Geri: The 128 mm rear spacing may help date it more accurately. When both 126 and 130 mm hubs were being sold, many high-volume steel frame builders spaced their frames at 128 (pretty easy to use either hub configuration with that frame spacing). I'm not sure (perhaps a framebuilder or the Colnago tifosi can get more specific, timeline-wise), but I'd say your frame is maybe 1985-1990 or so. If that's the case, you have lots of component choices, even if you stay with the ubiquitous Campagnolo brand. Most Colnagos were sold as framesets, so almost anything goes. Late Nuovo or Super Record, Victory, Triomphe, late Gran Sport, C-Record, and Chorus would all be possibilties. The world is your oyster on this one, I'd say..... Ciao, Greg Parker Dexter, Michigan
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2004 20:52:15 -0700 From: Geri Gorski <gski@mac.com> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Date my Colnago, Please
I would like some help in determining a mfg. date for what seems to be a Colnago "Master" frame and fork. I think I have it down to a five year window 1982-87 because it has a braze on front derailleur mount and had (see below) surface mounted top tube brake cable guides. I am not that familiar with these frames so any information would be much appreciated, and I hope to have my questions below answered.
I think it is possible that the frame has been repainted once before so I am including a fairly detailed description of the construction as well as the appearance.
The frame is steel, of course, with rather basic uncut pointed lugs, and was pinned together. There is no tubing decal. It has medium length Campagnolo horizontal rear dropouts spaced at about 128mm. (Can't tell if they are slightly squished 130 or spread 126. I don't recall 128 ever being a std.) As mentioned above it has a front derailleur braze on. It also has brazed on shifter bosses, one pair of water bottle bosses, and brazed on cable guides on the underside of the bottom bracket shell. The bottom bracket shell has the typical shamrock cutout. "Colnago" is stamped into the outside of both chain stays and cast into the seat stay ends. (The stamped chain stays appear quite unusual to me, though it may be pretty common for these frames. I wonder how often this was done?) The fork has a sloping crown with the Colnago insignia cast into it and the steerer has the Columbus Dove stamped on it. The fork ends are stamped "Brevetto Colnago".
The frame is painted a solid dark red (no panels), as is the entire fork, though it is fully chromed. I think this is the "red wine" color that was common on some older colnago frames. The decals are black with a white outline in the typical Colnago style except "Master" on the top tube that looks to be a stylized stretched typeface (they are nearly completely destroyed). The seat tube decals are applied close to each other and offset toward the front. There are four shamrocks on the seat tube, at the top and bottom of each "colnago". There is a yellow and orange dot and pinstripe trailing backward on the top tube and black tapered pinstripes on the seat tube at the left and right centers and on the down tube extending the script.
QUESTIONS:
Can the mfg date be determined with the information I have provided?
This frame has to be repainted as I need to replace the cable guides since they were sloppily removed by a previous owner (perhaps it was an aborted fixed gear project. I don't know). What would be the appropriate style? I'm thinking the Cinelli thin "double" type.
Is this an original paint job, or might it be a repaint? Most of the Colnagos from this era that I have seen have panels and the chrome forks are not completely painted. If this is not original is there anyone out there who might have a catalog photo or other frame I might use as an example? ( I've already checked the Colnago website to no avail.) If it is original does someone have a reference to an appropriate Dupont or other color?
I've seen a lot of Colnago decals available on ebay, and there appear to still be some available from the US distributor, but they are significantly different than those found on this frame. For example the seat tube lettering is relatively small and the odd little pinstripes are rather unique. If this frame is indeed original what are the chances of finding these decals?
Did these frames typically include a Columbus tubing decal? If so what is the appropriate decal?
Finally, what would have been the most common way to have equipped this frame when originally sold?
Thanks a lot
Geri Gorski
Fairfax CA