help decoding Paramount (?) serial number
#1
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help decoding Paramount (?) serial number
HI,
Any help on decoding this number?
It is supposed to be a paramount E84100 on the cineilli BB and 495 4 at top of bracket
seller says nothing on the rear stays?
Is this a waterford...says columbus sl
yes i did use search but coild not find my answer


Since frame is bare any thoughts on Grouppo?
Would this also be Italian threaded?
No listing for color on the waterford site either...ideas about the paint, its not metallic?
Thanks, Ben
Any help on decoding this number?
It is supposed to be a paramount E84100 on the cineilli BB and 495 4 at top of bracket
seller says nothing on the rear stays?
Is this a waterford...says columbus sl
yes i did use search but coild not find my answer


Since frame is bare any thoughts on Grouppo?
Would this also be Italian threaded?
No listing for color on the waterford site either...ideas about the paint, its not metallic?
Thanks, Ben
__________________
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
Last edited by xiaoman1; 11-29-16 at 03:32 PM.
#2
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,315
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From: Tixkokob, Yucatán, México
Bikes: 79 Trek 930, 80 Trek 414, 84 Schwinn Letour Luxe (coupled), 92 Schwinn Paramount PDG 5
This is what I found. Seems to match the sequence you have. Surely the experts will chime in.
Determine the Manufacturing Date
Capacity Added for the Boom Years
Month Code: This one letter code corresponds to the month with A=January, B=Febuary and so on. Because I is not used, September=J and December=M.
Year Code: This two digit code is the last two digits of the year – 86 is 1986.
Sequence Number: This two digit number represents the nth frame and/or fork scheduled during the month. During the peak of the bike boom, Schwinn would add another digit, sometimes producing as many as 500 frames a month.
For example, H7634 is the thirty-fourth frame or fork scheduled during August of 1976.
Edit: https://www.cyclofiend.com/cc/2006/cc...lubin0706.html
I have an '84 Schwinn LeTour Luxe that came win an '85 paint job. Mfg date April, I believe.
Determine the Manufacturing Date
Capacity Added for the Boom Years
Month Code: This one letter code corresponds to the month with A=January, B=Febuary and so on. Because I is not used, September=J and December=M.
Year Code: This two digit code is the last two digits of the year – 86 is 1986.
Sequence Number: This two digit number represents the nth frame and/or fork scheduled during the month. During the peak of the bike boom, Schwinn would add another digit, sometimes producing as many as 500 frames a month.
For example, H7634 is the thirty-fourth frame or fork scheduled during August of 1976.
Edit: https://www.cyclofiend.com/cc/2006/cc...lubin0706.html
I have an '84 Schwinn LeTour Luxe that came win an '85 paint job. Mfg date April, I believe.
Last edited by seedsbelize; 11-29-16 at 04:38 PM.
#3
Thread Starter
Freshman Member



Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 5,864
Likes: 4,152
From: City of Angels
Bikes: A few too many
This is what I found. Seems to match the sequence you have. Surely the experts will chime in.
Determine the Manufacturing Date
Capacity Added for the Boom Years
Month Code: This one letter code corresponds to the month with A=January, B=Febuary and so on. Because I is not used, September=J and December=M.
Year Code: This two digit code is the last two digits of the year – 86 is 1986.
Sequence Number: This two digit number represents the nth frame and/or fork scheduled during the month. During the peak of the bike boom, Schwinn would add another digit, sometimes producing as many as 500 frames a month.
For example, H7634 is the thirty-fourth frame or fork scheduled during August of 1976.
Edit: CC Bicycle Gallery: Neil Lubin's 1985 Paramount
I have an '84 Schwinn LeTour Luxe that came win an '85 paint job. Mfg date April, I believe.
Determine the Manufacturing Date
Capacity Added for the Boom Years
Month Code: This one letter code corresponds to the month with A=January, B=Febuary and so on. Because I is not used, September=J and December=M.
Year Code: This two digit code is the last two digits of the year – 86 is 1986.
Sequence Number: This two digit number represents the nth frame and/or fork scheduled during the month. During the peak of the bike boom, Schwinn would add another digit, sometimes producing as many as 500 frames a month.
For example, H7634 is the thirty-fourth frame or fork scheduled during August of 1976.
Edit: CC Bicycle Gallery: Neil Lubin's 1985 Paramount
I have an '84 Schwinn LeTour Luxe that came win an '85 paint job. Mfg date April, I believe.
Thanks did not find this site lots of info...I always thought Paramounts had the YMF on the rear stays...wonder what the upper letters/numbers mean.
Thanks again, Ben
__________________
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
#4
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,315
Likes: 903
From: Tixkokob, Yucatán, México
Bikes: 79 Trek 930, 80 Trek 414, 84 Schwinn Letour Luxe (coupled), 92 Schwinn Paramount PDG 5
Now you can figure out if it's an '84 with '85 paint or a true '85. I would guess the former.
#5
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 5,864
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From: City of Angels
Bikes: A few too many
waterford built correct?
__________________
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
#6
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,315
Likes: 903
From: Tixkokob, Yucatán, México
Bikes: 79 Trek 930, 80 Trek 414, 84 Schwinn Letour Luxe (coupled), 92 Schwinn Paramount PDG 5
I don't know, that far back. My understanding is that Waterford split off after the bankruptcy.
#7
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,035
Likes: 2,114
From: NW Ohio
Bikes: 1984 Miyata 310, 1986 Schwinn Sierra, 1987 Ross Mt. Hood, 1988 Schwinn LeTour, 1988 Trek 400T, 1981 Fuji S12-1977 Univega Grand Rally, S LTD, 1973 Sears Free Spirit 531, 197? FW Evans
According to Waterford's site, Ed Schwinn shut down Paramount production in Chicago in 1979. He put Marc Muller in charge of rebuilding the brand and production was resumed in Waterford in 1983.
Under "Self Describing Serial Numbers", the 495 A indicates a 49.5 cm road bike.
Under "Self Describing Serial Numbers", the 495 A indicates a 49.5 cm road bike.
#8
Decrepit Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,488
Likes: 92
From: Santa Rosa, California
Bikes: Waterford 953 RS-22, several Paramounts
E84100 would be the 100th Paramount frameset scheduled for production during the month of May, 1984, at the Waterford facility. This was around the time Waterford began using the "self-describing" serial numbers.
Paramount production began in Waterford in 1981 using the same serial numbering scheme Schwinn had used for Paramounts made in the Chicago factory "cage" during the seventies.
Here's the 1981 Paramount road bike catalog page after the move to Waterford. Note the copyright date in the upper left corner.

