Classic & Vintage - Vintage Parmount on St. Louis Craigslist

I saw this while browsing my local area Craigslist. No picture but it sounds like it could be pretty cool. although probably not cheap. I hope someone here gets it because I would like to see a picture. I have pasted a copy of the add without the contact information and the link. And no this is not my add.
I HAVE OWNED THIS SCHWINN PARAMOUNT FOR OVER 50 YEARS. MY FATHER ONCE OWNED A BICYCLE SHOP AND TRAINED YOUNG MEN TO RACE BICYCLES. I HAVE RETIRED AND MOVED TO A VILLA AND NO LONGER HAVE ROOM TO STORE IT. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND IT A GOOD HOME WITH SOMEONE WHO WOULD LOVES OLD BICYCLES AND WOULD CHERISH IT AS I HAVE.
IT HAS ALUMINUM WHEELS, RACING HANDLE BARS AND FIXED GEARS (NO BRAKES)
BLUE WITH CHROME LUGS.
I HAVE NOT RODE THIS BICYCLE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS AND HAS BEEN STORED IN A DRY PROTECTED AREA.

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/bik/276790434.html

later

Mud

I am going to look at this tomorrow AM. Sent him an email and he called me. Pictures and a full report. From his description, it is a track bike and it actually belonged to his father. I tried to narrow down the age of the bike and I am thinking it is early 60s. If someone wants to give me a quick primer on Paramount serial numbers, PM me.

http://www.waterfordbikes.com/site/company/para_dating.php

http://www.waterfordbikes.com/site/company/para_dating.php

Thanks. Went there after I posted here.

I went to see the bike today. I knew going in I could probably not afford what they would want, but wanted to see the bike for myself. I ended up helping them by identifying components, measuring the frame, and sharing what little I knew about Paramounts. I realized last night that the bike had to be older than I originally thought. The seller recalled being 14 and his dad had the bike then. That would have been 1951. Take a look at the Schwinn portion of the CR website. This bike is close to the first bike shown, but I do not think it is that old. Serial number places its 1939 to 1959, but again the seller recalls it being around in 1951.

http://209.190.31.210/gallery/d/203895-2/P2112348.JPG

Go here (http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/v/CV-6+Enterprises/Paramount/) for more pictures.

EDIT: They are auctioning it off at this link. (http://www.schwinnparamountbikeforsale.blogspot.com/) They tell me they already have a $1000 bid. And yes those are my pictures they are using.

EDIT: Now $1350. Any guesses on how high? They have a reserve in mind and I do not know what it is.

Wow. I love the top hat decal and the bar/stem combo.

That is a thing a beauty. It belongs in a museum

It was kind and gentelmanly of you to help him out and avoid ripoffs. Nothing would surprise me on the auction price. Very nice bike. Love the decals, especially the Paramount script.

I think it's beautiful, and I'm not even a track/fixie/single-speed fan.

It could go for the $3000.00 or higher mark, considering it's fine condition and rarity/heritage.


I am completely smitten by that bike, by the way.

Words fail me. Beautiful.

WOWOOWOWOWOWOW! I would love to have that bike. Museum??? Heck I'd ride it - that's what it was made for.

It could go for the $3000.00 or higher mark, considering it's fine condition and rarity/heritage.


I am completely smitten by that bike, by the way.

I'd say it could go for well over 3k on ebay, maybe mid $2000s the way it's being sold.

Positively Beautimous!

Stunning.

It's amazing what turns up in someone's basement or hanging in garage rafters.

CV, did you have any guess for how much the owner would've taken for the bike in person ?
did you even make an offer ?
it looks like the sort of bike one can't afford to pass up !

Just to note....I don't think it's entirely original. The Paramount decal is much later era (came after the early 60's Disney font I think) & I think the rims are later as well. It's still super cool and easily worth $3000 on the open market.

The decals are correct for the pre-Nervex lugged Paramounts. Technically, the hubs should probably be the large flange Paramount if original, but as track bikes were competition machines, anything is possible due to rider preferences. My 50s Paramount track has wood rims.

CV, did you have any guess for how much the owner would've taken for the bike in person ?
did you even make an offer ?
it looks like the sort of bike one can't afford to pass up !

I made no offer as I knew they would want more than I could afford to offer. Personally I think Ernie would have sold it to me for less, but his wife is determined to get value for it. When I talked to them, I told them up front they could probably get a major chunk of change for the bike. The way I described it once I saw it was, "This is the kind of bike that if you showed up with it at a track, people would be flocking around it."

re: The hubs. Front is a Racelite, the back was marked Ayliss and is a flip-flop. Ernie, who BTW was a junior state champion in the early 50s, had a white one. He said his had wood rims. Ernie showed me a program from the Century Road Club of America dinner that featured him on the cover.

Ernie's father (Ernie, Sr.), whose bike it was, was of Belgium descent and spent some time with his parents in Belgium. When he returned to St Louis, he brought back his passion for cycling. He had a small shop in St Louis and for some time was president of the Century Road Club of America. Now whether he was local president or national president, I am not sure. Ernie shared his father's scrapbooks with me and they were a treat. I am hoping they will scan the books to share them.

Lynn, you're good man! They deserve to get top dollar for their family heirloom. You helped them along the way. Maybe they could let you ride it before they let it go to the owner. Although it looks like torture to ride in the drops.

Hey CV do you know what this thing ended up going for? Just curious.

Mud

Hey CV do you know what this thing ended up going for? Just curious.

Mud

I asked and have not received an answer. I may not get one. I don't know if it was reported, but the reserve was $2000 and there were 13 bids over the reserve. $3K would not surprise me. Looks like Eddie will get his big screen.

not to hijack this thread but hey cv-6 , did you happen to go to the swap meet jan 28th in stlouis?i wanted to go but was busy and totally forgot about it.

Lofter...check your PMs.

All I am going to be able to say about the Paramount is that it went to Chicago.

All I am going to be able to say about the Paramount is that it went to Chicago.
Well, that is fitting, IMHO; it's back where it was born.