Yup, Ross had 'singature' frames built all over the place. They ran a framebuilding shop in Allentown (similar to the Paramount shop) with road frames built by hand. They imported frames from Japan and built them up in their allentown factory They imported frames from Taiwan and built them up in their allentown factory They imported whole bikes from Taiwan and warehoused them in Allentown and in CA
All this happened before their bankruptcy in the late 80's (maybe they started another trend....)
After the bankruptcy Rand intl bought Ross and they resurrected the Signature line shortly thereafter, in 1992. It consisted of Mtn bikes almost exclusively. There were a few exceptions and trade show only samples, notably an Aermet 100 Waterford built frame for the 1994 year.
I remember a Signature white lugged track bike built up with Dura Ace pitch 10 gruppo, and *think* I remember noticing the frame on the BB shell or maybe the rear fork end was signed or stamped with the builders name, hence the 'signature series'.
Tom Martin
Oakland CA
Ross Bike Geek
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Wiley Coyote" <wcoyote@pe.net>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 8:23 PM
> Subject: [CR]Re: Ross "signature" on Ebay
>
>
> > As the "former" Warehouse Manager for Ross Bicycles (Los Angeles, CA). I
> recall
> > a low-end "Signature" road bike during 1985-1986 that sold in the
$250-300
> > retail price range, looked similar to the "Redcay" signatures, but was
> cloned in
> > Taiwan. It had a nice geometry frame built out of low end tubing,
marginal
> > low-end parts, and a decent ride, 25-26 lb bike. The paint was very
> attractive
> > in several metallic colors, especially for a bike in that price range. I
> used
> > one of these frames with a mix of 105 & 600 shimano parts as a racing
> bike for
> > several years, a cheap "claimer" sort of affordable racing tool.
> >
> > Jim Harlow
> > Redlands CA
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > OROBOYZ@aol.com wrote:
> >
> > > In a message dated 6/29/2004 2:00:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> > > EdVintage63@aol.com writes:
> > >
> > > << Ross for sale on ebay:
> > >
>
http://ebay.com/
> > > rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
> > > On the general topic of "caveat emptor,"
> > > I don't see any real indication or proof this is a Ross Signature
model
> >>
> > >
> > > You are correct in your suspicions.. They may have called this bike a
> > > "Signature Series" at that point in Ross' decline, but it is not a
> handbuilt
> > > top-of-the-line bicycle.
> > >
> > > Dale Brown
> > > Greensboro, NC
> > > _______________________________________________
> >
> > --
> > ÿØÿà