Originally Posted by
redtires
Just my bet.....there is no way in anywhere that is a Paramount. Decals are wrong, lugs are wrong...everything is wrong and IIRC the head badges were still riveted on at that time, not stuck on with adhesive.
The head badge on this one is secured with screws. I believe I can see them. Paramount head badges like this one were used on the '60s-'70s bikes, and always used screws until they switched to head badge decals in '83. They looked like this:
From late '80 until early '83 only custom ordered "anything goes" Elite Paramounts were built. I have seen a handful and they all had the '60s & 70's era head badge, and the simple looking Henry James investment lugs. Also the downtube decals looked different then any other style (although I doubt they would be installed on an angle).
See this link about the 1980s and Paramount's move to Waterford, WI. Unfortunately it does not show the decal style I was thinking I remembered.
http://www.waterfordbikes.com/site/c.../para_8090.php
I believe it is an early '80s Paramount that was repainted with a homemade "Paramount" down tube decal and whatever other decals could be found at the local Schwinn dealer.
BTW, the serial number on my '83 is on the left rear dropout, and uses the same system as the '70s bikes.