In a message dated 6/17/02 2:27:13 PM Pacific Daylight Time, joebz@optonline.net writes:
<< Falck is interesting because the Cinelli Model B and the Frejus Tour de
France
second line bikes used it and both these bikes seem to be of quite nice
quality generally. >>
I have a Frejus TDF, made somewhere between 1959 to 1963, (serial number
95102) that was originally sold through Tom Avenia's shop, that is SP
Columbus with the red sticker. Mine doesn't look like a second line bike. At
62 cm it has a 73 seat angle and a 71 head angle. It looks like a model
designed for a long stage race, like the TDF, to commemorate (capitalize on)
their 1950 victory in that event. My guess would be they later "downgraded"
the model because they didn't need two different top end bikes in the line up.
<<Also the Frejus catalog showed either 531 or Columbus as options but I have
not seen a pre-1970 Frejus Pro with Columbus.>>
My first bike mentor had a red/blue head tube/silver panel clip model
(external clamp over the lug to bind the seat post) "Campione del Mondo"
model that was SP Columbus. His bike was West coast and came with Magistroni
steel cranks, so was probably early to mid 60s.
I'm also interested in the comments on Falck. I've seen a track bike that had
chain stays very reminiscent of PS Columbus in that they came out of the
shell and swelled like grass hopper legs, only more so.
Stevan Thomas
Alameda, CA