When I wrenched in a Schwinn shop back in the early to mid 70's all the the Paramounts that I saw came with a Brooks "presoftened" Brooks saddle.
I think the factory had some type of roller bar they used on the saddles to help break them in.
Having said that, lots of owners changed over to the Ideale. I replaced my Brooks for a Unicantor stitched suede saddle on my '72 P13-9. I still remember the serial # (J7279) I never really cared for the ride and sold it after about 3 years and got my Grandis.
Keith Kessel Shreveport, La. (azelias in full bloom) USA
On Sat, March 21, 2009 8:18 pm, Jerome & Elizabeth Moos wrote:
>
> On the racing model mid 70's Paramounts, I have seen both Brooks Pro an
d
> Unicanitor. Never seen an original Ideale on a Paramount. You are
> probably right that the original owner installed it, maybe from another
> bike, maybe new just because he preferred Ideale. Not sure I'd remove
> the Ideale, as it is a part of the history of this particular bike, but
I
> will concede that the Brooks Pro is probably more "correct" if correct
> means the way the bike left the factory. I've always found the Brook P
ro
> and the Ideale 90 equally comfortable, but some people do have a strong
> preference for one or the other.
>
> REgards,
>
>
> Jerry Moos
> Big Spring, Texas, USA
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>
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>
> --- On Sat, 3/21/09, accobra <accobra@peoplepc.com> wrote:
>
>
>> From: accobra <accobra@peoplepc.com>
>> Subject: [CR] Schwinn Paramounts & Brooks Saddles?
>> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>> Date: Saturday, March 21, 2009, 8:03 PM
>> I have a low-mile 1974 Schwinn Paramount P15. Everything
>> appears original to the bike, even the tires. BUT, it has an Ideale
>> leather saddle on it. I suspect the original owner may have installed
>> this saddle on the Paramount when he bought it. Makes sense if it was
>> one he'd already broken in.
>>
>> MY QUESTION: Didn't all 1974 era Schwinn Paramounts
>> have BROOKS PRO saddles? Or were Ideales occasionally installed?
>>
>> I have a correct Brooks Pro saddle ready to install, but I
>> don't want to remove the Ideale if by chance it was original equipment
>> from Schwinn.
>>
>> Mark Winkelman
>> Dallas, Texas USA