Schwinn Paramount identification and appraisal
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Schwinn Paramount identification and appraisal
I only have the one picture from the seller and have not been able to find the year/model in online catalogs. I know there are different series but all I can make out is the PDG. Looks like maybe Dura Ace on the back but also unclear. Information on the model, year, and value would help me in making a decision.
#2
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26424 Post(s)
Liked 10,380 Times
in
7,208 Posts
.
...afaik, all the PDG Paramounts were produced in Japan or some place else in Asia (depending on the series # ?). There are probably people here more expert than I am about them, but they sold originally at a considerable discount versus an American made Paramount of the same year, and that has tended to keep down the resale pricing over the ensuing years. I have had one of them, and it was a fine riding bicycle, but it was a very different bicycle than a Waterford made Paramount.
I see them for sale here for prices that approximate some of the same vintage Specialized Allez bikes.
Most of those bikes that were set up with the aero bars were owned by Tri-athletes, here where I live. So in general they show up used without much wear and tear. That does appear to be set up with indexed Dura Ace, which is a very high quality system. I think it might be my favorite, of the indexed systems. That would probably be a $600 bicycle on the NorCal Craigslist, given its condition.
...afaik, all the PDG Paramounts were produced in Japan or some place else in Asia (depending on the series # ?). There are probably people here more expert than I am about them, but they sold originally at a considerable discount versus an American made Paramount of the same year, and that has tended to keep down the resale pricing over the ensuing years. I have had one of them, and it was a fine riding bicycle, but it was a very different bicycle than a Waterford made Paramount.
I see them for sale here for prices that approximate some of the same vintage Specialized Allez bikes.
Most of those bikes that were set up with the aero bars were owned by Tri-athletes, here where I live. So in general they show up used without much wear and tear. That does appear to be set up with indexed Dura Ace, which is a very high quality system. I think it might be my favorite, of the indexed systems. That would probably be a $600 bicycle on the NorCal Craigslist, given its condition.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Menomonee Falls, WI
Posts: 1,834
Bikes: 1984 Schwinn Supersport, 1988 Trek 400T, 1977 Trek TX900, 1982 Bianchi Champione del Mondo, 1978 Raleigh Supercourse, 1986 Trek 400 Elance, 1991 Waterford PDG OS Paramount, 1971 Schwinn Sports Tourer, 1985 Trek 670
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 604 Post(s)
Liked 1,064 Times
in
535 Posts
Not all PDG Paramounts were made in Asia, only the series bikes were. That is a Waterford built PDG Paramount, and from the color, probably Intense Red, and the decals, I’d say around early 90s for the build year, get the serial number if you can, then you’ll know for sure. This is not a series bike, and on the left chain stay will be the script, DESIGNED & HANDCRAFTED . WATERFORD WISCONSIN. I have a similar one in a darker shade of red.
Tim
1991 Waterford PDG Paramount
Tim
1991 Waterford PDG Paramount
Last edited by tkamd73; 06-16-21 at 07:25 AM.
#4
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26424 Post(s)
Liked 10,380 Times
in
7,208 Posts
.
...thanks, I did not know that. That certainly makes it worth more.
...thanks, I did not know that. That certainly makes it worth more.
#5
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,858
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 192 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2930 Post(s)
Liked 2,927 Times
in
1,492 Posts
what’s with the weird placing of the Columbus decals? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one on a seat stay
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Menomonee Falls, WI
Posts: 1,834
Bikes: 1984 Schwinn Supersport, 1988 Trek 400T, 1977 Trek TX900, 1982 Bianchi Champione del Mondo, 1978 Raleigh Supercourse, 1986 Trek 400 Elance, 1991 Waterford PDG OS Paramount, 1971 Schwinn Sports Tourer, 1985 Trek 670
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 604 Post(s)
Liked 1,064 Times
in
535 Posts
I agree on the Columbus tubing decals, there are too many, with odd placement, and the early 90s Waterford OS bikes according to the their website, are TruTemper OS tubing, not Columbus. I wonder if they are just stuck on over the clear coat, they definitely don’t belong on that frame.
Also no OS decal on the seat tube, so possibly a repaint. My original paint Waterford PDG OS frame has no tubing stickers on it.
Tim
Also no OS decal on the seat tube, so possibly a repaint. My original paint Waterford PDG OS frame has no tubing stickers on it.
Tim
Last edited by tkamd73; 06-18-21 at 09:34 AM.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,447
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4236 Post(s)
Liked 2,949 Times
in
1,808 Posts
Yeah, the columbus decals definitely look wrong.
#9
Full Member
I think that bike is an SLX bike, it has the flater fork crown on it , The OS Bikes have the semi sloping crown like tkamd73s bike. You would have to mesure the tubes to be certain.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Menomonee Falls, WI
Posts: 1,834
Bikes: 1984 Schwinn Supersport, 1988 Trek 400T, 1977 Trek TX900, 1982 Bianchi Champione del Mondo, 1978 Raleigh Supercourse, 1986 Trek 400 Elance, 1991 Waterford PDG OS Paramount, 1971 Schwinn Sports Tourer, 1985 Trek 670
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 604 Post(s)
Liked 1,064 Times
in
535 Posts
That would explain the lack of OS decal on the seat tube, still a few extra Columbus stickers, at least on the seat stays. Good catch on the fork crown.
Tim
Tim
#11
Senior Member
Are you guys nuts? Where are all the Columbus SLX stickers? The only thing I'm noticing about the bike is the cool size. Looks perfect for somebody around 5'10" to 6' tall.
#12
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26424 Post(s)
Liked 10,380 Times
in
7,208 Posts
Likes For 3alarmer:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Menomonee Falls, WI
Posts: 1,834
Bikes: 1984 Schwinn Supersport, 1988 Trek 400T, 1977 Trek TX900, 1982 Bianchi Champione del Mondo, 1978 Raleigh Supercourse, 1986 Trek 400 Elance, 1991 Waterford PDG OS Paramount, 1971 Schwinn Sports Tourer, 1985 Trek 670
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 604 Post(s)
Liked 1,064 Times
in
535 Posts
Yeah, me too apparently!
Tim
Tim