I just purchased a Schwinn Paramount Tandem. I was a little thrown by the serial number: JF 76912. At first I thought it was a 1976 bike. However, the bike does not have the curved stoker seat mast like that shown in period brochures for 1976 on the Waterford Cycles site. The dating info for 1970 and later Paramount Tandems on the Waterford site was not completely clear to me.
The bike has a Campy Gran Tourismo rear derailleur, high flange Record hubs, Nuovo Record front derailleur, TA cranks, GB bars and stem, Campy seat posts, Cinelli quilted saddles, Nuovo Record pedals, and Regina freewheel and chains. The seller swears he bought it new from Ben's Cycles on the south side of Milwaukee circa 1972 or so. Review of some other Schwinn sites suggests that the "JF" codes might mean a 1970 build date?
Any help from knowledgeable listmembers would be appreciated.
Jeff Pyzyk
Milwaukee, WI