As anticipated, yesterday I was at the Vetta shop (www.vetta.it), via Tunisi, Padova.
They have been building bikes for three generations, now. The son to the founder, who was general manager of Torpado, Ferruccio is still lighting the flame to braze; Antonio, his son, does more modern stuff. For a few years he did also titanium, but he later gave up, apparently because of the difficulty of getting the Ti tubes.
Everytime I pass by it is like visiting old friends, with a lot of stories to be told about past times. I bet Ferruccio has personally known all famous frame builders of this country; he has made frames for so many well, and many more not so well, known commercial brands, as well as many top racers, of whom Padova and Treviso have been a cradle like no other. Just to name one Champion: the great Leandro Faggin was a customer of his.
So, yesterday I walked in with my 1974 Berma frame that was developing a crack on the top tube, where the rust (after my sweat!) had corroded and weakened the metal. A pleasure to watch Ferruccio replace the broken tube with his expert hands so quickly, while chatting amiably.
No way to fuss about it. Such a job is as easy as any other, when one is a Master.
Sergio Pisa P.s. By all means, Angel: do take the train and go there. You won't regret it. .