About 1973, a buddy and I both spotted a strange fixed-gear bike with huge hubs at a gas station in Oregon. After some swapping and conversations, it wound up living with us. It turned out to be a '38 Paramount, the first year they were available, with the original hubs (if not much else original). I've ridden the bike ever since, mostly with an ASC hub Jim Papadopoulos gave me and a trash front wheel. A favorite for not-so-good weather, because I wasn't going to damage anything, and a great friend.
Slowly, I've acquired the rest of the parts. Fred Kuhn of Kopp's cycles gave me some front axles, and a left crank. I found a right crank, and a list member sent me a spare inch-pitch chainwheel. I think I even have a more-or-less presentable "AS" seat clamp bolt and nut.
Last night, I finished boxing it, for the trip to Waterford for restoration. It will soon be "period correct," and beautiful, but there's a sense of loss, too. I just know that she will become much more of a wall queen, ridden just a few times a year, basically retired to being a storehouse of memories and a decorative object. It's not like putting down a dog, but it does remind me of when I recognized that the Old Dog would be a house dog, and never again joyfully race around in the blizzard, while I was out cross-country skiing.
So, anyone have any well-grounded ideas on color? Sam Fitzsimmons' is red, a shade like fire-engine, without a hint of orange. So is Larry Black's Superior, but it is post-War. I don't remember the color on Robert Clair's. I think that red has more dignity and purpose than white.
There's also a spring anchor, a piece of sheet metal hanging below the right chainstay a few inches behind the BB. Osgear? chainstay-mounted plunger derailleur? It's part of the history (and mystery) of the bike, so I think I'll keep it on, but I don't think it is original. Any ideas?
So, we'll send her off, and hope there are enough super-long spoke nipples left at the house to build up the wood-rim wheels. About time, too: those rims have been in the attic for a couple of decades!
harvey sachs
mcLean va