Subject: [CR]Why did they make that?
Marcus wrote:
> In the case of Cinelli, you have the forging operation for the stems, and
> in the early days, the hubs; the metal bending operation for the
> handlebars, the frame shop; and then the saddle making operation. Maybe
> it's me, but I do not see much synergy there. Why would a company with
> Cinelli's place in the market in the 60's and 70's start making plastic
> saddles?
The forged alloy stems, subcontracted to a cold forming manufacturer, were a way for Cinelli to overcome the slow and labor intensive production of steel stems by hand in the face of other Italian firms offering less expensive alloy stems and bars.
The hubs were likewise subcontracted to other manufacturers.
The steel handlebars were indeed manufactured and bent by hand at Via Folli as I saw them being made there in 1959.
Cinelli frames were also made at Via Folli but I don't think the production volume was ever very high. I think most of the frames were made against order and on one occasion Cinelli made a bike for me within two weeks!.
As to the saddles, I believe an Italian manufacturer approached Cinelli to market and export saddles rather than Cinelli ever manufacturing saddles. As this presented no conflict, Cinelli simply added the saddles to his growing line of products.
That's my view of Cinelli manufacturing. Jobst, Maasland, or others might know better.
Hugh Enox
La Honda