On the racing model mid 70's Paramounts, I have seen both Brooks Pro and Unicanitor. Never seen an original Ideale on a Paramount. You are probably right that the original owner installed it, maybe from another bike, maybe new just because he preferred Ideale. Not sure I'd remove the Ideale, as it is a part of the history of this particular bike, but I will concede that the Brooks Pro is probably more "correct" if correct means the way the bike left the factory. I've always found the Brook Pro and the Ideale 90 equally comfortable, but some people do have a strong preference for one or the other.
REgards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA
> From: accobra <accobra@peoplepc.com>
\r?\n> Subject: [CR] Schwinn Paramounts & Brooks Saddles?
\r?\n> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
\r?\n> Date: Saturday, March 21, 2009, 8:03 PM
\r?\n> I have a low-mile 1974 Schwinn Paramount P15. Everything
\r?\n> appears
\r?\n> original to the bike, even the tires. BUT, it has an
\r?\n> Ideale leather
\r?\n> saddle on it. I suspect the original owner may have
\r?\n> installed this
\r?\n> saddle on the Paramount when he bought it. Makes sense if
\r?\n> it was one
\r?\n> he'd already broken in.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> MY QUESTION: Didn't all 1974 era Schwinn Paramounts
\r?\n> have BROOKS PRO
\r?\n> saddles? Or were Ideales occasionally installed?
\r?\n>
\r?\n> I have a correct Brooks Pro saddle ready to install, but I
\r?\n> don't want to
\r?\n> remove the Ideale if by chance it was original equipment
\r?\n> from Schwinn.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Mark Winkelman
\r?\n> Dallas, Texas USA