The Tourist was a standard version of the Paramount from the start. In the 1938 or so catalog I have it shows the Sports-Tourist having the same frame materials and construction as the racer but a longer wheelbase and fender mounts mid fork in the British style. Schwinn made a number of different higher quality hubs before the 1950's and didn't seem interested in offering a Sturmey Archer until later.
All in all I don't think the Paramount or Superior tourists were a response to British bikes but instead were a natural outgrowth of lightweights Schwinn had offered since the turn of the century. Of course the catalog makes many references to "latest continental design".
Joe Bender-Zanoni
At 05:16 PM 8/24/01 -0700, Art Smith wrote:
>I have a mid-fifties Paramount Tourist. I understand that the Tourist was
Schwinn's response to the English roadster and that it was a special order
deal, most often built up with S/A 3 speed hub, fenders, mattress saddle,
etc. My question is this: Is the Tourist frame the same frame ( geometry,
material, etc) as the road frame of that period, or is it a different
styled frame entirely? This frame has Paramount in script lettering on the
downtube. Anyone every see decals in this style? Thanks
>Art Smith Phx
>Riding to wrk, 6am, high 80's coming home at 3pm at 110