Re: [CR]Columbus decals

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot:PY-10)

Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 09:23:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Columbus decals
To: Doug Fattic <fatticbicycles@qtm.net>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <BECF2872.5666%fatticbicycles@qtm.net>


Well, I had an ulterior motive for asking. I'm having Windsor Pro I bought in 1973 (probably made in 1972) restored so I'm trying to determine which is the correct Columbus decal. (The bike was repainted many years ago, and my memory of decals on bikes bought over 30 years ago isn't that good.) I'm assuming the Windsor should have the same decal as on this Eisentraut, even if it was a "leftover" on the 'Traut. That's probably more important to me than the date of the Eisentraut, since I'm sure I would be outbid for it.

BTW, if anyone has a image of the little "Hecho en Mexico" decal that appeared on the seattube of Windsor Pros, I'd REALLY appreciate receiving it for restoration purposes.

Regards,

Jerry Moos Houston, TX

Doug Fattic <fatticbicycles@qtm.net> wrote: Jerry,

Dating a frame by it's tubing decal can be a problem because a frame can be made much later then when the tubing was bought which can also be a long time from when it was manufactured. In addition, decals can get separated from the parent tubing, thrown in a drawer and used when needed. This is especially true for smaller companies.

In the old days, when Columbus was mostly just SL or SP, I would ask the customer if they wanted the tubing decal on the frame and, if they did, I would go to the file folder and find a Columbus one and stick it on (before clear coating). I would buy sets of Columbus tubing from all kinds of sources - frame companies that had gone out of business, whatever - and this tubing could have been sitting around a long time before I got my hands on it and still longer until it was made. When I got the tubing, I would take the decals out, plop them into the file folder for them to await the day when someone actually wanted one on a frame. Most customers didn't. You get the picture. Something not related to just-in-time inventory control. Of course Eisentraut was/is a bigger operation so decals would be used in more timely way but I think the possibility of the lag time described still exists.

Doug Fattic
Niles, Michigan