I snapped a few photos of my Ron Cooper last night. I believe it is a 1977 model. A number stamped in the BB is 721. This frame has been through a few crashes (not mine and at least one, head on into a pole) and has some pronounced scars near the head lugs. It rides great, despite being smallish for me. It is one of my favorite rides. Does it's condition classify it as a beater? If so, most of my bikes are beaters. That's ok, they are a lot more affordable that way. I like buying old, beat-up frames for less than $100, hanging some old parts on and riding them. I don't tend to restore them and never sell them. (anymore. too many regrets from my youth.)
http://albums.photopoint.com/
Note the appearance of not only a club (clover?) cut out on the lower head lug but a club, heart, spade and diamond in the fork blade stiffener. Was that an off-the-shelf frame component used on many bikes or hand done by Ron Cooper?
Paul Lee
Farmingdale, NY