Once I get the old parts put back on I would say this restored Paramount is worth about the same as a weathered original. Not a mint original but one with healthy patina (usually means crazed paint on a Paramount from the '60s).
I've been both overworked and being away from home so long is miserable so some belated Christmas presents have been in order.
How about these:
Wow, a Hi-E rarity of rarities. "36" aluminium spokes on the drive side (18 double sided spokes, 7 cross. That's a 150 gram, 54 hole rear rim! Larry, how many of these do you have salted away? IF I remember, Harlan built the alloy spoke jobs and you had to buy the whole wheel, not the parts. Very few of the 150 gram rims have survived, let alone a set like this. I'd like to find a front skewar if anyone has one. This set will come to the Cirque, but I'm sure not the person to ride these wheels.
The wheels come from Neal of itsamall.com. I purchased a few other nice items and he was extremely easy to deal with in person. About as good as it gets in fact. This is contrary to all the De Rosa back and forth. Just communicate by email or if you need a phone number, email me. He has unusual ideas about Ebaying, doesn't like snipers, close auctions when he thinks he gets a fair price etc. He also wants assurance that direct purchases are not for further Ebay resale. Those are his ideas and that's that. There is a lot of nice stuff in the shop, but I was in a rush.
I looked at the De Rosa. The paint is very thick which does not help. I think it was a one off bike with repairs and additions. The front end looked perhaps altered or repaired, with a little bulge near the head lug. The reinforcing tubes a bit sloppy, maybe added on. My two cents.
Joe Bender-Zanoni
11 more days in Las Vegas