[CR]Is this an old Cinelli road frame or what?

(Example: History:Norris Lockley)

In-Reply-To: <7B2B2874-F172-4823-A6DD-3CEAF61B755F@earthlink.net>
References: <7B2B2874-F172-4823-A6DD-3CEAF61B755F@earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 14:44:58 -0700
To: Chuck Schmidt <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>, Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "Dr. Paul J.Wilson" <paul@wilsondesigns.net>
Subject: [CR]Is this an old Cinelli road frame or what?

Hi Chuck,

I just received the Fed EX shipment of what I am going to call, for now, my gorgeous 1959 Cinelli. This should stir the bees. I don't know that it is a 1959, a 1969, or anything else for that matter. However, I am very willing to change my computer file to reflect whatever it conclusively turns out to be. That is, if anyone can say with reasonable certainty what the age is.

In this specific discussion, it may be an advantage to my not knowing the CR group intimately. That advantage is that I am not overly biased by anyone's opinion. Instead, I weigh each person's opinion equally, based upon the logic they provide. And so, it is my opinion that nothing conclusive has been determined with respect to the age of the frame & fork. It certainly appears that most responses cause the scales to "balance out" somewhere in the early to mid sixties. But, I must say, there is enough variation in responses, that it may indeed turn out to be a 1959. My feeling won't be hurt, nor will I have any "buyers remorse" if I later conclude, through reasonable logic, that the bike is a 1973 or older (not newer though).

The bike is beautiful, and to me, worth what I paid for it. In fact, I have assigned all the email opinions, and hoopla from the CR group to the history of this bike. And now, it may be worth even more. The dollar value of its worth or the dollar value of what I paid for it, is not nearly as important as the enjoyment that I get when I gaze at it. As it turns out, Dale offered my a refund. Well, that's not going to happen as I want this bike. It is fine with me that I may seem that I am easy mark, and is true only for bikes that I love, but try sitting across the table from me on other issues.

The discussion has been both fun, entertaining, and educational. In fact, could we dedicate another few weeks to my bike?

I look forward to reading and learning more about Cinelli's. I rode a Pista and an SC in the early 70's and loved them then, but not as much as now!

I realize that you were just fishing for more entertainment, after all, it is fun. Can't fault you for that. I bet there were others out there hoping for more. I certainly hope that my emailed has satisfied (but not completely) the appetites of all involved.

Paul, aka Pauli, aka, Pauliboy

Paul J. Wilson Cell (408) 395-2020, Temecula, California>>(951) 587-3632, San Jose, California 95124>>(408) 377-1710

At 10:36 AM -0700 5-10-07, Chuck Schmidt wrote:
>All this Cinelli talk reminds me that on the Rose Bowl vintage ride
>Sunday one of the things that was discussed in detail was last
>week's Cinelli SC eBay auction.
>
>The bike had been described as follows: "To our knowledge, no
>Cinelli bicycle frame of this age and stature has ever before been
>offered for auction in eBay history." And... "could be the oldest
>road Cinelli SC known!" Along with, "No repairs seem to have been
>performed to the metal work. It has apparently undergone a careful
>restoration some time ago..."
>
>Some of the auction copy:
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Serial number #273
>Once submitted, this frame will be the oldest SC road bike on the
>Cinelli Registry and it could be the oldest road Cinelli SC known!
>Guesstimates* say that this frame was made in the late 1950s to
>early 1960s. (*No absolute dating is claimed by experts but an
>analysis of the listings in the Registry will make it clear of the
>era.)
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>If you are viewing this auction, you must be aware of the huge
>historical and cultural contribution of the Maestro, Cino Cinelli.
>This frameset is one of the earliest examples of the top model, that
>which Cinelli's fame was founded. We will not insult you by
>repeating the significance of this particular "find" in cycling
>circles. To our knowledge, no Cinelli bicycle frame of this age and
>stature has ever before been offered for auction in eBay history.
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>This frame has an unknown provenance. It is structural sound and
>complete. No repairs seem to have been performed to the metal work.
>It has apparently undergone a careful restoration some time ago...
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>The discussion on the CR list
><http://search.bikelist.org/?SearchString=Is%20this%20an%20old%20Cinelli%20road%20frame%20or%20what%3F>
>established that the frame was from the mid 1960s and the rear
>dropouts had been crudely replaced; a completely different animal
>from the auction's description.
>
>So what happened next? Was money refunded to repair the rear
>dropout mess? If the alleged earliest known Cinelli SC frame and
>fork is sold for a Buy It Now of $2500, what's it worth when it
>turns out to be a poorly restored mid sixties Cinelli SC frame and
>fork? Wouldn't the earliest known Cinelli SC frame and fork be
>worth more than $2500? CR List opinions? The parties involved
>thoughts? Inquiring minds want to know...
>
>Chuck Schmidt
>South Pasadena, CA USA
>
>
>_______________________________________________

-- Paul J. Wilson Cell (408) 395-2020, Temecula, California>>(951) 587-3632, San Jose, California 95124>>(408) 377-1710, Fax: (408) 377-1710 After prompting by "outgoing message", press *51, and then hit your "send fax" button.

email: paul@wilsondesigns.net

http://www.wilsondesigns.net