1930 to 1939 Schwinn Bicycles

Vintage Schwinn Guide > 1930 to 1939

The 1930s were a busy decade for Schwinn. Many new innovations, models and improvements were made.

Luckily for us they also did a great deal of  advertising. Old advertisements are great sources of information for collectors and help us know what came with these bikes when they were first offered.

By the 1930s the bike market was declining heavily. The bikes that were around or available all looked the same. There was little to distinguish one bike from another.

In 1930 Schwinn created a new department in his company and staffed it with motorcycle engineers.

This department was tasked not only with making bikes work better, but also make bikes look better.

1932

The thirties were design oriented, with major improvements to the appearance of bicycles.

Schwinn Motorbike

1933

Balloon tires were introduced. These tires replaced the less maintainable single tube tires. The new tires were wider and had an inner tube. Schwinn introduced the balloon tire in the spring of 1933 and two years later it was the standard for the industry.

See full line of 1933 Schwinn models >>

1934

Schwinn announces a new model – the “Streamline Aerocycle”. This bike was a major change from what bicycles looked like at the time and was the beginning of a new era. This bike was very popular and the model helped Schwinn Company’s bottom line during the recovery from the great depression.

See more 1934 Schwinn models >>

1935

1935 brought a new model of Schwinn bicycle – the Cycleplane. It was an instant hit with consumers and this bike also was the beginning of new ways of creating quality bikes for Schwinn.

They began using the steel welding of the airplane industry to create bikes now instead of the earlier process of brazing.

See more about the 1935 Schwinn Cycleplane >>

1936

Schwinn’s newest model, the AutoCycle. Text from ad reads…

“By the ultra modern grace and beauty of its appearance – by the the multiplicity of its new and exclusive features – and by its fundamental advancement in cycle engineering and design – the AUTO- Cycle takes its place as the leading bicycle of America”

Vintage Schwinn Guide > 1930 to 1939

(please note this is a new site and I am constantly updating this info as I get new material)

Schwinn Bicycles by Year

1895 to 1900 | 1901 to 1929 | 1930 to 1939 | 1940 to 1949 | 1950 to 1959
1960 to 1969 | 1970 to 1979 | 1980 to 1989 | 1990 to 1999 | 2000 to 2010