----- Original Message ----- From: Lou Deeter To: Classic Rendezvous List Sent: Monday, January 27, 2003 4:57 PM Subject: [CR]Ebay Paramount with built-in rack
> <A
HREF="http://ebay.com/<blah>
gory=7298">http://ebay.com/<blah>
&category=7298</A>
>
> I sure didn't know that Schwinn ever did anything like building a rear
rack
> into the frame. Can this really be a Paramount? 23" frame. Lou Deeter,
> Orlando FL
Hello Lou ,
Raoul Delmare here , writing from Marysville Kansas .
I just sent this message to the seller of that bicycle , and also to a friend of mine who had written to the seller , and forwarded the seller's response , over to me .
Here's the correspondence :
Hello ,
Raoul Delmare here ,
I'm a nut about Schwinn Paramounts .
So , that really is a genuine Schwinn Paramount frame , which has been heavily re-worked , by an unknown custom frame builder , probably right around 1978 , with the added custom rear rack , added fittings for two water bottle cages , added cantilever brakes , and with the rear slightly widened for the 6-speed freewheel ( originally it would have had a 5-speed freewheel ) .
The serial number , G7016 , can be de-coded into , July - 1970 - the 16th Paramount frame set made during that month . So , we know that it was made early in the month , probably during the first week .
From looking at the photographs , I was thinking that this was one of the unusual Paramounts , with the full set of Prugnat lugs as well as the Prugnat bottom bracket shell .
This serial number agrees perfectly with the use of those lugs .
For a long time , before this , the Paramounts used a full set of Nervex Professional lugs and Nervex Professional bottom bracket shell .
For a long time , after this , the Paramounts used the Nervex Professional lugs , with the Prugnat bottom bracket shell .
But for a very brief period of time , right around 1970 , Schwinn Paramounts used the full set of Prugnat lugs and Prugnat bottom bracket shell .
So , it's a 23-inch , Schwinn Paramount , made in early July of 1970 .
Can't honestly say whether it was originally a model P13 Deluxe Paramount Road Racer ( all of the Paramount Road Racers from that era were 10-speeds ) , or a model P15 Deluxe Paramount Touring 15-speed .
Looking at the photograph in the 1970 Schwinn consumer catalog , frames of those two models seem identical . In later years , it would be easy to spot the differences between the Road Racer , and the Touring . But , until 1972 , the frames were identical ( as far as I know ) .
Of course , for a small fee , you can have Richard Schwinn , at Waterford Precision Cycles , look up your serial number , and send you a written sheet of information . The usual information lists the particular model , the original color , the dealership to which it was originally sent , etc . Sometimes he can even tell you the name of the original owner .
One very interesting thing about 1970 , it was the year of Schwinn's 75th Anniversary .
The model they chose to commemorate Schwinn's 75th Anniversary was the P15 Deluxe Paramount Touring 15-Speed . So , although there wasn't anything special painted on the bicycles themselves , those 1970 Deluxe Touring Paramounts , are technically known as , " The Diamond Jubilee Schwinn " .
Best Of Luck ,
Cheers ,
Raoul
the front head badge is round with two tiny screws on either side, has thed red circle with a raised schwinn cross in the middle and theres an outer circle that says SCHWINN PARAMOUNT...the serial # is G7016 - todd