ride. With summer on the way, hot weather seems appropriate enough. I ride in the evening, after work in a largely shaded, forest area. The shade makes it a bit cooler  there, which is a big plus this time of year. 

This week, I am riding various Schwinn three speeds: two Travelers and a Superior. 

Schwinn Superior (1949-50)

 

 

Why Vintage Bicycles? Why Bother Riding Them?

 

1960 Schwinn Traveler three speed bike

Sometimes in the course of doing something, I am apt to return to the original question that started whole endeavor; of why I might do this or that; or why even bother with something at all. Well then, why bother with vintage bicycles at all and why ride them? There are surely bikes today that are lighter, faster, or more convenient. 

The answer is a pull to rebuild and ride that unquantifiable, but still can be felt. For some people the reason is nostalgia for some previous time or experience. For others, it is an interest in something old or antique. That is, a notion of what might have come in the "before times". Either of these reasons is equally valid (or invalid, as the case may be). 

 

Mark Twain wrote about his experience being drawn into piloting steamboats on the Mississippi in his outstanding book Life on the Mississippi. On that great river, he found something unquantifiable but still palpable called to him: "There were graceful curves, reflected images, woody heights, soft distances; and over the whole scene, far and near, the dissolving lights drifted steadily, enriching it, every passing moment, with new marvels of coloring. I stood like one bewitched." 

 

Mark Twain / Samuel Clemens

 

"Bewitching" is the right term for our hobby of refurbishment and riding. Like Samuel Clemens, and his river, there is something that calls to hobbyist about putting an old bike on the road, then gradually taking in the scenery on a ride. We may not be able to quantify the pull, but we can see it and feel it. There are certainly lighter, faster, newer, and more convenient bicycles, but not everything in life can be measured, yet it is there just the same.

 

Green Schwinn Bikes... Superior and Traveler

 Nothing new or earth-shattering to report this week... sometimes "no news is good news". I've gone on a few rides this week. The weather is warm and has stayed dry, which is a contrast from the rainy weather we had previously experienced. 

 

I had my 1949/50 Schwinn Superior out. The new tires help the ride quite a bit. The wheels also needed some truing, which is a common need after returning to the road from several months of sitting. These early post-war Superior bikes are uncommon. I have a registry of them, and only a few examples have turned up in several years of looking. I guess they didn't sell very well...

 

 

These bikes have a true hybrid of American and English style on them: the white rear fender tip of the English combined with the more pronounced graphics and front fender stripe of American style. 

 

This particular bike has a nominal 21-inch frame, though in reality it is closer to 22 inches. It seems that these post-war frames ran a little larger than their stated size in the catalogues. That's fine with me because I find a 22-inch frame on 26-inch wheels comfortable, though perhaps at the low end of what I prefer. I find a 21-inch frame on 26-inch wheels just a touch too small...

 

Sometimes I see bikes being ridden that are obviously way too small for the rider. You can tell these bikes because the seat posts are set too high (like a saddle atop a flagpole) and the handlebars are tilted skyward. Each rider has a range of sizes he or she can ride comfortably. Sometimes you have one bike that is a little smaller and one a little larger, but they both fit comfortably and ride fine. That is perfectly OK. But don't try to ride a bike that is many inches too small, such that there is more seat post than there is frame. Like a good pair a shoes or a set of good golf clubs, a little smaller or a little larger may work just fine, but if it's many sizes too small or large, it's asking for trouble... 

 

 

Another bike out this week for a couple rides: my 1957 Schwinn Traveler. This is another green bike, albeit a different shade of green (Radiant Green). This bike nominally has a 23-inch frame, though the frame is actually closer to 24 inches, on top of 26-inch wheels. I find this size quite comfortable. It's closer to the high end of what I can comfortably ride. 

 

 

The Schwinn Traveler (1951-66) is one of my favorite bike models. It represents the British three-speed style with a uniquely American interpretation. The bikes capture a nice mix of British practicality and American post-war style. I currently own 4 of these bikes ('57, '59, '60, and '64). I like this model so much, I bought it four times... All of them are refurbished, on the road, and running nicely.

 

 

If I had one gripe about the Traveler, it's that the bikes tend to be quite heavy, and they use a somewhat obsolete tire size (only Kenda brand tires are available new in this size in the US right now). But they ride wonderfully and capture a nice blend of British and American influences.

 Hopefully the good weather continues. I look forward to more ride time, whenever I can squeeze it in.

 

Tilting at Windmills - Schwinn's "Don Quixote" (Carl Huber)

 I recently came across this interesting little artwork - a Schwinn bicycles ad based on Pablo Picasso's "Don Quixote" (1955). I don't know when this artwork was created, though it does not appear particularly old and it certainly was made in the past few decades. This piece is a stretched canvas print with a small, wooden frame. It seems to me the kind of thing that would have been hanging as an ad in a bike shop somewhere, though it's nicer than any of the paper posters they used (it's real canvas on a wooden frame). 

