Stevan Thomas wrote:
>
(cut)
> Here's another wrinkle in the puzzle. The batch of frames from Matteo, badged
> Montelatici, that were built by Cinelli are as follows:
>
> Recessed fittings and STANDARD reach brakes
> 120mm back end
> 1010a long drop outs
> Braze on cable guides on the top of the shell
> Cinelli pressed lugs and sand cast shell
> No top tube cable braze ons
> One set of bottle mounts
Not a puzzle at all in my opinion. The bike you are describing above
looks to be just a conservatively spec'd racing frame from the late-70s.
The 120mm spacing was typical through the mid to late 1970s.
> (cut) From conversations relayed through Matteo, I gather that Sr. M. would
> just call and say, "send me these sizes..." If that's the case then the
> specifics of the spec's were up to Cinelli and would probably reflect
> whatever their "latest" build spec was as related to the rest of the industry
> that they were supplying. The intended use of the frames was to: field a
> local racing team (very successful) as well as to have frames for sale with
> the "shop" name on them. I can certainly see Cinellis interest in having the
> latest stuff out there, even though they undoubtedly were left with
> considerable old stock in things like brake bridges.
I disagree: It is not in Cinelli's interest to have the latest stuff out
there. It is in their interests to move the stock they have. No reason
to expect a "local racing team" to be on the "latest build spec." I
would expect them to be racing on a typically conservative build spec.
> So if the specs on these frames puts them into the early 70s, I think that
> pushes back the introduction of recessed fasteners to then. It certainly goes
> back to standard reach brakes, not just short reach.
Wrong conclusion: The specs put them in the late-1970s. The availability of standard and short reach brakes overlap from the introduction of short reach brakes and recessed allens where offered on standard brakesets at the same time they were offered on short reach brakes.
Chuck Schmidt
SoPas, SoCal