Classic & Vintage - Stem shifters on a Paramount?

I picked up this p-15 on the South Bend,In. C.L.The previous owner had a some original accessories ,including a bag for the back of the seat.He said it came with the stem shifters instead of downtube.There is a Campy bracket holding the cables where downtube shifters usually are.I checked out the components ,etc and all is original.Did the Schwinn dealers change the shifters if the buyer wanted?What would be good looking panniers for this bike?

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii125/vincev_2008/p-15paramountorange3.jpg?t=1246500801
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii125/vincev_2008/p-15paramountorange4.jpg?t=1246500937

I believe stem shifters were an option on Paramounts. So were turkey levers.

Nice looking bike.

Stem shifters were a factory option in the seventies.

Here's the 1972 Order Form. Note that under P15, Item 4, control options, "Schwinn Twin-Stik" is a no extra cost option.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/72porder01sm.jpg

For panniers, I really like the Lone Peak (http://www.thetouringstore.com/LONE%20PEAK/LP%20HOME/TTS%20Lone%20Peak%20Home.htm) line. They're light and versatile.

Sorry for the glare from the reflective strip; I was using the flash.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Waterford%20B07014/CIMG5026med.jpg

That Paramount looks pristine. Not surprising that it has the stem shifters and suicide levers. Bought and parked by the original owner. Nice find!

What were ratchet fingertip controls in item 4?

What were ratchet fingertip controls in item 4?

Bar-end shifters (I've got 'em on my P15).

"Bottom Bar Controls" are downtube shifters.

Specifically, SunTour ones with the Schwinn name on them if it came from the factory with them.

What kind of bottle cage is on the bike?

Wow, that is an excellent looking bike. I guess stem shifters and safety brakes on a Paramount is sort of like getting a Corvette with an automatic. Not a perfect example I guess.

Specifically, SunTour ones with the Schwinn name on them if it came from the factory with them.
Bill, sometime between the printing of the 1971 Paramount catalog and the printing of the 1972 Paramount Order Form, the factory installed bar-end shifters changed from "Campagnolo fingertip handlebar mounted controls ($10.95 extra cost)" to "Schwinn-Approved Ratchet fingertip controls ($8.95)"...

The SunTours were not only better, they were cheaper, too. :D

Well, are you going to change it from the original factory build? I don't know if I could resist!

EastHill's Tiny Paramount is set up with the same shifters and I believe with the brake lever extensions. Converting it to whatever configuration is perfectly fine! Great bike!

If you want smaller bags which work very well with the rack that's on there, I've been pleased with these bags from Nashbar. They come in black. or black and bright yellow.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_166967_-1_201436_10000_201437

http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashbar/products/large/NA-DTP2-K-ANGLE.jpg

Thanks for that info.I picked up another p-15 with Suntour bar end shifters that the original owner said came that way.At the time I thought that was strange.I guess it did.The bottle holder is a "Sprint" Schwinn app.http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii125/vincev_2008/paramount5.jpg?t=1246540701

I'll trade my entire bike collection for your Corvette. :D

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii125/vincev_2008/p-15paramountorange4.jpg?t=1246500937

^
I see two things that I like. #1: Paramount, #2: The '78 (I assume) Continental T.C.

But of course, I'm biased:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/collection_1.jpg

-Kurt

I'm breathing heavily here, guys.

Right on the money on the Lincoln. You have good taste.

Right on the money on the Lincoln. You have good taste.

Ditto for your Paramount. I'd be prying it out of your hands if it was a 23" ;)

-Kurt