Chuck
I agree with you, an Ideor is not a Cinelli and a Masi is not a Gloria. I deliberately crafted the "subject header" to generate the thread (guilty).
Was there only one distributor in the USA? I know of a few Ideors in Toronto, anyone know who imported Ideor to Canada?
The relationship with the MONTROSE BIKE SHOP for warranty support is noteworthy, did a similar set-up exist for the East Coasters? Anyone buy one on the east coast brand new. I know there are a few track bikes around, who sold these back east?
Peter, I wonder if the Ideor operations may have been an operating company within "Torello" (perhaps the money folks behind the ex-Cinelli personnel).
Chuck, according to the only official document I have (excellent reprint by the way) these were quality bikes, many built with quality Columbus tubing. Was it typical for companies to have similar product depth (5 road models, 4 with Columbus tubing, quality components) in Italy ?
Wayne (being Ideor challenged) Jolly, Toronto Canada
> Wayne Jolly wrote:
> >
> >In the November 1977 edition of Bicycling is a very interesting comment
in
> >Dick Swann's column "Question Man" on page 64/65.
> >Mr. H.J.Battjes of Palo Alto, CA writes: I have an Ideor. I am told it is
> >circa 1960, near Cinelli's factory, a fine frame. Could you elaborate?
> >Response:
> >This is one of several makers that have appeared in Milan over the last
20
> >years. Most of these small makers are ex-Cinelli workers; so the stuff
> >should be very good indeed. Dick Swann
> >
> >The response seems to confirm a link to the Cinelli factory. Has anyone
> >heard about this before? Would anyone agree that the build quality of an
> >Ideor is comparable to Cinelli?
>
> Peter Jourdain wrote:
> >
> > Wayne--you raise a very intriguing issue, Ideor as a
> > possible Cinelli spinoff!
>
>
>
> I think it is important to bear in mind here that a "spinoff of Cinelli"
> and Cinelli's ex-employees starting a company of their own are two
> different things entirely.
>
> Faliero Masi worked for Gloria originally. Would you call a Masi
> bicycle a spinoff of Gloria? Are 7 Cycles a spinoff of Merlin?
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> South Pasadena, CA
>
> ..