In a message dated 10/7/00 3:41:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Bikerdaver@aol.com writes:
<< I am considering purchase of a 1982 (I think) Colnago Super frame, .......... a 5 digit serial (?) number stamped on the rear drop out. >>
I do know that serial numbers were a big topic re: Colnagos in the middle-to-late 1970s and first years of the 1980s. For that certain period, there were no serial numbers at all. This time frame was the period that Denise delaRosa and Mike Kolin refer to in the Custom Bicycle Book. You may recall they left Colnago out of the book and made non-specific-name reference to his alleged farming out production and not actually making his own bikes. At this time and even later, distribution of Colnagos was chaotic.. West Coast Cycle and Nashbar and Riggio and God knows who had brought in Colnagos and the quality was mixed. I remember Georgio Andretta at Gita Imports in Charlotte tried a batch of Colnagos, complained of poor quality and never brought any more in. When the distribution tightened up and serial numbers finally re-appeared, I remember that was the key to getting warranty claims considered.. If it had a serial number (not just a size marking) you MIGHT be eligible for consideration. If not, you were SOL.
Dale Brown
Greensboro, NC
(Supposed to be in the 50s today!)