Actually, the seller says that CycleArt replaced decals and clearcoated the frame. He says the decals were dry and brittle and disintegrated to the touch. Come to think of it, I now recall that many of the frames in the Akron barn did have decals that were in this condition. This brings up an interesting question - is a frame which has had the decals replaced and clearcoat applied, but retains the original paint still considered "Unrestored"?
BTW, I think he is wrong about the original derailleurs and shifters being Simplex. All the bikes I saw in Akron had Campy NR derailleurs and shifters, although the cranks were usually Stronglight and the brakes Weinmann.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
"C. Andrews" <chasds@mindspring.com> wrote: JB in Pebble Beach wrote:
Dale -- Nope, no trash talk here. Plus, I have no background, or = baggage, range-fed or otherwise with Cycleart or any refurber or bike = artist for that matter. But, NOS is NOS, pure and simple: It is or = isn't. No matter how smiling and attentive, refurb isn't NOS because it = can't be.
*******
I had one of these frames once, in fully trashed condition, and I'd say the frame on ebay is truly NOS, just cleaned up. I concur with Jerry, this is one of those NOS Allegros that guy in Ohio had for awhile. And they were dirty..someone cleaned this one up nicely.
The frame I had, had nicer lugs, but otherwise was nearly identical to this one, right down to the crummy lug-lining. Mine had a two toned smoked seat-tube, a-la a Mondia Special...
The Allegros from the early 70s I've seen (I've seen a few), were never quite as nice as Mondias or Swiss Condors..they weren't *that* much worse, but things like that sloppy lug-lining on the ebay frame were typical. The pinstriping on the tubing on Allegros and Mondias always looked like it was done by the same person, at the same factory, and I have yet to get a straight story about that... if Allegros and Mondias were finished in the same place, it wouldn't surprise me.
Anyway..I think the ebay Allegro is a legit NOS piece, no touching up or refinishing involved. And that opinion, as usual, is worth exactly what you pay for it.
Charles "knows just enough to be a danger to himself and others" Andrews SoCal
Concerning Carlos Kleiber one of the greatest of all post-war conductors:
The glamour often associated with a conductor's life held no appeal for him; he preferred to stay at home in Munich. He once told Leonard Bernstein: "I want to grow in a garden. I want to have the sun. I want to eat and drink and sleep and make love and that's it."