Cha1nsaw

I just purchased a Schwinn Varsity that appears to be brazed. I didn't think any of the Varsity line were brazed. I don't have access to the bike right now so I can't provide Serial Numbers or photos. Have any of the sage scholars ever heard of a brazed Varsity?

Thanks,
Chainsaw

rhenning

Unless it is really old and a 3 speed it is an electro forged bike. Electro forging looks like brazing. There might be a couple of spots where brazing was used but it isn't a brazed frame. Roger

Jeff Wills

A serial number will track down what it really is. There were '70's Schwinns that were fillet-brazed chrome-moly (Super Sports, Sports Tourers, and Superiors), but they're very distinctive. Post photos ASAP.

momo608

I'm starting to think that some of these comments here are pranks.

" I don't have access to the bike right now so I can't provide Serial Numbers or photos."

Right!

Jeff Wills

Well, it could be in transit. Cut the guy a little slack.

momo608

No

Metacortex

If by "brazed" you mean lugged, note that the Varsity was reintroduced as a lugged frame import in 1986:

Scooper

Since electroforging is an edge to edge weld, there is one joint on electroforged frames that is brazed; the top tube to seat tube join involves the mitered edge of the top tube end joined to the round seat tube. From Marc Muller's article Inside the Varsity, the top tube to seat tube brazed joint is explained this way:

One way to verify that the frame is welded and not brazed is to use a magnet on the "fillets"; on a brazed frame the fillet will not attract a magnet, but since the "fillet" on an electroforged frame is steel, it will attract a magnet.

Steel "fillets" on an electroforged frame:


Brass fillets on a fillet brazed frame:

Scooper

Good point; I assumed he meant fillet brazed.

Cha1nsaw

Actually, I'm on vacation and picked the bike up the day before leaving so I don't have the bike right now ... Yea, right! Makes it hard to get serial numbers or pictures. When get home, I'll do the magnet thing on the joints

Chainsaw

pastorbobnlnh 

I'm guessing that even the older version 1953 Varsity was not fillet brazed but was electro-forged. Maybe @Metacortex and/or @Scooper could confirm.



The 1955 catalog page has a better depiction.

SquidPuppet

Good post. Thanks.

I don't need magnets to check my bikes. I can SEE and FEEL the EF joins right through the paint. Not exactly art. But I still love 'em.

SquidPuppet

Question for those in the know.

How were the seat stays joined to the seat tube/top tube? That has to be brazed, right?

Scooper

Bob, the 1954 dealer catalog Varsity page indicates it's got an electro-forged frame, and the 1952 catalog features the exclusivity of the Schwinn electro-forged frame, although it doesn't specifically mention the Varsity.

Here's the 1954 dealer catalog page:

Scooper

Since the seat stays are side-tacked at the seat cluster, I think you're probably right but don't know for sure.

dddd

Wrong. The seatstays were electric welded to the seat tube.

Apparently this was done after the top tube was flared and brazed to the seat tube, since the brief, localized heat from the contact spot electric welds would not be expected to disturb the brazed joint.

But it's also possible that the brazed joint was done after the seatstays were welded to the seat tube, just that the seatstays would then sort of be in the way.

Metacortex

Also wrong. The top tube to seatmast joints were high-frequency induction welded. An article in the Jan. '77 Reporter titled "Glass Bead Blasting Improves Schwinn Quality" states:
The article continues to indicate that the bead blasting machine went into service in Aug. '75 after 6 months of extensive research and development, and that previously this carbon residue and weld splatter removal was done entirely by hand.

The Golden Boy 

Let's see some pix of your 15 speed Peugeot!!

momo608

Hey genius, I said it was long gone and I was asking what model it could have been

Here is the question and I gave all the info I have.

Peugeot 15 speed info wanted

I bought a Peugeot triple crank 15 speed road bike back in the mid 70's. I did a complete, new everything except the triple, refurbish on the bike complete with a strip and spray bomb repaint. I am trying to figure out what model the bike was. The bike is long gone. It had the 15 speed set up with full fenders and a tall frame, probably 25". The bike was old and crusty when I got it so if I had to guess it was a late 60's or very early 70's bike, maybe older. Anyone know what it could have been?

momo608

That "chainsaw" dude replied but deleted his follow up post. I'll say what I replied to him.

It's lazy and inconsiderate to throw out a garbage question like that and expect a thoughtful response.

What are we supposed to do! Ponder every kind of Varsity ever made that he might be confusing his with? I know some did just that, but he should have at least waited until he could supply the most basic information. I'm respectful of peoples time, I would never pose a question like that.

Scooper

C&V is a pretty mellow forum and most of the folks here try to be helpful and are very tolerant of newbie questions.

Relax.

The Golden Boy 

Settle down, Junior.

So what are you doing posting a thread about a bike you don't have? Is this some sort of prank?

It's lazy and inconsiderate to throw out a garbage question like that and expect a thoughtful response.

What are we supposed to do? Ponder every kind of Peugeot ever made that you might be confusing yours with? I know you did just that, but you should have at least waited until you could supply the most basic information. You're not being respectful of peoples time, evidenced because you posed a question like that.

You've been a member here for almost a year. At the time I replied, you had all of 14 posts. In almost a year. Not so much of a contributing member of the forum. You're being rude to someone who quite simply asked "Have any of the sage scholars ever heard of a brazed Varsity?" That question does not require a serial number or pictures.

You, on the other hand, posted a "Anyone know what it could have been?" thread about a bike you had 30+ years ago. That guy asked a question that's answerable. You asked a question... that's not so answerable. That question requires some sort of knowledge about what you had, possibly nothing that a serial number or pictures would answer.

cb400bill

Hey guys!

Let's keep it civil here in C&V.

momo608

Who cares? The Golden Boy wants revenge. Revenge has its own agenda.

momo608

They were elecrtoforged. An electrical current was sent through the frame structure from two opposite points of the tubing interfaces. An arch was formed between the two points creating a weld to join the tubing together.