4/23/2021 0 Comments Schwinn Chicago Serial Numbers
Schwinns policy seemed to be to finish the fillets to the extent that they are visible at first glance.They are worth recalling as a unique Schwinn production strategy and a sidebar in the evolution of the bicycle industry.
Fillet-brazing is an alternative method of constructing high-quality lightweight bicycle frames without the use of lugs. Fillet brazing involves building up brass filler metal in a smooth fillet around joints. See illustration below). The extra thickness of the fillet also provides strength, and its smooth contour distributes stresses evenly. For additional strength Schwinn also brazed steel sleeves into the interior of its frame tubes at the joints.). Lugged bicycle frames, for example, are now manufactured by automated machines. Custom framebuilders still provide fillet-brazed construction, and tandem framesets were often fillet-brazed when lugs to fit their frame angles were not available. At that time bicycles were a fashionable but expensive mode of transportation for adults. Arnold, Schwinn Co. Bicycles began to serve more as vehicles for children, which led to the development of heavier and sturdier models. ![]() Here - with characteristic hyperbole of the age - is the opening text from Schwinns April 1938 advertisement that announced these new bicycles. The Paramount, with its lugged frame of Reynolds or Accles and Pollock tubing, was the top of the line. The Superior and New World were the second line of Schwinn bicycles, with in a more intermediate price range. Unlike the Paramount, however, Superior and New World framesets were not lugged but fillet brazed of seamless chrome molybdenum tubing. The author does not know why lugs were not used for these frames. Perhaps in those days manufacturing lugs was more expensive than hand brazing.). During the 41-year span there were a variety of Schwinn fillet-brazed models, but details of early models are difficult to trace. Schwinn Chicago S Series Of FilletThis article describes Schwinns final high-volume series of fillet-brazed bikes, the 1962-78 ten-speed Super Sports, Sports Tourers, Superiors. ![]() The production flow for these bicycles began with frame fabrication in the handbuild part of the Chicago Schwinn factory; a low-volume production area. Frame tubes were mitered in a jig by machine, and then the remaining fabrication work (brazing, filleting, braze-ons, and finishing) was done by hand. The seat and down tubes, as well as the top tube on the largest frame sizes, are slightly oversize at 29.5 mm in diameter. Schwinn called this tubing 1 18 inch diameter. Schwinns goal in building these framesets was to achieve greater strength at the expense of a little more weight. Customers could replace components as they wore out, but Schwinns frames had to live up to the their well-advertised lifetime warranty. Schwinns fillets at the head tube are usually well finished, but other joints are sometimes sloppy or not fully smoothened.
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