Mark Agree's pictures are only the second example of this marque that I have ever seen. The other was a road version, and it was my first "serious" road bike - and not an April Fool's joke. It was August, 1963, and I was working in Our Nation's Capital. Not inside the Beltway, because it didn't exist. My Sears Ted Williams Sport Racing was my only transportation, until it was stolen from the front porch where it was locked, one night. I needed a new bike, and had saved enough to get something good. It came down to the choice of a Gitane Tour de France from Mel Pinto, or this bike, from Pearl's shop, "Cycles and Sports," on Wisconsin Ave.
I was pretty naive, and chose the Avanti. for the same money, it just appealed more, and had a kick stand, to boot. So, I rode it to work the next day, and promptly rolled both tires. I'm not sure how many bikes with sew-ups Pearl had sold, but she didn't tell me about (the absence of) glue on the bike as shipped and sold. I didn't know better. I learned, at the cost of some road rash and a ruined pair of pants. Couple of weeks later, to the amazement of my roommate, I bought shoes and cleats, too. Tried them out on a Friday afternoon, heading out of town on Wisconsin, a major drag then and now. At two successive traffic lights, I came to a stop and fell over - had not yet learned to loosen the straps. I did learn.
Oh, but you wanted to know about the bike. Ok, It was all all 531 DB, notably with Titan bar & stem, and notably with round track blades. I loved the ride, but what did I know then? All Campy (Record), I think with Mafac brakes, but that I'm not sure about. I raced the bike some, and eventually traded it for a chromed Paramount. Ah, one other note. I believe Mark's photos may show an older bike than mine, since it does not have a Campy headset. But this is speculation.
One last note: The bike was sort of a transition piece, with a "steel" Record rear, and a Gran Sport front. Pearl promised to send a Record front when she could get one. It came, some months later.
harvey sachs mcLean va.
+++++++++++++++ Mark Agree wrote: I mentioned this bike last evening in my post seeking a Stronglight crank bolt. It belongs to a local riding buddy, and it is NOT for sale. Please do not expect Ken Toda quality, but eighteen photos that I took today can be viewed here:
http://www.wooljersey.com/
Frame: Reynolds 531 tubing, Nervex Professional lugs and b.b. shell, seemingly painted on head and down tube graphics (downtube name is singular, on the top of the tube, and curiously faces the non-drive side), foil seat tube graphics, downtube decal says "SCHWEDEN", 117/110mm wheel spacing, 27.0 seat lug opening, round fork blades, slotted fork crown, BREV. CAMPAGNOLO fork tips (closed "C", but with the little circle above the period in BREV.), unstamped rear track ends, chromed fork and 50% stays.
Serial numbers stamped under b.b. shell: Larger print - 2557343, Smaller print - NERVEX 59*3064*D22(2)E38. The asterisks represent little circles in same location. The #2 in parenthesis is a smaller font than the rest, and on the same base line.
Parts: Stronglight MOD.49D pista crank & b.b. (117mm spindle), Campagnolo Record two bolt post with tiny logo print, Brooks Swallow saddle with full patent # and C61 stamped under the frame, unmarked steel stem looks just like Ambrosio, unstamped steel bars, Altenburger large flange blue anodized track hubs and silver aluminum tubular rims (not shown), unknown steel headset with spanner adjustment holes.
The parts indicate early 1960s, especially the saddle markings. But, the painted on markings seem more like 1950s, I think, and there is a 55, or a 57 in the big serial number. When were foil decals introduced in Europe?
Anyone know anything about this seemingly Swedish, Avanti marque, and have any remarks about the date of the bike? It is uncertain if all parts are original, although all are believed to be so, except the handlebar mounted water bottle cage that my friend uses on the road.
Can anyone ID the headset or steel stem? The head tube logo makes me want to sing: "...strawberry shields, for-ever."
Thanks to all who look...
Ciao,
Mark Agree
Southfield MI