1989 Schwinn Paramount: where was it built?
08-17-17, 08:25 AM
#1
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1989 Schwinn Paramount: where was it built?
I am hoping someone can help me confirm if a late (December) 1989 50th anniversary frame was built in Wisconsin. The frame's seller has provided the following serial # L89260. But this type of serial number appears to be quite different from other 1989 OS paramounts, since there is no 'W' indicating Waterford as the place where the frame was built. The frame is a size 68cm, and the 1989 catalogue indicates that all the 68cm were built with true temper OS tubing (also referred to as 'Paramount Design Group' OS tubes in the 1989 catalogue. Is it possible that this particular frame was built in Japan by Panasonic? Why the dramatic difference in the serial number relative to other 1989 paramounts? The frame is currently on eBay: advertised as a 66cm... center to center.
08-17-17, 09:03 AM
#2
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I don't think Panasonic made Paramount frames. They did make a lot of other Schwinn's. But I may very well be wrong.
You ought to try and get a moderator to move your post the the Classic and Vintage forum. You'll get a lot more views there from people that really do know.
You ought to try and get a moderator to move your post the the Classic and Vintage forum. You'll get a lot more views there from people that really do know.
08-17-17, 09:26 AM
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+1 on moving this/posting in the C&V forum and also emailing Waterford as they have info on older models.
[MENTION=38510]Scooper[/MENTION] is a wealth of Paramount and Schwinn knowledge and may be able to help with the serial confusion.
[MENTION=38510]Scooper[/MENTION] is a wealth of Paramount and Schwinn knowledge and may be able to help with the serial confusion.
08-17-17, 10:33 AM
#5
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+ 2 for the C&V forum. There crew there is very knowledgeable and very helpful. You'll likely get a solid answer in sort order.
08-18-17, 11:29 AM
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Thread moved to Classic and Vintage forum
08-18-17, 11:36 AM
#7
Thrifty Bill
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All the "Schwinnasonics" I have owned (and I have owned a lot of them), have had Panasonic serial numbers, typically on the head tube below the head badge. Panasonic serial numbers from that era are easy to recognize and easy to decipher.
Seller conveniently left off a picture of the serial number. No serial number on the head tube (like Panasonic) and the number above does not match what Panasonic did.
Decals look wrong, lug work looks right, but I am not knowledgeable in that regard.
Seller conveniently left off a picture of the serial number. No serial number on the head tube (like Panasonic) and the number above does not match what Panasonic did.
Decals look wrong, lug work looks right, but I am not knowledgeable in that regard.
Last edited by wrk101; 08-18-17 at 12:00 PM.
08-18-17, 12:04 PM
#8
Decrepit Member
In the early nineties, Waterford began splitting the serial number with the first part of the self-describing serial number on one side of the BB shell and the manufacture date and sequence number (L89260) on the other side (BTW, L is November, not December; the letter "I" was skipped because of the possibility of being confused with "1").
The bike was made in the PDG facility, Waterford, WI.
I would ask the seller to send you a close-up of the bottom of the BB shell showing both the driveside edge and the non-driveside edge.
The bike was made in the PDG facility, Waterford, WI.
I would ask the seller to send you a close-up of the bottom of the BB shell showing both the driveside edge and the non-driveside edge.
Last edited by Scooper; 08-18-17 at 12:07 PM.
08-18-17, 02:19 PM
#9
Decrepit Member
BTW, Waterford reverted to the seventies serial number format (leaving off the self-describing front part with the frame size, fork steerer length, and "W" for Waterford) after the Schwinn bankruptcy and ceasing production of Paramounts for Scott Sports in 1994.
Here is my 2007 Waterford RS-22 which follows the production month, year, and sequence number format. B07014 is the 14th frameset scheduled for production in February 2007. The framebuilder's initials, DW for Dave Wages, is also stamped into the BB shell.
Here is my 2007 Waterford RS-22 which follows the production month, year, and sequence number format. B07014 is the 14th frameset scheduled for production in February 2007. The framebuilder's initials, DW for Dave Wages, is also stamped into the BB shell.
Last edited by Scooper; 08-18-17 at 02:23 PM.
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