Numismatics - Coin Collecting
The lovely Cinelli stem and handlebar at the auction site ( address listed below in Dennis' message ) , are truly beautiful .
But as far as basic shapes , that stem looks steep . To me , it just looks like a track stem , with a track handlebar . That is track equipment . That's what they used . They still do use those sorts of shapes . During the 1970's , and into the 1980's , that sort of stem & handlebar combination was beautiful , and considered some of the very best , but that combination was very common equipment on the very best track bicycles .
And Cinelli certainly made a "criterium bend" which was a handlebar for the road , with a very track-like shape .
And some road riders have always liked that sort of bend . And you can ride , "on-the-tops" . But it's just very different from a Maes bend , or a randonneur bend , etc .
HOWEVER !
The ONLY thing I see worth talking about in those photos ( besides just agreeing that yes , Cinelli made large numbers of beautiful stems and handlebars ) is that I am surprised such a MISTAKE made it out of the Cinelli factory !!
The reason there is a close-up photo , at the very bottom of that page . . .
Is because the "Cinelli Knight" is a VERY interesting mistake !!
Instead of being struck only 1 time , by the die with the design on it , it appears to have been struck 4 times !!!!
In numismatics ( coin collecting ) I think this sort of thing is still just said to be "double struck" . But this rare handlebar was "double-struck" , for a total of 4 times !!!!
By the way , handlebars ( Cinelli , 3TTT , GB , Nitto , Belleri , etc. ) are not "engraved" at the factory . I have seen custom handlebars , which were taken to an actual engraver , and custom engraved ! But , factory handlebars are not engraved . They are struck , or stamped , like a coin . That stamped-in design , in coin-collected , is said to be "incused" . A design lower than its surroundings is incused . The opposite , a raised-up design , is in relief .
Taller than surroundings - Relief , Cameo
Lower than surroundings - Incused , Incised , Impressed , Intaglio , Engraved
( but cameo and intaglio are carved , not stamped , and engraving is carving of a sort , not stamping )
Oh ! And that center area , with all of the small parallel lines ? Those handlebars have a center which has been "reeded" . Many fine handlebars have a reeded center-band .
Raoul Delmare
Marysville Kansas
> I'm not sure what model handlebar this is, but it is very nicely shaped.
> The seller says these are rare? Track bars? Take a look. The most
elegant
> handlebars I have ever seen were on a exquisite Herse track bike. Few
Herse
> track bikes were produced, right Jan? People don't or can't do that bar
> work anymore. Those curves were alive!
>
>
> Photos at the bottom of the page.
http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/
> Dennis Young
> I work a lot with curves in Hotaka, Japan