In a message dated 6/30/01 12:20:59 AM PST, vahdia@att.net writes:
> The Mirellas were made by an Italian manufacturer from
> outside the bicycle industry, on a whim. Some of them were
> full-on road bikes. The name-plate has a portrait of his
> daughter Mirella, with Big Hair. Crop circles again:an
> inquisitive friend of mine who recycles bikes learned
> the whole story in detail and ran it down to me one day
> when one of the LBS took in a high-grade and immaculate
> Mirella. Keep on Looking.. Seth F.,Santa Cruz,CA vahdia
> >
> _____________________________________________
> Seth et al,>
> Actually I have seen at least one high-end Mirella at American
> Cyclery, Bradley W.s' shop in San Fran. The workmanship, geometry, chroming
> and quirky details led me to put them in the same category as Legnanos of
> the time. Complete with a small rivet Brooks Pro saddle. However, the range
> of models that LERI distributed--Mirella's manufacturer--lead me to
> consider them more like Bottechia, given they had a range of models; lesser
> ones to higher ones. As far as I know they still have their shop in Muggio,
> a suburb of Milano. No, I haven't tracked down a web site.
>
> Years ago, and I do mean years ago, (late 70s) Vince Marazzoti (sp?)
> of the Italian Trade Commission in L.A. gave me the run down on Mirellas. I
> haven't spoken to him in years, so if someone has heard from him recently,
> they may be able to corroborate this story. Actually, LERI has been
> producing bikes since 1898 and are still in business. I understood they had
> some big 100th anniversary affair, and Vince was going to it.
Vince told me that LERI's specialty was actually as a contract tubing
(to Falck)
> manufacturer, and contract wheel (to NISI) manufacturer. I don't know how
> much of a speciality manufacturer they were since most people have never
> heard of them! These are the only two companies I have ever heard linked to
> the LERI/Mirella name, and if I am not mistaken both Falck and NISI are
> down for the count. The only other claim to fame Mirella had was as bike
> sponsor to Gianni Motto's (sp?) team some time in the 70s. Maybe Aldo Ross
> can help us out on this.
The decals that Seth mentions above are fairly acurate. They really
> complete with a Jackie O bouffant hair style that is
> purely Retro enough for anyone's taste. My take on the style is that it was
> early to mid 60s style. In any case, I understood that Mirellas were being
> imported by some bike outfit in Cupertino Calif.
>
> I think someone also mentioned that there was a 1976 decal on a
> Mirella. Interesting enough, the model I saw had a 1972 decal on it. It was
> complete campy NR except for the brakes that were Universal "Super 68s"
> side-pulls ala Cinelli of that vintage. It also had a decal indicating the
> LERI lineage and some sort of family name, "Rinaldi".
>
> I think someone also mentioned that their Mirella used "Was" pedals.
> As many of you probably know, there are no "Ws" in the Italian language.
> However this "Was" outfit apparently was close to the French or Swiss
> boarder and hence the cross-pollenation. What makes this really weird is
> that "Was" pedals used to come with a CAMPY dust cap! The bodacious capital
> "C" on a red background ala those weird Campy Velox rear derailluer pivot
> bolts. Those are Painfully Retro, I am sure. Maybe someone like Ken Denny
> can help us out on this.
>
> Whatever the case, LERI/Mirella also made non-export bikes, I believe
> under the moniker of "FLORY" and/or "Rede' Foss". Has anyone else heard of
> these labeled bikes? Seth is also correct in that the Mirella moniker was
> originally borrowed from one of the proprietor's grand-daughters. Only
> thing now is that Mirella Rinaldi is well over 40 years old, and is the
> President/Owner of the LERI/ Mirella concern. I imagine that if some
> company is going to put your likeness on a bike, you get to be president
> someday? Thats all I can recall about these bikes. Cheers,
> David Anderson