Educate Me On Schwinn Cantilever Frames

[sandmountainslim]

I keep seeing references online to "1955 Style Cantilever Frames" How are these frames different from the Schwinn's made prior to 1955? Was there a major redesign of the Cantilever frame that year? Are all the 60's 70's and 80's Schwinn cantilever framed bikes the "1955 style"? Please help educate a new guy who is wanting to learn. Thanks.

 

[Sphinx]

They switched to Middleweight around that year and the frame slimmed up some.

 

[Jpromo]

Yeah, the cantilever first appeared in 1938 as a balloon tire bike. '55 was the first year they dropped down to middleweights and they remained essentially unchanged until the end of the Chicago era.

 

[sandmountainslim]

Yeah, the cantilever first appeared in 1938 as a balloon tire bike. '55 was the first year they dropped down to middleweights and they remained essentially unchanged until the end of the Chicago era.

Can you take an early balloon tire frame and put middleweight rims and tires on it?

 

[udallcustombikes]

You can. But why would you want to? The wheels/tire's will look too small in there.

 

[big kountry]

I myself like the skinny tires this bike is called Nuttin Fancy it was my BO7 bike an she is a blast to ride