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Photo Credit: VeloBase User pastorbobnlnh
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Name: | 83-84 Schwinn Paramount |
Brand: | Schwinn |
Badge Type: | Painted or Decal |
Frame Types: | Vintage Lightweights |
Country: | United States |
Years: | 1980's |
Added By: | pastorbobnlnh on 12/02/08 |
Updated By: | JFischer on 12/03/08 |
Additional Photos - click for full size |
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1983 Schwinn Paramount Head Badge Decal, Rainbow Style.
In 1979 the Paramount Group ceased production in Chicago and in 1980 began building purely custom "Elite" Paramounts in Waterford, WI. In 1983 Paramount offered a "Standard" frameset. Only in 1983-84 was the Rainbow style decal used. Richard Schwinn at Waterford Cycles has estimated that only about 350 Paramounts ever used this style of decal.
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Schwinns were made in Chicago, IL USA up until the 1970's. Sometime in the 1970's, the Schwinn Chicago factory was organized by the
United Auto Workers union, who felt that bicycle factory workers should
be paid on the same scale as automotive workers. Unfortunately, the
realities of the marketplace didn't agree, and Schwinn closed the
factory, transferring most production to Japan (Panasonic) and Taiwan
(Giant). Schwinn also built a factory in Greenville, Mississippi, but it
didn't last, and even bought a factory in Hungary, but the deal fell
through, and Schwinn never imported any Hungarian bikes to the U.S.
Pacific Cycle, founded in 1983, designs and markets bicycles and
scooters under several brands, including Schwinn, Mongoose, DYNO,
InSTEP, Roadmaster, Pacific Outdoors, and others. It's also a top maker
of bicycle helmets in the US. Pacific Cycle, which outsources its manufacturing
to China and Taiwan, got its operations in gear by buying Brunswick
Bicycles, Schwinn/GT Corp., InSTEP, and PTI Sports, all within a few
years. Dorel Industries owns Pacific Cycle alongside its popular
Cannondale brand.