Originally Posted by
ParaWK4
Nice bike. I agree with the comments from Scooper and Pastorbob and can add the following. The fork crown cutout and seat stay attachment suggests the 84-86 range. A couple of details suggest things unique to 1984 and those are - Cinelli BB shell (my 84 has one, my 86 does not), if I see the picture clearly, it has cable guides on the top of the BB shell (I think only on the 84), and the derailleur cable stop is on the top of the chain stay. I think Pastorbob has an 84, does yours have these details?? As previously suggested, if it is an 84, it came with the rare rainbow decals. In any case - you have a nice one, enjoy!
Originally Posted by
kalifornsky
Ok, took an exacto to the rear left drop out, serial number is: M8340. Which means, a 56.0 frame made in December, 1983 and was the 40th frame that month? Where was it made?
Tried the ole' righty loosey on the FD band, but all it did was strip it and I am not going to touch it until I find my smaller screwdriver (will have to use regulare since the phillips almost ruined it).
kalifornsky,
as a 1983, it is a repaint, because originally it had the rainbow decals.
This is a shame because Richard Schwinn emailed Yogurt last year about his undated and lacking a serial number Paramount, that there were only about 350 Paramounts with these decals. So they are out there, but not many were built in this style.
These were what were known as the first batch of "Standard" Paramounts. After Schwinn closed down the Chicago Paramount cage the end of 1979, to move the operation to Waterford, WI, the first two years they only made "Elite," or completely custom ordered Paramounts (these are really rare). In 1983 the "Standard" frameset became available. This was still a handbuilt frame, but it came in predetermined sizes and paint colors. They had to be ordered at the local Schwinn shop, which then either sold it to the customer as a frameset, or worked with the customer to build the bike to their component specifications. This is why all of the '83-'84 Paramounts have different components on them. No two are identical.
ParaWK4, I had thought about checking this same detail after I got off the computer last night. I'm glad you thought of it. Mine is a May 1983 built frameset. It has the Cinelli BB shell, the above the BB cable routing, and the top side chain stay stop.
The original owner of mine (technically I'm number 3, but mrmw was the second and he basically prepped it to flip), was a Schwinn LBS owner or manager. He ordered the frameset and then built it with a mix of Campagnolo Record, Gran Sport, Suntour Cyclone, and DiaCompe. I'm not certain why the hodge podge? Someday I hope to live in a flatter place and plan to return it to either all Superbe or all Record. For now, it is ready to climb any mountain NH throws in front of me.
kalifornsky, since the paint on yours is not original, and not in the best shape, I'd say it is worthy of a full restoration. Start saving those dollars! Drit Drop can help you get started by sending you a Ben Franklin for the that very very very rare Gipiemme RD.
Best of luck on your project!
