[CR]Cinelli steel handlebars

(Example: Framebuilders:Rene Herse)

From: "Ken Sanford" <kanford@comcast.net>
To: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2005 20:10:14 -0400
Subject: [CR]Cinelli steel handlebars

How does one identify real Cinelli steel handlebars?

I recently won an Ebay auction for a bike with Cinelli steel stem ( a bit rusty ) and steel handlebars. The bars are in reasonable shape but could use a re-chroming. There are no engravings or marking on the bars that I can find. The bars had tan end plastic 'covers' - not plugs that fit over the ends of the bars that say Cinelli - Milano.

http://ebay.com/<blah> pagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1 is the bike I got. Lousy pictures and specs are why I got a good deal. (165 pista crankset with raised pedal lip, steel pista headset, proper 70-P-120 BB, Campy high flange hubs, etc.

My question is: Are genuine Cinelli steel bars usually marked or engraved in some way?

The seller of a lovely stem/HB set on Ebay which closes in less than two hours very pointedly declined to answer my question as to whether there were any markings on the bars that identified them as Cinelli.

http://ebay.com/<blah> pagename=STRK%3AMEBI%3AIT&rd=1

Can someone 'splain all this to me?

thanks
Ken Sanford
Kensington, MD