I had a bike exactly like the ebay bike- I mean exactly, in the shop I managed, brand new in1974. The Mafac brakes were correct for that year. I'm not sure about the saddle (a Unicanitor maybe?) and the rims and skewars have been changed. These Mondia Specials, dare I say it, have a lovely ride. The condition looks wonderful and I am so glad it is 1 cm too small because I am a compulsive purchaser of Swiss bikes. 2 Mondias, 1 Cilo, 2 Allegro frames and a pre-WW2 Sieber track bike. They all have a very special ride quality but hmmm- does this have anything to do with the fact that I lived in Zurich until age 5?. Couldn't be.
Also I would comment that Swiss bikes have a sort of workmanlike way of being put together. Never sloppy, but not inordinately finished. Paint and graphics are often very showy. Extremely consistent in terms of alignment and basic quality. Never consistent in terms of threading, even on the same frame. French headset but takes 22.2 stem. British, French and Swiss BB threading- who knows. The Allegros and Mondias are a cut above the Cilos. That being said, a very plain Cilo I have is my #2 rider. I have never seen a Tigre which is another prominent brand. Most of these bikes were built for the domestic market and imported to the US sporadically. Sieber is an elite bike and component maker in a seperate class (think Zurich 6-day) and I suppose gone by the1960's.
Joe Bender-Zanoni Hoping to mop up when Dale declares the next Cirque theme to be Swiss bikes
> Hi, Jon, and those who is interested in Modia of Swiss;
>
> I own 2 Modia's and I would like to quate some article from BICYCLING
Magazine
> Road Test, January 1977 issue by Gary Fusher;
>
> << Although Mondia, a Swiss company, dates back to 1918, they didn't
> producetheir first buctcles until 1933. Shaortly after, 1936 un fact,
they
> sponsored their first
> racing team. What auspicious start: that very first year a Mondia rider
won
> the Tour of Switzerland. Mondia has been very active in racing ever
> since,and thier bikes
> have become a standard for nothern Europe.
>
> Mondia produces thrree quality frames: a criterium model, a touring model
and
> a
> cyclo-cro9ss model........>>
>
> If anyone is interested in this article I can make a photo copy and e-mail
> request off list to heumax@aol.com.
>
> The Presitige is the top line and Special. the Cyclo-Cross mode is
actually
> a bit more expensive than Special. One in this ebay auction has Mafac
brake
> caliper, but original
> equipment is Universak Super 68 for "Special" and Campy for "Prestige"
The
> Cyclo0Cross mode has Mafac cantilever.
>
> One I have is the Special model, and I think it is as good or better than
> Raleigh Pro!
> Also, parts only worth over 400.00 or more hope you can get it at
resonable
> bid.
>
> Good luck bidding!
>
> KEN TODA, High Point, NC