A very good friend was the original owner of this Cinelli. I've posted some info in the past, in spurts as the story unfolded, to the list but to summarize regarding Mark Buglier's question:
This particular frame came to my friend's attention through a description in a Brugelmann (of Frankfurt, Germany) brochure/catalog of 1971. Although he would have preferred silver (he already ownded a 1970 SC in silver), this particular model was only available in yellow/red. My friend also recalls a reference to a lightweight Columbus tubing reference. So, he placed the order with Brugelmann's and waited nearly a year to receive it (he picked it up in person, traveling from the USA to Germany for the 1972 Olympics).
An inquiry to Brugelmann in 2003 brought this reply from Manfred Brugelmann : "In the seventies we were the biggest Cinelli dealership outside of Italy and because of our personal good relationship to the Cinelli family they were kind enough to manufacture those frames exclusively for us in the yellow and red special colour scheme." Mr. Brugelmann did not answer the question about the "lightweight" aspects of the frame. Side note: the Brugelmann shop with the cycling equipment providor to the German national team in 1972.
In 2004, with the assistance of Steve Maasland a letter with photographs was sent to Andrea Cinelli (son of Cino). Andrea Cinelli's reply includes this: "You are correct that the frame is lighter as we drilled the lugs and the BB shell for lightening, and my father, based upon the close friendship with the owner of Columbus (Aldo Luigi Colombo), had had special lighter tubes made. In that period, the two avantgarde Italian factories (Cinelli and Columbus), in the application of avantgarde racing bicycle technology (high resistance steel alloys) had to contrast the myth and image of the English Reynolds tubing." Note: the BB is a G. Fischer (Swiss, I think) BB; it's stamped GF.
I also own the 1970 silver Cinelli and can only say that when you thump the tubes with a fingernail they have a different ringing sound. Not scientific I know but there is a difference.
As the yellow Cinelli is built up with many, many custom Ti bits (made by friend) there is no way to compare the bike weights without disassembling them.
Lastly, I came close to obtaining a copy of that particular catalog but the person, in Germany, never would send it. Still looking!
Ciao, Angel Garcia Verona, IT
>
> I think I remember hearing that the Brugelmann's model was
> lighter-weight than a standard Cinelli of the day. Not just the drilled
> BB shell, but lighter tubing as well? Anyone know?
>
> Mark Bulgier
> Seattle WA USA