[CR]Re: Ross "signature" on Ebay

(Example: Production Builders:LeJeune)

Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 07:52:50 -0700
From: "Wiley Coyote" <wcoyote@pe.net>
Organization: Acme Distributing Inc.
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Re: Ross "signature" on Ebay
References: <454C3D2D.59AFE413.0269AA25@aol.com>


If you are looking for a "collectible" signature I would suggest that you try to find one built during the period of 1980-1984, perhaps as late as 1985, prior to the Ross decline, those were the ones that were assembled in the custom frame shop in Allentown, PA, by either Tom Kellogg or Jim Redcay or one of the other artisans-for-hire that were employed during that time period. These were custom high end bikes, with high quality campy or other dropouts, and were either lugged or fillet brazed, depending on who built it. I would rate these frames on the same level of quality and worksmanship as frames produced in the Schwinn Paramount custom shop. A close examination of any of the the custom "Signature" frames built during this time would quickly reveal the quality of brazing & assembly.

If the original DuPont Imron metallic paint is on the bike, you will see the first & last name of the framebuilder on the left chainstay, with a clear coat over the decals. The "Signatures" built at a later date & sourced from Asia did not have this builder name on the chainstay, and the paint and frame tubing quality was noticeably cheaper.

The custom frame shop was tucked away in a obscure location in the corner of the Ross bicycle factory, a large industrial building on the outskirts of Allentown that was primarily used for the production of other metal fabrication projects such a U.S. Mail postal carts and other small transportation devices. They were diversifying away from the bicycle as a primary market, were also involved at the time with small production runs of steel-built military equipment as well. Ross was one of the last remaining steelworking businesses in operation in Allentown, and one of the last to succumb to foreign competition.

Jim Harlow Redlands CA

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LouDeeter@aol.com wrote:
> My Used Bike Buyers Guide notes show that Ross issued a "Signature" bicycle in at least the following years: I suspect the missing years and pre-82 may have existed as well:
>
> Signature Road and Criterium in 1982---Columbus tubing
> Signature Triad in 1984-85---Columbus tubing
> Signature in 1988
> Signature Pro in 1994
> Signature Triad in 1994---Tange tubing
>
> Lou Deeter, Orlando FL
>
> _______________________________________________

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