In a message dated 11/19/2004 11:43:10 AM Eastern Standard Time, veronaman@comcast.net writes:
<< All were silver. >>
Dale added:
"I sold them back then and I think recall that they were silver with a slight purplish~ pink cast, maybe a tint in the pearl coating?"
List,
I have one of these Centurion Cinelli frames in my frame shop right now that I am repainting. I found what I believe is a very close match to this color in a House of Kolor pearl paint. Since it already has been repainted, I am now looking at the new color (instead of the original), which I would describe as a kind of silver pewter color. Shiny aluminum parts can contrast a bit with this silver.
I can remember going to the Cinelli factory in Milan in 1978. I had been building frames for a few years and was looking for any tips as to how the masters did things. Cinelli's son was gracious to show me the framebuilding shop. The main impression that I came away from this visit was the realization that reputation of a frame had more to do with marketing and name recognition than the quality of how things were put together. It left me with ambivalent feelings. A kind of disappointment that the greats aren't that great but, on the other hand, the pleasure of realizing how we compared doing things in the states to how they did things there (if one were to look at it strictly from a quality of construction aspect).
This tread also mentioned Windsor Cinellis. Somewhere in the back of my mind I vaguely remember reading in Bicycling or Bike World magazine in the early 70's something about them hiring someone from Cinelli Italy to help them make frames in Mexico. Does anyone else remember reading this?
Doug Fattic
Niles, Michigan