Dear CR list Members,
The link that Phil Sieg provided: http://www.ebykr.com/
I highly recommend reading it for a good history on the IDEALE COMPANY.
It would seem that the saddle in question that Toni Theilmeier, found on a ladies bicycle in Germany would be made between the 1970's and 1981. There are later versions of the IDEALE DIAGONALE 92 saddle,at least in the men's model,BUT they are NOT MADE IN FRANCE. After Ideale went out of business it seems the rights to the name may have been sold and there are IDEALE saddles that are sold on ebay and elsewhere that say "DESIGNED IN FRANCE",where thesed "DESIGNED IN FRANCE SADDLES are actually made is open to question. Mr. Mel Pinto thought they were made in Eastern Europe and made at a later date,Asia.....
I have a later, IDEALE 92 DIAGONALE that is DESIGNED IN FRANCE but made,probably in Eastern Europe. I bought it at a CIRQUE AUCTION IN GREENSBORO,N.C. several years ago from a listmember. At the time of the auction I was not aware of the difference of the saddles. I paid $120.00 for the saddle at the charity auction. I have not used the saddle. I will sell it for $120.00 postage paid,shipped in the U.S.A. (insurance extra). This is virtually a new saddle BUT it is the DESIGNED IN FRANCE SADDLE. Any questions,send me your phone number off list and I'll give you a call.
There is a remarkable IDEALE SADDLE ON EBAY RIGHT NOW auction item number: 180169548730 NOS NIB, exceptionally rare IDEALE COLUMBIA, in honor of the space shuttle "COLUMBIA". BUY IT NOW PRICE IS ONLY $349.00. My saddle will seem like a bargain at only $120.00
I would say you got a great deal,most likely Toni T. with your purchase of a bicycle and a like new IDEALE 92 DIAGONALE. I do not know where the name came from. Maybe one of the list members in France could speak to your question on the origin of the saddle name,since most Ideale saddles just have numbers.
Yours truly,
Marty Walsh in Vienna,Virginia, U.S.A.