It was hardly a case of "outsourcing" as Sr. Benotto moved to Mexico where he established his primary production facility but maintained a small operation in Italy that supplied mostly the pro teams. This all took place approx. 1968-69. You can see Sr. Benotto standing behind Merckx, Colnago, Luigi Casola and others just before the hour record in Mexico City.
I'm off to Mexico tomorrow on separate business but I'll speak with friends there to get more precise dates and post upon return
Brook Watts Longmont Colo USA
>
>
>I must agree. The decision to move production to Mexico was likely the
>death of whatever prestige the brand had accrued in the eyes of American
>cyclists. I've always thought that outsourcing production offshore was a
>pretty sure way to kill a brand long term for products that aspire to be
>more than a mere commercial commodity.
>
>Kurt Sperry
>Bellingham WA
>
>
>On 3/14/06, Angel Garcia <veronaman@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Perhaps because production moved to Mexico from Italy in the 1970s? Anyon
>e
>> know the exact year Mexican made Benotto's started to appear?
>> Angel Garcia
>> Verona, Italy
>>
>> --
>> fineartscrimshaw.com