Paragon Machine Works is a name that may not be familiar to you, but one of their products might be right in your garage. Machined from aluminum, steel, stainless steel and titanium, Paragon Machine Works manufactures and stocks precision made components for bicycle frame builders. They stock the largest variety of titanium bicycle frame building components in the world, plus they offer design development and high volume manufacturing capabilities allowing them to offer competitive pricing.
Founded in 1983 by Mark Norstad, Paragon Machine Works had its humble beginnings in the Marin County basement of his parent’s house with just a lathe and mill. From that basement, Paragon Machine Works has grown into a 6,000 square foot operation in Richmond, California, employing ten full and part-time employees.
Paragon Machine Works manufactures head tubes, brake mounts, dropouts, bottom bracket shells, cable stops, stem parts, frame building tools and much more – all products that are not going to be directly used by end consumers like you and me. These parts are used by bicycle frame builders in the process of welding new frames, but they occasionally are used in the repair end of the bicycle industry – a topic we mentioned a while back in the post Fitness Journal: Fix it, Don’t Trash it. While recently looking into converting an older Moots YBB from to a single speed configuration, titanium Paragon Machine Works’ Flanged Slider Dropouts were specified for the job since they would be replacing the existing and similar Breezer-style dropouts. Most people do not modify a bike frame in this manner, but knowing that the experts at Paragon Machine Works manufacture these types of products comes as a comfort as opposed to a no-name import.
There are a handful of products that the end consumer will find handy… bottle openers with wrenches and candle holders. One specific tool for those single speeders and fixie riders out there is the bottle opener with a 15mm wrench. This opener is machined from scrap titanium and is very functional – not only can it help you get the wheel off of your bike, but you can get the cap off of your beer!
