In a message dated 11/26/02 1:17:21 PM Eastern Standard Time,
classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes:
> Message: 19
> From: RaleighPro531@aol.com
> Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2002 06:56:03 EST
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR]Wastyn - was: Pre-War track Paramount on ebay
>
> In a message dated 11/26/2002 12:41:09 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> bikeworks@bikecult.com writes:
>
>
> >You might say a flag went up when we saw that one.
> >I too was convinced it wasn't a Schwinn.
> >Maybe it's a pre-Schwinn Watsyn.
> >
> >But I just examined my c.39 Paramount and my c.40 BSA.
> >That bike looks more like the Paramount than the BSA.
> >Though it had me fooled for a moment.
> >
> >Head lugs -- Paramount
> >Seat cluster -- Watsyn, pre-Schwinn?
> >Fork crown -- Paramount
> >Fork tips -- Paramount
> >Crankset -- BSA, pre-Schwinn?
> >
>
Pete added:
> Wouldn't this be a good thing if it was a Wastyn rather than a Paramount?
> I realize there is a lot to the Paramount name but certainly the Wastyn's
> are
> much harder to find?
> http://ebay.com/
> Help me out here as I'm not sure if I understand if the previous posts were
>
> "knocks" or not.
> Thanks
>
> Pete Geurds
> Douglassville, PA
>
>
All:
This bike looks a whole lot like my chrome 1937 Emil Wastyn, which we initially thought might possibly have been a Paramount. The serial number is way different than mine, although Oscar Jr. told me that Emil would often put whatever the customer wanted (on the BB shell) as a serial number, or the date the frame was completed, or sometimes even nothing.... Would "A553" be a typical early Paramount S/N?
Regarding the frame fittings, my understanding is that those are BSA lugs, BB shell, and fork crown that were often purchased as a "kit*" and then re-worked by the individual builder into his "style." Then a BSA component "kit" was frequently added as well - HS, BB, crankset, hubset, etc., as these were considered "top of the line" at that time. I've been told that a Wastyn or other top-tier track bike cost as much as $150 new in the late 1930s - a real fortune back then - but that the cost was justifiable because so many riders (and bettors!) were making serious money on six-day racing.
My vote is for Wastyn, pre-Paramount. Could be a Goosens too, however (he worked for Emil Wastyn for a short while, then went out on his own, per Jeff Groman...). Oscar Jr. in Chicago might be able to make a determination from the jpegs.
Regards,
Greg "need a correct 27.2 seatpin for my Wastyn BTW" Parker A2 MI USA
*This was decades "BCG" - Before Component Groups...