[CR]Technotrat of Cuneo

(Example: Component Manufacturers)

From: "Norris Lockley" <norris.lockley@talktalk.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2006 00:21:09 -0000
Subject: [CR]Technotrat of Cuneo

This company has been manufacturing since at least 1983..that's the year I first noticed them at the Milan Show.

The impression that I got over the years was that they, much like Romani and Billato, were sub-contractors to other manufacturers.

I never got to Cuneo, even though it's not far over the border from Monte Carlo, but it must be quite a haven of frame-building as there is another manufacturer of fine frames in the town, Bruno Tardivo,, whose products come out under the CBT-Italia brand.

His frames never penetrated the English market very well, possibly because his deliveries, although subject to contracts with penalty clauses, were always three or four months late. That was my sad experience in 1983/84.

I don't know whether the frames ever reached the States, but they were always a class act. Tardivo made a feature of the fluted seat tube ( there's a sample on the CR pages), together with diamond shaped chainstays, heavy but tasteful engraving..and acres of chrome.

I think that CBT-Italia frames were the only ones that I came across that offered black chrome plating as a standard option. The first batch I imported incuded some frames in Colnago ruby, and Colnago blue, with full black chrome rear stays and front forks. The effect was stunning..but the engravings picked out in gold were just magnificent.

Tardivo is still in business and sells heavily into France.

Norris Lockley..Settle UK