Originally Posted by
kobetsang
the seller also sent this information:
"The serial number of the frame is 560H W L85159. From what I can tell about that from research is that it is considered at 56 cm frame, manufactured at the Waterford factory in December of 1985, and it was the 159th frame of the year. I believe at that time they were using a Columbus SLX tubing. I took a look at the tubing decal and copied the following info off of it:
COLUMBUS TUBI RINFORZATI GARANTITI ACCIAIA SPECIALE"
The seller is close, but doesn't have it quite right.
The 560 is the frame size in millimeters from the center of the crank to the top of the seat tube.
The "H" should be a letter "A" through "E", indicating the length of the fork steerer tube. The Smallest frames used "A" forks, while the largest frames used "E" forks. Since the frame size is 56cm, the "H" is probably a "B".
"W" is the Waterford, WI Paramount facility (now Waterford Preciscion Cycles).
"L" is November, not December. The seller probably didn't realize Schwinn didn't use "O" in serial numbers because of the potential for confusion with "0". December is "M", not "L".
85159 indicates the frame was made in 1985, and was the 159th frame made during the month of November of that year. Because the bike was made so late in the year, it is more than likely a 1986 model year bike.
The 56cm frame should have been made with Columbus SLX.
These are really nice bikes (I have an '87 62cm Standard), but usually don't sell for much more that the $500 Pastor Bob mentions. The one you're looking at has rough paint, so it wouldn't command a premium price.
Waterford has several pages of its website devoted to Paramount history starting
HERE. Click on the different pages at the upper left ("Classic Period", "Paramounts in Waterford", etc.) for additional pages.