Is this a Schwinn Paramount?
 

I posted this on the "What's It Worth" category but I think it might be answered here as well.

The seller claims it is a Schwinn Paramount that he has repainted. He says it was originally red.
What do you guys think? And what would you say is a ballpark figure for it? It needs a chain and a derailleur cable and looks like some bar wrap.
If I buy I plan on installing components I already have, so I would be mostly buying this bike for the frame set and selling the parts I don't want.
Thanks!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5105/...10d27e5d91.jpg


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5228/...484c8a7049.jpg

No, it's not a Paramount. It looks like a a nice mid-level sport bike that probably went for $500-600 when it was new. The lugwork on most Japanese made frames of that period was quite nice at any price point, but the cut of the lugs, the fork bend, the overall profile, and the visible componentry (seat post and crankset) are wrong for a Paramount.

Thanks for your response.

From what I have read, the Paramounts of that period were only sold as a frameset.

No steel Paramount of any generation ever sported stay caps that look exactly like those.

EDIT: Disregard, see below.

-Kurt

Yes, it is a Waterford Paramount frame, late 80's - early 90's. Built with OS tubeset. Read my comments in your other thread.

Well, the caps do look long, but I wonder if that's a lighting issue. The seat cluster is right for the OS Waterford Paramount frames.

I'll take a shot in the dark. Back in '87-88 I had a buddy that had a Centurion Dave Scott Ironman in that color. That would make it Japanese and the right color, and price point.

Try to get the serial number from the seller.

Where in California are you?

Didn't catch the forged ears; you're right. Where are the top tube cable braze-ons though?

-Kurt

It's after 1:00 in the morning. Why aren't you asleep?

They rusted off. Kinda like what's happening on this one I have:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21...nt_OS_0001.jpg

Or it's internally routed like on an Asian built PDG Series. tugrul makes the case in the other thread: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...winn-Paramount

JYB is right. Seat lugs the same on the Waterford-built PDG OS Paramounts and the Asian-built PDG OS Series Paramounts. Tange OS tubing on the Asian-built models, TruTemper OS and other OS tubing on the Waterford models, I believe.

Bright red could be a 92 Series 2. The decal package and the "soft" red paint tore up easily, and because the decals were very large 1-piece types, once they started to go, the bike's appearance went downhill quickly. If I could get decals, I'd paint mine in a heartbeat.

Dark red could be an 89 Waterford OS, but the decals and paint on that model were hardier, so the need for a repaint would likely not be as great.

Either way, cool frame, someone else already painted it, and it's an excellent rider.
I really like the forks on the Series models. Not so much the crown, but the shape of the legs and the ride.

Because I was trying to ID Campagnolo parts at the same time. Refer to the Whisky Tango Foxtrot thread. ;)

-Kurt

What raises my suspicion is the manner in which the capped seat stays are brazed to the lower edge of the seat cluster. On top quality frames with capped stays, the stays are attached at the more substantial part of the lug, where the top tube is fishmouthed to the seat tube, and level with the seat post bolt, like this.
http://oldfartcycling.org/__oneclick...ount_right.jpg

I wondered about that too, but look at his PDG Series frame:

http://www.pedalroom.com/p/1992-schw...pdg-1964_8.jpg

Not exactly conclusive, but looks lower to me than the image you've got there. Some of the PDG Series owners here can probably provide better photos.

Scooper definitely offered the most sage advice, however. The S/N will tell all.

Because it's an PDG series frame with oversized tubing. The second discussion of this frame in the valuations forum has pegged it already: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...winn-Paramount

-Kurt

Learn something every day. Thanks, Junkyard.