Harris: Here's the version I heard, bearing in mind I only have second hand knowledge. I got this info years ago from Vince Marazoti of the Italian Trade Commission down in LA, CA. Additionally, I have only seen 2 Mirellas before, one in American Cyclery in SF.CA, and one that my cousin had down in Denver, CO. My cousin had nothing but praise for his Mirella. Mirella was a line of bike made by the LERI Company of Muggio, a suburb of Milano. Besides bikes, Leri also made steel tubing used in other industries such as aircraft manufacturing. They used their "in-house" tubing, "Tubi Acciaico Speciali" seamless and butted for their lower and mid-line bikes, vis-a-vis Miyata of Japan. Most likely, this in-house brand tubing received as many accolades as did Miyata's, which was basically none. So in some circles it might be a stretch to consider this Leri tubing as good as Columbus. Their higher-end line was distinguished by embossed/pantographed seat-stays caps, components and possibly fork crowns. These frames were definitely made with Columbus SL as my cousin had this model. The interesting thing about Mirella's placement of the tubing ID decal was that you often found it on the down tube close to the shifters and on the top tube near the HS. I know that I have limited knowledge, but the only other Italian manufacturers that I have seen done this is Bianchi and Legnano. Yes, all the components used on the bikes were always top grade, very similar to the Legnano/Frejus tradition: Brooks Pro saddles, Nisi rims, 3TTT bars/stems, Sheffield pedals, Cornelo clips/straps, Regina FWs/chains, Universal 61 center-pulls or Universal Super 68 sidepulls, and the rest being a range of Campy components from the GS and NR lines. One may want to point out and note that even Cinelli SC models came with the Super 68s up until 1972ish, so the fact that Mirella only used Universal brakes shouldn't necessarily blemish their reputation. One other thing that distinguished Mirella as a true "dyed in the wool" Italian classic was that even their lower end models came with chromed head-lugs, fork crowns, and drop-outs. Furthermore, even their lowest-end model came with nice Campy (GS) HF hubbed/Vittoria sew-up wheelsets. Come to think of it, hasn't the CR List had a "Mirella" discussion before? Lastly, I would add that Mirella would get my vote for number one coolest Head-Badge/Logo. Granted it has been many (15+) years, but I recall it as a shoulder-shot portrait of a woman that was a spitting image of Jackie O, complete with a 1960s buffount hair-do! If anyone on the list has a Mirella, it would be great to see a jpeg of it. Well, thats about all I really know about this marque, other than they no longer were imported to the USA as of 1975. Perhaps this is helpfull to others and yourself. Cheers, Dave Anderson Cut Bank MT
In a message dated 3/8/02 9:27:57 PM PST, bianchipan@yahoo.com writes:
> >Hi folks,read some mutterings about Mirella the other
> day.Bought one in '72-'73 ish.Never really knew much
> about it.The LERI tube controversy sticks in my mind
> the most.What were they exactly in all areas,tube and
> builder?
> >As I recall,the frames appeared so nicely done,and
> they had such good componentry,the people selling and
> buying them wanted to believe that they were Columbus
> tubes.Perhaps they were?
> >Anyone know?Thanks,Still searching for an "unpainted
> GIO's,and Bill Gray!"
> Harris Spracher,
> W'boro,Va.