 

Schwinn's "Don Quixote" by Carl Huber

 

Pretty neat piece. I like the original Picasso work as well (perhaps a bit better). It's nice though, having Don Quixote on a bike... It's an interesting piece of at least "referential art", though perhaps some would consider a form of "appropriation art" based on the likeness to Picasso's work. It's a homage to the Picasso sketch. I'm not much of an art critic, so I'll leave it to others to classify it... But I do enjoy the piece and I did at least know the original it was taken after.

[If you have the time or inclination, read Don Quixote - well worth the time and effort (even better - read it more than once)].

Picasso's "Don Quixote" (1955)

 

Schwinn Superior Gets New Tires

 I took my Schwinn Superior for a ride the other day and all went well... until about 3/4 of the way through the ride. I started noticing a cyclical "clunking" and bouncing from rear wheel. Usually this means either a rim is out of round or the tire has developed a bulge. 

I found the rim wasn't bad, but the tire had developed a bulge in one area.

The tires were a few seasons old. They're basic, Kenda white walls for Schwinn S5/S6 rims. This particular set has not aged all that well. The white walls have faded faster than usual and now the rear tire developed a bulge that made the bike uncomfortable to ride. 

So off the white walls went... and on went a set of low mileage, blackwall Kendas.

I had a set of Kenda black wall tires with low mileage on a set of spare Raleigh Clubman wheels, so I decided to repurpose those tires. Black wall tires would have been original to this particular bike anyway... so why not?

English-style "white tail" on the rear fender

The bike rode better with the new tires, but then I noticed the front wheel had gone out of true. So I trued the wheel... This bike has always been kind of a maintenance hog compared to my others. I'm not sure why. I've fiddled with the wheels and tires several times over the years. Fortunately the hubs are very good, smooth rollers. "Takes all kinds", I guess... 

Anyway, the bike is back on the road and the weather is getting warmer again...

 I also took some time to swap the saddlebag from a vinyl, black bag to a very nice, brown canvas Acorn bag. I love Acorn bags and fortunately accumulated a few extras before they went out of business.

 The lapel pin is from a period (1949-50) Pontiac. I like adding small, period touches like that. This is certainly an unusual bike, based on my experience - 1949 or 50 Superior.

And I'm not the only one out there enjoying some warmer weather...

Bullfrog on a lily pad

 

 

 

 

"They Don't Build Them Like They Used To" - Quality Control, Fit, and Finish in Vintage Bicycles

 The vintage bicycle enthusiast (or any antiques enthusiast) will often be heard saying, "they don't build them like they used to." In some ways, that is true. Old production methods often involved a greater degree of skilled labor, hand fitting, and final inspection by someone knowledgeable about the product. 

But not all vintage products were created equal. Some products were built for a particular price point, cutting corners on final fitting, relying on spot welds instead of proper brazing/welding, concealing mistakes with shiny paint, or trying to make up for defects with rubbish accessories. 

Other products were of a more premium type, showing carefully developed manufacturing methods, skilled fitting, and good quality control. 

Even in the premium products we sometimes find corners cut. I wrote previously about how some Schwinn frames built during World War II involved reduced final finishing so the rest of the factory could be devoted to meeting wartime production requirements for battlefield goods. 

But cutting corners in some places was not limit to wartime. 

 

Let's take this very, very nice 1949-50 Schwinn New World as an example. This bike was not 100% original as I found it, but it also shows no signs of abuse. In fact, the bearing surfaces all show minimal mileage. 

 

Disassembling and cleaning the bike, I find somewhat minimal brazing of the seat stays around the seat cluster, and messy brazing of the down tube to the bottom bracket. 

 

A fully finished braze joint is uniform and smooth all the way around, and of a semi-conical shape (it is shaped a bit like a volcano). This down tube joint shows almost no smoothing and is less than uniform. We can't blame a prior owner for this one though - it came from the factory this way! No one is perfect... 

I  believe on the better-made bikes, quality control has actually become more uniform compared to many years ago. Computer-aided production has helped prevent some of the mistakes and cut corners of the past. This is not to defend lesser, newer products though. There are plenty of cheap, junky new bikes out there. 

Unless mistakes on these old bikes reduce the safety or function of the bike, I would not worry about them. Braze joints were a hand-built thing, so they will all vary a little. So long as your bike has not been abused and the safety and function are intact, I'd gladly ride it. After all, they were meant to be ridden... 

Enjoying the Details of Three Speed Bikes

Sometimes I am asked about focusing on a particular type of vintage bike rather than collecting all different kinds. I focus on three speed bikes because I enjoy them. I enjoy fixing them and riding them. I also enjoy discussing them. But I also enjoy the details, the different styles of bike within the family traditional utility and sporting bikes. 

