Restoring a vintage Schwinn Paramount
02-05-20, 07:39 PM
#26
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Drillium,
If the OP will look on the steerer tube the serial number will be stamped into it. Should be a letter and then three or four digits. That will tell year and date/unit of production. Smiles, MH
If the OP will look on the steerer tube the serial number will be stamped into it. Should be a letter and then three or four digits. That will tell year and date/unit of production. Smiles, MH
02-05-20, 08:01 PM
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This may sound silly to some, but when I get something like that, I just want to get to riding it and seeing how I may want to set it up later after some miles. Why not put together a nice set of decent quality but bargain bin used parts and get it out on the tarmac? Just my two cents.
02-05-20, 08:23 PM
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This is a neat thread and lots of love for vintage Paramounts. I just picked up a 1968 Paramount yesterday and I'm looking forward to restoring it.
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02-05-20, 08:40 PM
#29
bocobiking
Thanks.
02-06-20, 07:03 AM
#30
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02-06-20, 07:18 AM
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I would say, don't worry about "correct" unless it's also really a "restoration," and if you want to ride it regularly, it's not. People who bought and owned these bikes altered them to suit themselves. Modern drivetrains especially are so, so much better, even if you string them up with friction shifters.
My own (my Dad's) Paramount is sitting, because I've finally come to accept that the 80mm stem my Dad put on it years ago took it from two sizes too big for him down to one size too big and it's never going to really fit me either. I'm 5ft8 and it's a 23 inch. I just haven't decided what to do with it. My kids might get tall enough but they have no connection to my Dad, he passed when the youngest was 7mo.
My own (my Dad's) Paramount is sitting, because I've finally come to accept that the 80mm stem my Dad put on it years ago took it from two sizes too big for him down to one size too big and it's never going to really fit me either. I'm 5ft8 and it's a 23 inch. I just haven't decided what to do with it. My kids might get tall enough but they have no connection to my Dad, he passed when the youngest was 7mo.
i have four that only would fit my wife, all too small for my kids.
02-06-20, 01:14 PM
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02-06-20, 01:15 PM
#33
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^^^ Wow that's a beauty!!!
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02-06-20, 01:20 PM
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Interesting handlebar choice.
02-06-20, 01:33 PM
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Oh man, I wouldn't repaint that! I don't think you could improve it that much. How's the fork look?
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02-06-20, 02:00 PM
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I didn't know that they were still around. Repainted my Raleigh Pro around 1990 or so. That was the bike that I bought when my Paramount was stolen.
02-06-20, 02:02 PM
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02-06-20, 03:04 PM
#38
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Yeah, Franklin Frame is there, I was at the place about 5 weeks back with a buddy who is having him do some work. Seems like a one man operation at this point in time.
02-07-20, 08:37 AM
#39
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Anyone know seatpost size? I measured 26.5mm, but that is not a real size. It seems that 27.2mm is the defacto standard, so I might pull that one off my Raleigh and see if it fits.
My basement has 6 or 8 bikes in various stages of repair and my wife says that in retirement I have turned into the bicycle junk man. Beats working.
My basement has 6 or 8 bikes in various stages of repair and my wife says that in retirement I have turned into the bicycle junk man. Beats working.
02-07-20, 08:47 AM
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Seatposts are notoriously difficult to measure with calipers. One of these days, I need to buy one of these:
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...8aAucoEALw_wcB
Reynolds 531 DB on a Schwinn should be 27.2
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...8aAucoEALw_wcB
Reynolds 531 DB on a Schwinn should be 27.2
02-07-20, 02:21 PM
#41
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Seatposts are notoriously difficult to measure with calipers. One of these days, I need to buy one of these:
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...8aAucoEALw_wcB
Reynolds 531 DB on a Schwinn should be 27.2
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...8aAucoEALw_wcB
Reynolds 531 DB on a Schwinn should be 27.2
I measured 26.5mm, but not sure if that size actually exists.
