DavidKos

Hi All,

I have a Schwinn Paramount Track Bike. From the serial number on the left rear dropout (see picture) I think it was built December 1975. It was purchased new, by my father. The bottom bracket broke, many years ago, and was repaired. For some reason, it looks like they replaced the broken bottom bracket with one threaded for left side drive. The bike works and rides fine.

Any idea of the value of this bike?

DavidKos

Not sure why this showed up upside-down? I'll try again.

DavidKos

Am I doing something worn? Here, I'll try to attach the images again:

Scooper

Mid-seventies P14 Paramounts in good original condition can sell for $1200 - $2000. With the repaint, lack of head badge and decals, and configured with the chainring and cog on the left side, the value will take a significant hit.

DavidKos

How significant? 50%?

Scooper

David, this is the 1975 Paramount P14 catalog page with specifications. Note that the bottoms of the fork blades and dropouts, and the seat stays/chain stays near the rear track ends were chrome plated. Sadly, somebody really did a number on that bike.

lostarchitect 

Is it just me or does the full photo of the bike show what might be a tweaked fork?

Even if it's fine, with the repaint and the repair. I dunno. It looks terrible. I wouldn't expect to get more than $500 for it.

repechage

This repainted bike is interesting due to the fork crown, the crown used is from a significantly earlier period. By the 70's as shown later in this thread the crown got really simple an boring.
This bike might be worthwhile to buy a production report for.

The cog on the LH side is a bad idea on this bike with that hub.

zazenzach

WOW, that's crazy! I thought it was just a mirrored image. I've never seen a bike actually have the crank on that side before. What exactly would be the urpose of that???

Scooper

I thought that too. My 1940 Paramount track bike has a "window" crown. Because the crown on the OP's fork looked much earlier, I checked Kurt's "The Headbadge" website Paramount registry and found this 1975 P14 with what appears to be a window crown, so maybe some mid-seventies P14s were delivered with that fork crown. I dunno.



My 1940 fork crown.



Regarding the chainring and cog on the left side, is there any reason the BB spindle and the rear wheel couldn't be flipped so the chainring and cog are on the right side?

5matt

Maybe the fork was switched for one drilled for a brake?

IthaDan 

Chicks dig it.

So, OP, you're the one that painted it, aren't you? If it was originally your father's, it seems like a leap to think it was sold to someone who did this to it, and then you somehow have regained possession. Also, I have NO idea what you're on about when you say 'it looks like they replaced the broken bottom bracket with one threaded for left side drive.' English bottom brackets have different threading on the drive and non drive side. There's nothing special about the bottom bracket taper, so…

Long story short, if you're going to sell it (and haven't kludged the pedal threading), you'd do well to flip the wheel and crankset around. If you don't have a crankpuller or chain tool, stop right there.

Scooper

Maybe so.

Scooper

+1

photogravity

Sheldon Brown's Gunnar Street Dog Left Drive, 3-speed, Fixed-gear Bicycle

howsteepisit

So based on the input here, its either not weird enough or C&V people just don't do weird.

As I am firmly in the no weird camp, I'd say this bike has an as is value of less than estimated, far less. Probably be good for somebody local to be able to really inspect and see if its an odd assembly or a really f'ed up bike. OP to get any kind of value I'd say you have to get rid of the scott drop ins, get the crank and drivetrain on the right side of the bike, and accept that the home paint job detracts 1/2 the value of a Paramount.

Also, who did the repair and what was the nature of the BB "breaking"

DavidKos

The repair was done by The Hill Cycle Shop (in Philadelphia). The shop painted the bike when they did the repair for the bottom bracket. The bike was originally white. My father rode this bike in the street...I think the BB just cracked...don't really remember the specifics.

I was wondering if you could just flip the BB spindle?

No idea why they painted the chrome

I don't know if the from fork is original. Sounds like a possibility that he switched it so he could add a front brake.