rhenning

If you contact Richard Schwinn at Waterford they do Paramount serial number searchs and have all the original records that exist. They do charge for this as it takes time to do it. Yes that THE Schwinn family and that is where the Paramount factory ended up. They also repaint and restore bikes as well as make new Waterfords. The is my friends Dec 1967 dated 1968 model Paramount that they repainted to give you an idea of their work. Roger

bikingshearer 

I agree that the serial number on the left rear drop out is conclusive. The numbers on the seat lug and the BB shell are Nervex part numbers (identifying angles) that the folks in the Cage didn't bother to file out in 1960. Hey, in 1960, bike were for riding, not staring at.


You can get a provenance report from Waterford for $50. I heard that directly from the mouth of Richard Schwinn a couple weeks ago. I'm sure there is info on how to order one on the Paramount page of the Waterford website. It won't tell you about any repaints or other work done somewhere else later (don't know if it would tell you about resprays at Schwinn or Waterford itself) but it would tell you what model it was, the original color, probably the original components, and any unusual/custom things about it.


Your dad clearly built that bike up to ride, not to be a show piece 50+ years later. Good for him. I'd also say he was looking bang-for-the-buck in choosing components, not bling status. I think he made some great choices. There is someone out there - and probably more than one someone - who will love that bike as is and would be delighted to get it out on the road.


Thanks for sharing this with us. As you can tell by now, most of here are pretty always jonesing for phots of such time capsules.

tornai

Hi Holly,

Could you give us an update on the Paramount - did you end up selling it. I have a 1969 Paramount in nice original condition I'm getting ready to list (also in Oregon).

Rob

2cam16

5 years from the grave.

tornai

Maybe it still for sale??

merziac

Welcome aboard, glad you found us, you're in the right place.

I would be surprised if Holly still has hers or responds after this amount of time but you never know.

We'll be glad to help you but we need pics, good ones and plenty of them, you need 5 posts X 2 days for 10 posts to post the pics.

You can also add them to your album on your home page and they may get moved here.

We love Paramount's, I have 6.

In the meantime tell us about yours as Holly did, the more details, the better.

tornai

Thanks for the welcoming reply. I believe I have a 1969 Paramount (serial # F948) with original paint and decals. It's in nice shape and apart from the Weimann (Schwinn Approved) brakes the rest of the build looks to be Campagnolo Nuovo Record with Campy bar end shifters. I've created an album on my profile and have uploaded a number of pictures. This bike came from the private collection of a fairly successful professional race car driver from the 1960s-80s, Monte Shelton who was from Portland Oregon. Monte raced in the Porsche Cup series in the mid/late 70s and the other bike I got from Monte is a seemingly unridden Steiger (German) with Porsche Cup '77 decals as the main branding.

merziac

Excellent, great start.

Had no idea Monte Shelton was a cyclist/fan/collector, plenty familiar with him, learn something new every day.

Lots of Paramounts have/had the Weinmanns, often with the "safety" turkey levers, Schwinn called them "dual position" and seemed to be a big fan of them while most of us think they're crap.. You will see some with Twin Stik shifters as well.

Especially with Paramounts, they could be ordered with just about anything or changed at the dealer, almost nothing was off the table.

pastorbobnlnh 

Pic Assist:

A very fine-looking Paramount ! Even with the modifications of the sprung vinyl saddle and upright bars. Everything else appears to be original. The paint looks to be in amazing condition for its age. You found a real gem. Welcome to BF and C&V.

tornai

I added an Album with a few pics from Monte's car showroom where he had some of his bike collection on display. This included: 1896 Columbia, an 1895 Sterling, an Ordinary and a Schwinn Wizzer. There was a post about Monte's bikes back in 2008 but I can't post the link until I have more than 10 comments logged.

merziac

You're halfway there.

Plenty of Paramount threads to comment on.

here's a couple of mine.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-p-12-a-3.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...l#post22538543

merziac

Campy bar ends are interesting, as are the upright bars. Do you know if Monte bought this new, it came from Kissler's so it is likely a Portland bike although it may have been just serviced there.

79pmooney

@HollyInOregon, if you are anywhere near the Portland area watch for classic rendezvous (plural and my French is slipping) loosely arranged by the likes of @gugie and @merziac. Yesterday one happened with an early '70s Zeus, an Alex Singer and a few more gems. One member was riding an early '70s gorgeous Bob Jackson for its first ride as his bike, acquired that morning from one of us. The Singer came from another member of the circle who passed it on to its current owner (caretaker). Bring your bike. It's gorgeous. It fits with that crowd and you might well find the person who really wants it.

Love your bike. That chrome on the Nervex lugs - yes! Maybe my Mooney is supposed to get its logs polished and chromed for its next paint job. Just got painted and the lugs pinstriped. (1985, 2022, so 2059? A next lifetime project.)

repechage

I have one, but I own 13 Masi

merziac

How many Merz's?

machinist42

OP's Album.

tornai

I got connected through a mutual friend who lived in the same neighborhood (Alameda) as Monte but don't have any details around when or where he purchased the bike although the Kissler's sticker is a good clue!

repechage

Not on my list.

HollyInOregon

Yes, I sold both Paramounts and a bunch of other bikes and parts to a collector.