I had the good fortune of "discovering" A1 Bicycles in Kirkwood, (St. Louis) MO about 7 years ago.
Starting in 1954, Ray Florman Sr. and his wife Marge opened Normandy Bicycle Shop and carried the best bicycles and parts that money could buy including Cinelli, Frejus, Girardengo, Campagnolo, Stronglight, etc. Several years later, the name was changed to A1 Bicycle Sales. In 1974 he struck a deal with Ian Alsop, (a renowned British cycling champion) to build excellent quality "house brand" bike frames/forks in Mexico using custom drawn 531 double butted tubes, Prugnat lugs, Campagnolo dropouts, and crowns that either *were * made by Cinelli, or were extremely close copies. There were several models, including a Cinelli SC copy, with fully-sloping crowns, and a Masi GC copy with, I believe, a semi-sloping crown. Some had long, horizontal, (1010) dropouts, and some had the vertical, (1060) dropouts. These bikes were built with tighter geometries, and handsome chrome accents. I bought more than 20 of these several years ago, and have since sold them all. Now Greg Parker has purchased the remaining stock, and is offering them at really great prices. I have ridden these frames, and I can say they are very nice!
Ray was a very active racer, and race organizer. He gave John Howard and many other prominent athletes their start. He was a great competitor despite the fact that he had a congenital condition with one of his arms which led him to modify his bikes so that he could safely race them. Late in his life he was crowned USCF National champion in one of the time trial events, I can't remember which, but it was a longer event.
Ray Sr. passed away a few years ago, but I'd like to think that these Raysport frames are a chance for each owner to remember this important man.
The store is now owned and operated by Raymond Florman Jr. Raymond is one of the nicest guys I know.
John Barron
Minneapolis
http://www.velostuf.com