This is a 1983 photo of the Waterford facility taken during an "open house" event; Marc Muller is second from left.
Paramount production began in Waterford in 1981 using the same serial numbering scheme Schwinn had used for Paramounts made in the Chicago factory "cage" during the seventies.
Here's the 1981 Paramount road bike catalog page after the move to Waterford. Note the copyright date in the upper left corner.

This is a 1983 photo of the Waterford facility taken during an "open house" event; Marc Muller is second from left.
#10
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Joined: Mar 2014
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From: City of Angels
Bikes: A few too many
E84100 would be the 100th Paramount frameset scheduled for production during the month of May, 1984, at the Waterford facility. This was around the time Waterford began using the "self-describing" serial numbers.
Paramount production began in Waterford in 1981 using the same serial numbering scheme Schwinn had used for Paramounts made in the Chicago factory "cage" during the seventies.
Here's the 1981 Paramount road bike catalog page after the move to Waterford. Note the copyright date in the upper left corner.

This is a 1983 photo of the Waterford facility taken during an "open house" event; Marc Muller is second from left.

Paramount production began in Waterford in 1981 using the same serial numbering scheme Schwinn had used for Paramounts made in the Chicago factory "cage" during the seventies.
Here's the 1981 Paramount road bike catalog page after the move to Waterford. Note the copyright date in the upper left corner.

This is a 1983 photo of the Waterford facility taken during an "open house" event; Marc Muller is second from left.

Regards, Ben
__________________
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
#11
Decrepit Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,488
Likes: 92
From: Santa Rosa, California
Bikes: Waterford 953 RS-22, several Paramounts
BTW, Pompiere is right about the "495 A" indicating a 495mm (49.5cm) frame. The "A" indicates the fork has the shortest steerer tube. My '87 Paramount serial number 620E WK 87077 is a 62cm frame with a pretty lengthy "E" fork steerer. By 1987, Schwinn added a "W" for Waterford to the self-describing serial number. The K87077 translates to the 77th Paramount frameset scheduled for production during the month of October, 1987.
#12
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,035
Likes: 2,114
From: NW Ohio
Bikes: 1984 Miyata 310, 1986 Schwinn Sierra, 1987 Ross Mt. Hood, 1988 Schwinn LeTour, 1988 Trek 400T, 1981 Fuji S12-1977 Univega Grand Rally, S LTD, 1973 Sears Free Spirit 531, 197? FW Evans
I'll almost guarantee it'll be an awesome ride.
BTW, Pompiere is right about the "495 A" indicating a 495mm (49.5cm) frame. The "A" indicates the fork has the shortest steerer tube. My '87 Paramount serial number 620E WK 87077 is a 62cm frame with a pretty lengthy "E" fork steerer. By 1987, Schwinn added a "W" for Waterford to the self-describing serial number. The K87077 translates to the 77th Paramount frameset scheduled for production during the month of October, 1987.
BTW, Pompiere is right about the "495 A" indicating a 495mm (49.5cm) frame. The "A" indicates the fork has the shortest steerer tube. My '87 Paramount serial number 620E WK 87077 is a 62cm frame with a pretty lengthy "E" fork steerer. By 1987, Schwinn added a "W" for Waterford to the self-describing serial number. The K87077 translates to the 77th Paramount frameset scheduled for production during the month of October, 1987.
#14
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Joined: Mar 2014
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Picked it up today with a few other parts....now to decide campy or?
Thanks to all for answering my questions. Ben
__________________
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
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