Mark,
Congratulations! Sounds like your dream come true. There are lots of chrome polishes. Flitz, Semi-chrome, Mothers Mag Polish, etc. There will be limitations to what you can do with the chrome, just do what you can and then keep an eye on it.
The numbers stamped lightly in the BB shell give the angles of the tube sockets and the tube diameters of the Nervex BB shell. Lucky you, I thought by '72 the Paramounts were made with the lesser Gargatte BB shells. The 73 stamped in the seat lug is indeed the lug angle. Is there red pinstriping around the lugs in the delicate hand of the old gentleman who striped all the older Paramounts? I believe somewhere in about '72 or'73 the person retired, never to be replaced.
Sorry I can't help you with the crank info. but I'm sure someone else can enlighten you on that subject.
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
And all this from someone who's not really a Paramount fan.
>
> Hello all,
> Since Garry mentioned his new Della, I decided to mention my new
> acquisition too. A while back, you may have read one of my additions to a
> thread saying that I was looking for an all chrome Paramount. Well, I have
> found one (to replace the one I sold a few years after high school),
> basically in my size.
> I picked up the 1972 (seller said it was 73), all chromed with new red
> decals. The size (c-c) is 53 x 56.5. All Campy N.R., except for Schwinn
> approved c-pull brakes that look like Weinmann (I'm not well versed in that
> area). I have wanted to replace my foolish sell of for quite some time, and
> now it's done. Now, I intend to care for this bike for many, many, MANY
> years to come. The chrome is still very good, but might benefit from chrome
> polish as there are a few typical scratches (clamp areas and rub areas).
> Happy - happy joy - joy
> However, breaking the bike down for deep cleaning has caused some
> questions to rise up.
> First, does anyone have suggestions for polishing the chrome? There are
> bits of surface rust that didn't "fingernail" off in the tiny area behind the
> bottom bracket and between the chain stays, and also the scratches I
> mentioned.
> Second, the cranks have no date code (170 Strada). The rings are 52/48!
> The arms are different from what I have seen before. The sides of the arms
> have a larger flat face, seemingly caused by smaller bevels between it and
> the front and back. In addition, the outer diameter of the circle
> surrounding the pedal hole on these cranks is smaller than any I have seen
> before. They measure about 31.5 mm, while every other arm I have measures
> about 33.5. Other sets I measured are: two pre-date code, an 82, and an 84.
> Is there any reason that this set is different? Might they be older? Any
> ideas about the 52/48 rings?
> Third, is there any story to the super long (relatively) top tube? The
> bike has eyelets for racks. Campy long rear drops and front drops.
> Non-drive side rear drop is stamped with the Schwinn numbers: L 72 (5?).
> Bottom shell is stamped with the Nervex label with an additional set of
> numbers. They are very lightly stamped toward the beginning and the end, so
> I can only give a partial, and not so sure account:
> _ _ _ 64*022253C The asterisk in the 6th position is actually a sign for
> degree. The third "2" is italicized, and is written smaller, like a "lower
> case number". Also there is a 73* (a degree sign) stamped into the seat lug,
> between the drive side stay, and the seat binder clamp, seemingly
> representing the seat tube angle. I hope I wasn't too specific here. I have
> an Imron Red 73 that only has the drop out serials, and a "P2" in the bottom
> bracket.
> Any help will be appreciated!
>
> Best regards,
> Mark (I can see my reflection) Agree
> Detroit MI