I do see a serial number...very faint. ?8358

Interesting. It just dawned on me that top tube cable routing and braze-ons were a thing on the '83. Still over-the-BB routing though.

Side note - the fork crown on the production unit isn't the same as the one in the catalog (EDIT: trainman999 nailed it - that's a 1984+ Paramount fork crown). Catalog has the same Tange fork as the Super Sport. Also, that's the earlier '81/82 yellow badge on it. Would be really interesting if that's a 2 or a 3 in that first digit.

Have any friends with an X-ray?

-Kurt

A flash photo might lift it out...

Looks like a Waterford built frame.. Chain, seat stay, and fork junction finished like a Paramount. can you get us a few picts of that serial # from different angles so we can play with them in photo shop ?

I would agree, the finishing joints on the rear stays are basically identical to my '83 Waterford Standard. Also the paint, the lugs, the fork crown, the seat tube stays and the point at the top of the collar, the cable routing and the RD stop, and the left rear drop out SN burried in deep paint--- all hallmarks of an early Waterford Paramount.

Can we call this one a "Baby Waterford?"

Now that you mention it, there isn't anything on it that doesn't look like one of the 1981-1983/4 Paramounts. Those had over-the-BB cable routing, unlike the 1984+ models.

I thought I'd seen it all, but this is literally a Paramount in disguise as a Superior.

Note this example from Richard5158 in a recent discussion - same clogged up paint, all frame details match up except long Campagnolo dropouts and water bottle braze-ons (presumably because it's the touring model - the Superior is a closer match to trainman999's Elite): Paramount touring questions

-Kurt

This is certainly an interesting wrinkle to the already interesting 81-83 Superior saga.

I'll see if I can get a pic of the serial # area tonight. It looked like the 4 numbers were together and there was a letter before (K or W?). Definitely kind of a weird story...I need to get this thing on the road.

serial # is K8358 ...confirmed by 17 yo daughter with eagle eyes. Very difficult to see, and photo but at the right angle it’s there.

Interesting Superior by paint and decals, Paramoint by serial and details?

So late in the year I wonder if it was a warenty replacement?

"K8358" fits with the SN format found on my 1983 Waterford Standard Paramount, which is "E8337" and used the Chicago Paramount SN scheme before Waterford switched to the self describing under the BB shell SN scheme in late 1984 and early 1985. In Bogester 's Superior case it would indicate an October 1983 build and would be the 58th frame that month.

This is an interesting addition to the whole end of the Chicago Cage Paramount to Waterford Paramount story with the Maitland built Superiors and Waterford made Superiors. Bogester's frame has nearly all the hallmarks of my '83 Waterford with the exception of a chrome plated right chain stay and dropouts.

Have we found the "missing link"?

If nothing else, we've definitely found the very first Superior that's a Paramount, instead of the other way around

-Kurt

If that's the case, then this thread has truly gone full circle.

This might be one of the few serial numbers worth paying Richard Schwinn for the backstory on.

(Though I still think the resulting paper will be a disappointment).

-Kurt

I’d be happy to do that. The story’s not full circle though until I take it for a spin! Stay tuned.

Greetings, It took awhile but the mysterious 83 Superior is on the road. I contacted Waterford for a report but they only have them for earlier year Paramounts. Richard Schwinn did think it was as likely a Waterford build…serial # fits in the Waterford Paramount range. I’ll post a separate post with built up pics.