02-07-20, 04:49 PM
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02-07-20, 04:54 PM
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Seatposts are notoriously difficult to measure with calipers. One of these days, I need to buy one of these:
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...8aAucoEALw_wcB
Reynolds 531 DB on a Schwinn should be 27.2
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...8aAucoEALw_wcB
Reynolds 531 DB on a Schwinn should be 27.2
02-07-20, 04:58 PM
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02-07-20, 04:59 PM
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I did search on ebay and there are a gazillion campy seatpost diameters out there in 0.2mm increments.
02-07-20, 05:03 PM
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So do you think I should get the 27.2 and work with it until it goes? I was hesitant to try and spread the top with a large screwdriver, but maybe someone used a wrong size post in the last 50 years and tightened to fit. Of course, that would be the diameter at the top, not the entire seat tube.
I did search on ebay and there are a gazillion campy seatpost diameters out there in 0.2mm increments.
I did search on ebay and there are a gazillion campy seatpost diameters out there in 0.2mm increments.
Last edited by merziac; 02-07-20 at 07:15 PM.
02-07-20, 05:38 PM
#47
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bblair Look closley at the slot in the seat lug, Is the slot wider at the bottom than the top? Then it has probly been tightened with the wrong seatpost in it. If the slot is parallel from bottom to top it may have the seat tube braized in upside down,( the thick end of the tube in the seat lug) then it would most likley need a 26.4 or 26.6 post
02-08-20, 08:23 AM
#48
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Did it not come with the fork? If it did does the serial number on the steering tube match the serial number on the left rear dropout? Has the rear dropouts been respaced to wider than 120mm?As we can see from the lugs on the head tube this is a '68-70 Paramount with the less common Prugnat lugs. Since it has the late '70s decals, the white socks on the stays, and the added braze ons for a bottle cage and BB cable carriers (is the mark on the down tube a shifter boss?), it was definitely a re-paint with frame modification at some point in its life. Repainting to match your original stolen Paramount makes a great deal of sense, IMO. Looking forward to how you build it up. Below is a picture of my '71 with the more ordinary Nervex lugs (just for comparison's sake).
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02-08-20, 08:52 AM
#49
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Nice snag! Did it not come with the fork? If it did does the serial number on the steering tube match the serial number on the left rear dropout? Has the rear dropouts been respaced to wider than 120mm?
As we can see from the lugs on the head tube this is a '68-70 Paramount with the less common Boca lugs. Since it has the late '70s decals, the white socks on the stays, and the added braze ons for a bottle cage and BB cable carriers (is the mark on the down tube a shifter boss?), it was definitely a re-paint with frame modification at some point in its life. Repainting to match your original stolen Paramount makes a great deal of sense, IMO. Looking forward to how you build it up. Below is a picture of my '71 with the more ordinary Nervex lugs (just for comparison's sake).
Did it not come with the fork? If it did does the serial number on the steering tube match the serial number on the left rear dropout? Has the rear dropouts been respaced to wider than 120mm?As we can see from the lugs on the head tube this is a '68-70 Paramount with the less common Boca lugs. Since it has the late '70s decals, the white socks on the stays, and the added braze ons for a bottle cage and BB cable carriers (is the mark on the down tube a shifter boss?), it was definitely a re-paint with frame modification at some point in its life. Repainting to match your original stolen Paramount makes a great deal of sense, IMO. Looking forward to how you build it up. Below is a picture of my '71 with the more ordinary Nervex lugs (just for comparison's sake).
Rear dropouts measure 123mm, which is an off number, so either a widened 120 or squeezed 126 set of wheels were on there at some point. Yes, one side shifter boss has broken off, the other is intact.
Wow, so much to learn here.
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02-08-20, 09:14 AM
#50
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Should be a nice 'Mount when you finish it up. Any thoughts on getting the right side shorter boss brazed back? Or are you considering having the left removed and using clamp on down tube shifters?
Maybe one of our frame building and repair skilled members will have some directions or thoughts to help you out.
Please keep us updated as this build progresses.
Bill
Maybe one of our frame building and repair skilled members will have some directions or thoughts to help you out.
Please keep us updated as this build progresses.
Bill
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13