'61 Paramount progress...
 

Just some progress photos of the '61 with its new fork.

Sorry to say that there's not much else to report on other then the fork, although the observant will note a brand new Weinmann centerpull stop for the front brake.

I do not have the seatpost yet (incidentally, this thing takes a 27.0, not a 27.2), hence the reason why the Brooks B.17 is teetering on the seatpost lug. Looks good though.

By the way, can anyone recommend vintage-looking 700X28C skinwall tires for this machine? Preferably a tyre without directional tread.

Take care,

-Kurt

It looks great, Kurt! It's shaping up nicely.

Thanks, Stan.

So far the project seems to be rolling along quite well, I must say - although I am still a tad miffed about the inner diameter of the new fork's steer tube - it's a 22.2 for the later Cinelli stems, and the Titan stem is a 22.0. Guess it's time to fashion a sleeve from 1mm steel (hobby store should have it).

-Kurt

Thanks for the pictures of your Paramount Kurt. Man, I love those bikes. Keep us up to date with the build.

Bob

It's my pleasure. Will keep everyone posted.

-Kurt

I always have high hopes of finding a Paramount with the nervex lugs at a garage sale...what a beautiful machine :)

My neighbor has an early 90's PDG5 Paramount hanging un-used in the garage; I think it may be too large for moi, but I may just ask about it one of these days...

I just checked my '62 P13. It has a 27.2 seatpost in it. I'm glad you mentioned the Titan stem diameter. I've got an old logo Cinelli with old logo Cinelli Giro d'Italia bars on the bike now, but am getting ready to install the proper Titan stem and Kint/Maes bars on it. My stem measures 22.0 on one axis and 22.2 rotated 90 degrees. I will may need a shim as well but I will test fit the stem first to see how it tightens up.

Nice! Thanks for the update!

Beautiful bike Kurt! All the polished metal and chrome goes so well with that color. :)

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. I wished for a Paramount, and the owner of one of the LBS popped up one night with a load of castoff bicycles for me from the shop - and this '61 was one of them (see below pic).

The project is no longer at the 'nightmare' stage (see vise pics) but it definitely was when I first started it. I don't think I'd do it again.

Interesting. Guess they changed seat tube diameters around the same time they changed model numbers. I'm just hoping that the Campy post that Lurker's got aside for me is a 27.0mm.

Hmm! An ovaled Titan stem, is it? Odd - did you measure it down at the binder? Perhaps it's deformed a bit from being tightened down.

I tried tightening down the stem in the new fork on my '61 for these photos - it seemed to hold reasonably well, but it required a bit more torque then I'd prefer. The original hex head on the binder isn't in such great shape either, so I did play it safe while tightening down. I ended up replacing the bolt with a similar aftermarket replacement (and the wedge from a Raleigh Sports), for the original was too deformed to use once I removed it.


Yes, the Coppertone color is beautiful, although the current state of the paint is somewhat depressing. To think that someone would let this machine deteriorate as it had when I got it...someone even found a way to warp the left hand flange on the original Campy Record front hub...

-Kurt

Keep posting, Kurt! Circa 1960 project bikes with Reynolds 531 frames are great! :)

That's the one that you repainted dark blue, right? Can you spare the original steel crankset for a needy Paramount? ;)

-Kurt

+1
First, that's a beautiful bike Kurt, keep posting all that eye candy. It keeps myself and others motivated. I have the same dream as kevinsubaru. So far I found a 82 Fuji Monterey, 93 Fuji Club, 85 Ross 290S, 83 Trek 560, and a early 90's Cannondale SR500 with headshock. But no Schwinn Paramount. But thanks to Kurt and PastorBob, I'll keep lookin'!

Don't worry, the eye candy will keep coming...but I'm not trading! ;)

I'm not sure if this would fufill that dream for you, but there was a '70s Paramount in Ft. Ladurdale listed a few weeks ago in the Sun Sentenel for $200 - repainted black. Not sure what the number was, for one of the Stingray fellows told me about it. Not sure if it was poorly or properly repainted.

Take care,

-Kurt