Hi Rich ,
I didnt intend to ignore your Paramount. I wrote a long carefully composed e-mail. The computer hiccupped. It all disappeared. Lost! Darn! Then I was called away. Now Im back. This e-mail will be shorter.
Plus, I think now Ill go ahead and post this to the C.R. List.
You wrote, It is difficult to find good quality vintage lightweights in my size. This is one of the reasons I enjoy the Paramounts. For such a large frame, 25" and 26" , they ride exceptionally well, and compared to Italian and French rides they are much easier to find. What I especially like about my '68 P-10 is what may be considered rather rare; and undesirable by most collectors. The frame has the Prugnat lug set, painted and lined in white, and chrome stays and fork ends. This is the only example I have ever seen after searching the net and collecting a vast amount of research photos from eBay and the like. Most Paramounts from '67 to roughly early '69 have chromed Prugnat head lugs. I have never seen another set of painted lugs. Perhaps this was only done in '68?
For information and photos about Schwinn bicycles with derailleurs , made from 1960 to 1979 , always look here :
http://www.geocities.com/
1.) I understand just what youre saying about the Prugnat lugs. Sounds lovely! But yes some would say the Prugnat lugs are less desireable.
2.) And those Prugnat lugged Paramounts do grow on you! I have a 1970 Paramount with those lugs. I had to travel to see it. When I first noticed the lugs, I was perhaps a bit disappointed. But their clean simple elegance does indeed grow on you. I love mine!
3.) This brings up the difference between a Schwinn Paramount , and a Schwinn Deluxe Paramount" . Schwinn changed over to 10-speed bicycles late in 1959, so 1960 was the first full year of the new era of derailleur equipped Schwinns. The 1960 Paramount came one way. But there were many options. In later years there were many different models, but fewer options. The 1960 Paramount came with a chromed steel Stronglight crankset , chromed steel Lyotard pedals , and a Reynolds Aluminium seatpost (seat pillar). However, if you wanted those same components from Campagnolo, they were available as extra cost options. Later (1963?) those same Campagnolo parts became standard equipment on the new Deluxe Paramount. The Paramount with the Stronglight & Lyotard & Reynolds components remained the same, a plain Paramount, without the word deluxe. Finally in 1969 the plain, non-deluxe, Paramount disappeared. From 1969 through 1979 all Paramounts were Deluxe Paramounts.
4.) So, there were those distinct differences in components between the plain, non-deluxe Paramounts, and the Deluxe Paramounts. But there were also differences in the frame-set! The plain, non-deluxe Paramounts had PAINTED head lugs and fork crowns. The Deluxe Paramounts had CHROMED head lugs and fork crowns.
5.) Im not sure what month of what year they started making Paramounts with Prugnat lugs. Im not sure what month of what year they stopped making the plain, non-deluxe Paramounts. But yes, your Paramount is rare. Its one of the first with Prugnat lugs, and one of the last of the P12 , plain , non-deluxe , Paramounts . Fascinating ! Oh, and it would be interesting to know when the laid-down-by-hand paint striping stopped being done at the Paramount shop. I understand it was because the older gentleman (who did it all) retired and was not replaced.
6.) One of my favorites is my 1966 P12 (plain) Paramount. It was made with the full set of Nervex Professional lugs, of course. But its the simplest of all colors. Its plain old refrigerator white. It has the painted head lugs and painted fork crown. The guy who did the hand-pin-striping must have thought it was a blank canvas. He went to a little extra trouble with the striping. Against that plain white paint, the bright red striping really stands out. I love this one. It has scratches, and even has a couple of small dents. It is simple, and was made to be less expensive. But the plain Paramount sold less then, and is much less known now. And that plain simplicity is very appealing today, along with the fact that it is much less common !
:^)
Cheers
Raoul Delmare
Marysville Kansas
U.S.A.