Re: [CR]Windsor saddle

(Example: History:Ted Ernst)

Date: Tue, 02 Jan 2001 08:50:02 -0500
From: Jerry Moos <moos@penn.com>
To: Bikerdaver@aol.com
CC: twar@hotmail.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Windsor saddle
References: <cb.cd88c47.2782f3b7@aol.com>


I've always favored Brooks/ Ideale leather saddles (my oldest Brooks Pro is now 28 years old and still very comfortable) so I'm no expert on Unicanitor, but I did ride the original Windsor saddle on the Windsor Pro and remember it as being very similar to a genuine Unicanitor. The "Unicanitor Hecho en Mexico" saddle came on an early 70's Follis I recently bought - obviously not original. I never knew such a thing existed. Unless this was outright copyright infringement, I assume Cinelli must have set up a saddle factory in Mexico or perhaps licensed production of the Unicanitor there. I don't remember these being available in US shops. Perhaps they were made pimarily as OEM saddles on the Windsor/ Carabella / Mexican Condor bikes or on the Mexican made Benottos.

Regards,

Jerry Moos

Bikerdaver@aol.com wrote:
> Jerry and Troy,
> Enjoyed reading about your Windsor saddle conumdrum. Both of yours
> information is consistant with what my experience is. I have never seen a
> Windsor saddle like the one you have. I can't even fathom the vintage. I too,
> once owned a Unicanitor Hecho en Mexico saddle, yet it had no "windsor"
> imprint on the side. Speaking of that vintage, what ever happend to the
> Cinelli saddle factory in Mexico? I surely have no idea.
> Believe it or not, but I also have a Unicanitor clone marked "Windsor".
> In all basic configurations it indeed looks like a Unicanitor. Closer
> inspection shows me that it is a Lambertini brand made in Mexico. I have seen
> Unica-copied Lambertini saddles on Bottechias, Fiorellis, and of course
> Benottos. Did Lambertini buy out the Cinelli operations? Again, I have no
> idea.
> I was once told that the Unicanitor Hecho en Mexico saddles were
> extremely inferior products when compared the italian Unicas. Try telling
> that to my butt that has ridden for 20 years on both the Italian and Mexican
> Unicas: no differa'nce. Yes, I still ride the Lambertini Windsor, and will
> continue to do so, as I think I am finally wearing away at the "windsor"
> imprint on the sides. Maybe only one more year and it will be gone, so who
> ever asks me if it is a Unica, I will mumble under my breath in affirmation.
> Cheers,
> Dave Anderson
>
> p.s. "L.BICO" out of Michigan still sells NOS Unica-copy Lambertinis.
>
> In a message dated 12/30/00 1:52:23 PM PST, moos@penn.com writes:
> > Wow, I never saw a Windsor leather saddle before. My 1973 Windsor Pro came
> > with a Unicanitor clone marked Windsor. I also have another saddle marked
> > "Unicanitor Hecho en Mexico", but not Windsor. This leather one is so
> > different, I wonder if it is perhaps completely unrelated to the makers of
> > Windsor bikes.
> > Regards, Jerry Moos
> >
> >--------------------(//////)-------------------------
> > Troy Warnick wrote:
> >
> > > Hello group-
> > > I have a Windsor saddle and no Windsor bike. Does anyone know anything
> > > about this saddle? It is certainly narrow and probably meant for track
> > > racing. The word "Windsor" is stamped into the leather on each side.
> There
> > > is a metal "Windsor" badge on the rear of the saddle as well. You can
> view
> > > it at: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1341051&a=10675206
> > > If anyone out there is in dire need if a Winsor saddle let me know.
> > > Thanks for any info.
> > > Regards,
> > > Troy (Wow, the rain still hasn't really started in Olympia, WA) Warnick