Jerry is right. I had been looking at the Scwhinn Lightweight Data Book here:
http://www.geocities.com/
Where it says full chrome wasn't an option.
But poking around the site further, I came on this scan of Schwinn's Paramount Specifications Supplement:
http://www.geocities.com/
Which says it was.
So mine is a 73, no doubt.
Tim --
Tim Fricker Vienna, VA, USA
http://spokesofawheel.blogspot.com/
>
> Don't know what catalogs you're looking at, but I have a 1973 and a 1975
> Paramount, both original, both all chrome. All three of my chrome Paramount
> (I have another early 70's one I haven't finished restoring) have red
> decals, never seen a 70's chromed Paramonut with anything else. My bikes
> don't have red cable housing, including one on which I think the housings
> are original, but it's pretty hard to be certain something like cable
> housing wasn't changed at least once in 30+ years. Likewise the bar tape.
> Personally, I think the coolest look is to have red cable housing and red
> Hunt-Wilde plastic bar tape to match the decals. This may not have been
> catalog spec, but I'd think a lot of them were fitted out that way at the
> original dealer. After all, in the early 70's chrome Paramount buyers were
> paying the then fabulous sum of $500 or thereabouts, so they probably
> wouldn't hesitate to spend a few extra bucks to change out the housings and
> bar tape.
>
> Interestingly, I have a 1962 all-chrome Schwinn Superior, and it has black
> decals rather than red. Don't know what color decals a chrome Paramount
> might have had in 1962.
>
> I don't own a touring Paramount, so I haven't measured them, but I have
> seen a couple "in the flesh". I'm guessing the touring model has a longer
> wheelbase, slightly shallower angles, perhaps more DO eyelets (double vs
> single maybe), and maybe a differently shaped right side chainstay to clear
> the triple chainrings. I've also usually seen the touring model equipped
> with Weinmann centerpulls, so I'm guessing it may have a longer brake reach.
>
> But this is all speculation. I do know that neither the touring nor the
> racing models in the early 70's were particularly radical geometry. So it
> is even possible the frames were identical and the models varied only as to
> the components. One thing I can check. How many DO eyelets does yours
> have? I'll check how it compares to my racing models.
>
> BTW, Waterford, of which Richard Schwinn is a principal, have an extensive
> section of their webite devoted to the history of Paramount. This includes
> serial numbers and pictures of decals.
>
> http://www.waterfordbikes.com/
>
> Unless they have stopped this recently, Waterford will sell you decals
> for classic Paramounts, although they may require you to provide the serial
> number as proof the frame is a Paramount.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
> Big Spring, TX
>
>
>
>
> *Tim Fricker <tymncycle@gmail.com>* wrote:
>
> Hey Gang!
>
> I hope everyone had a great time at Cirque. I wasn't able to make it this
> year, but since next year will be down the road from me, I'll be there.
>
> But on the up side, another Schwinn has come into my life... this time a
> Paramount! (Yes, Marty, that Paramount...) It's a P-15, with the Campy
> triple, Weinmann brakes and levers, including "safety levers" (why, oh
> why,
> Schwinn?), Recod high flange hubs, one original Weinmann rim and one
> replacement Araya. The rear derailleur is a "Scwhinn Approved
> GT-whatever",
> in other words a rebadged Crane, and I think original. Front derailleur is
> a SunTour Mountech, NOT original. The bars are Cinellis with a rather
> short
> stem. The whole frame is chrome, and from 5 feet away looks gorgeous. Look
> more closely and you can see some pitting and such, but for a frame this
> old, I'm not complaining. I was warned by the owner that if I rode it and
> it fit me, I'd want it. Well, I did, it did, and I did... so we cut a
> deal.
>
> A few questions for the Schwinn experts... I've poked around the Schwinn
> Lightweight Data Book online (thanks Bob!), but I still have some
> questions...
>
> The serial number begins with A73, which indicates it was built in January
> of 73, as i understand it. But according to the catalogs and such, full
> chrome was not available that year. So is it a late 72 model, built in
> early 73? Maybe, but then the Crane is curious, because again, according
> to
> the catalogs, the 72 had a Gran Turismo rear. Then again, catalog spec and
> reality often don't jibe, so who knows.
>
> Does anyone know what color scheme the decals would have been on the full
> chrome bikes? So far the pictures I've seen from this era all seem to show
> red lettering, along with red cable housing and bar tape. Is that
> accurate? Or did it vary?
>
> Also, what were the geometry differences between the P-15 and the more
> race
> oriented models? The catalogs are vague here... the only specific
> differences I've seen listed had to do with eyelets for fenders and racks.
> I'm assuming there are other differences.
>
> It's a sweet bike, and I'm really looking forward to riding it. I'll
> eventually swap out the front derailleur for the correct Record (and be
> asking advice there too, no doubt) and try to find a Weinmann rim maybe.
> Oh, the tires are not original.. they are Specilized 27" of some sort.
> Anyone have suggestions for a good period-looking 27" tire? I can try
> Panaracer Paselas, but that's the only one that comes to mind.
>
> This all means I'll probably be sprucing up that World Voyageur for
> sale...
> it's too small for me anyway... so watch this space, Schwinn fans!
>
>
> --
> Tim Fricker
> bikes@vienna, llc
> Vienna, VA, USA
> Recumbents, folders, tandems, commuters, etc.
>
> http://spokesofawheel.blogspot.com/
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
-- Tim Fricker bikes@vienna, llc Vienna, VA, USA Recumbents, folders, tandems, commuters, etc.