In a message dated 8/26/05 7:24:45 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
banjodoc@earthlink.net writes:
> I am the original owner of a 1979 Benotto Mod. 3000. It is made with
> Columbus SL tubing, Nervex lugs, semi-sloping fork crown, diamond
> shaped stays (both). The only braze-ons are for the levers, bottle,
> brake cable, and derailleur cable guides. I spoke to Benotto at the
> 1980 New York Bike Show. He said the diamond stays were the idea of
> Merkx. That Benotto/Derosa is an interesting bike. I think it is mid
> 80s. Also, consider the possibility that the fork came from another
> bike??
>
>
This actually has diamond shaped both stays. I didn't pay close attention to that earlier as the chrome hides the shape unless you look closely. So does a modern De Rosa I have in the shop though. The fork very much matches the bike in that it has the heart logo like the frame does in several places. As I have pointed out, at least one other builder used those fork blades, Masi, so they were certainly used in Italy at the time. This one has pinned bulge-formed lugs, not investment cast like I originally thought. The smooth lines of the head lugs fooled me. De Rosas that I sold in the early 80s had investment cast lugs but I am not sure when they started. Jury still out on this. Most likely the frame is a De Rosa made in the late 70s with a mix of 70s and 80s parts. Draw your own conclusions. Fun to speculate though.
cheers
Bob Freeman
Seattle