1959? Schwinn Paramount

[Nostalgic Dave]

The really interesting decal is the remaining Yellow/Gold shield decal at the top of the seat tube. It is what's left of a Dealer Decal, likely who originally sold the bike, or maybe even a shop that worked on it. If the lettering was still on that decal, it could add to the history.
John

I'll give it a closer look to see if I can find any ghost text.

 

[Nostalgic Dave]

One question. Is the sprocket currently on the bike a 1/2" by 1/8", or a 1/2" by 3/32"? This would add to Marty's belief that it was used as a road racer with gears and brakes added. The optional drilled fork and rear brake bridge also show the bike was ridden on the road. I think you can see a mark on the down tube where a D/T shifter was bolted.

It was common for racers to like to ride and train on their track bikes, but not everyone had access to a velodrome, so many were ridden on the road. When I grew up riding my track bike, the closest velodrome was 400 miles away. Adding a rear derailer was not difficult. You just used a normal freewheel hub and added the derailer by using a normal "bolt-on" hanger. The hanger was reversed for the rear facing track drop out. A new notch was filed into the hanger for the derailer positioning screw and you were riding with gears.

The interesting thing about old track bikes is to look them over closely and see how "previous owners" used them, they were just Racers, Riden hard, Put away wet.

John

It was dismantled when I got it. Parts included are an Alvit derailleur, Campy cable guides, a Sprint shifter and Sprint rear hub with 5-speed gears laced into the original rim. Luckily the original rear hub was still with it but it has no sprocket on it now. I just took a look at the chaingring to answer your question, and I see now that it has been ground down to be thinner, so it could accept the multi-speed chain to work with the derailleur... bummer!

 

[Sportyworty]

Is this a short frame ?
Head lugs are very close to each other.
I like it !

 

[GTs58]

Is this a short frame ?
Head lugs are very close to each other.
I like it !

It's a 19" frame, or close to it. Smallest diamond frame.

 

[beachcrab]

https://wastyn.com/museum. your frame has the integrated headset. also the lugs seem like you might be looking at something older than the 50's. you may want to contact those guys and see if the might have some ideas... scott wastyn is still around i think. they helped

me with a 30's era bike i was trying to identify...