Below are my classifications of traditional three speed type bikes. They are meant as a "10,000 foot view" of these bikes. There are certainly exceptions to each category, but I find these are helpful in talking with people who are new to this style of bicycle. 

 

British School of Design: Traditional and Functional

The traditional, British style tends to be on the conservative side, especially on bikes made prior to 1950. The bikes were built with a pragmatic approach: accessories that added functionality to a bike in dealing with adverse weather or dark conditions. The bikes tend to (though not always) have traditional colors: blacks, dark greens, dark blues, and maroon type colors. 

 

1940s Raleigh chaincase - old school design

Decoration often involved Victorian or Edwardian style pin stripes and box stripes. The flash of white on the rear fender, a classic characteristic of these bikes, was actually to comply with a road safety law and not just as a matter of style. Certainly there are "flashy" English roadsters and utility bikes, particularly during the 1950s when American influences began to creep into some models. 

 

1970 Raleigh DL-1: basically a piece of pre-WWII technology

But the English school was very much the originator of what we think of when we consider three speed bikes. 

 

 

 

Low Countries and Denmark: European Pragmatism and Daily Commuters

The Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark represent another school of design. They share many similarities with English functionalism, but they add a continental twist. These countries have held onto daily commuter features  such as generator sets, fully-enclosed chain cases, and drum brakes. Older models in this school tend to have large frames, large wheels, and single-speed gears. 

A Dutch commuter - all the accessories needed for daily work

Internal gear hubs later became more popular. These bikes have some unique features such as rear fender coat/skirt guards, high stems and handlebars, integrated generator light systems, frame locks, and various other features required by regional safety laws. Eventually, modern materials fused with traditional features: full chain cases made of plastic, plastic coat/skirt guards, alloy rims and lightened drum brakes, etc. This school of design focuses heavily on the bike as an everyday utility object and daily commuter. It's even common to see magnet fishermen pulling these bikes out of canals and estuaries.  

 

 

Schwinn Traveler - mid-century American style

U.S.A.: Automotive Influences and Flashier Styles

The English-style, three speed bike first arrived in the USA in quantity in the 1930s. Hercules, BSA, and Raleigh gradually grew their market presence from 1933 onward. American-made bikes of this kind began to appear, at least in some quantity, in the late 1930s. Initially, the American-made bikes were similar to English "light roadsters" with cable brakes, diamond or step-over frames, and 26-inch wheels.

 

 After WWII, automotive style became more important: fins on fenders and chainguards, art deco or streamliner styling, bright colors (often with two-stage aluminum paints), large amounts of brightwork made from chrome or stainless steel, etc. 

 

Americans have loved their automobiles going back to the Model T Ford (or even earlier), so when "lightweight" bikes became more popular in the late 1940s, automotive influences quickly mixed in. American bike technology such as one-piece cranks and coaster brakes are common. The American three speed bike, particularly after 1945, is defined by its extroverted style and presence. 

 

Stainless front fender "fin" on a Schwinn Traveler

Nothing makes a statement like a full set of polished, stainless steel fenders with a fin on the front... 

 

  

French Bikes: Idiosyncratic Standards and Artistic Designs

French bikes cover a wide range. The French used a separate set of engineering standards than did the British, Dutch, or Americans. These bikes range from English-like commuters to ornate bikes with wild pain schemes, complicated lugs, and specialized parts. These can be beautiful bicycles, but be careful of one-off parts and weird threading standards...

 

A very classy, artistically-inclined Singer bike

 

These bikes run the range from basic, to bespoke and handmade designs. These bikes often are works of art exhibiting art deco designs and hammered fenders. Aluminum and stainless steel are commonly worked into these bikes. The French preferred the derailleur over the internal gear hub, but some of the bikes have internal gear hubs.

 

 

Africa and Asia: Budget/Value-Oriented Bikes

African and Asian bikes tend to be very traditional, of British style, but also less expensive and aimed at simply staying on the road. Simple mechanical features are the defining features: single-speed rear hubs, steel parts, and parts made as inexpensively as possible. Colors are usually traditional and done in basic coats without any excess. 

Flying Pigeon - the most-produced bicycle of all time

The goal is to provide working, durable transportation as cheaply as possible. Keeping the bike on the road means keeping the family or business running. These bikes are gradually being replaced in Africa and Asia with more modern ones. I previously posted an old article on utility bikes operating in mainland China (once known as the kingdom of bicycles).  Huge numbers of Flying Pigeons have been produced since the beginning of its run...

 

There are other styles out there, but these are the major ones a person is likely to encounter "in the wild". Each has its attractive points and its challenges.