Some of the early 70's De Rosas on Mookie's site do have the square-ish reinforcements at the bridges and that's more of when I would expect to see those (rather than mid 70's). If the auction frameset is from the early 70's, I could see where the chainring indentation might be appropriate.
Admittedly, I'm intrigued by the frameset except for the unusual inconsistencies that make it seem like a "lesser" frame rather than a pro level De Rosa frame. In addition to the features already mentioned, the treatment at the top of the seat lug does not seem like something one would expect from a high-end frameset.
I look forward to seeing more photos and if possible please also photograph the tangs inside the fork blades.
Tam Pham Huntington Beach, CA - USA
On Dec 5, 2007 10:04 AM, Hilary Stone <hilary.stone@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> There are heart cutouts in the bottom bracket shell - at the base of the
> seat tube and in the forward section underneath the bottom bracket shell
> - I have no doubt it is a De Rosa. I am really not sure what has
> happened at the seatstay caps - with the paint being quite thick it is
> very difficult to see clearly. The chainstay bridge, seatstay bridge and
> rear dropout treatment are exactly the same as featured on several of
> the bikes on 43bikes.com I do remember reading somewhere (though cannot
> remember where) that the first bikes De Rosa built for Molteni had plain
> lugs - this may something to do with the fact there is some confusion
> over when Colnago finished supplying Molteni and when De Rosa started.
> Tomorrow I will add a few more pictures to the listing showing the heart
> cutouts and will attempt to clean the paint off the seatstay caps.
>
> Hilary Stone, Bristol, England
>
> Tam Pham wrote:
> > On Dec 5, 2007 4:32 AM, kim klakow <Akimbo71@gmx.net> wrote:
> >
> >> Hilary wrote:
> >>
> >>> there are two De Rosa frames, a good 1980s one and a very interesting
> >> mid
> >>> 1970s one which is allegedly ex-Molteni team - it came from Belgium
> and
> >>> has plain lugs without heart cutouts, slotted bottom bracket shell and
> a
> >>> number braze-on...
> >> The "Molteni" frame has awfully mashed stay caps or is that just the
> >> picture?
> >>
> >> The auction could use some better, detailed photos if it's being
> alleged
> > as an ex-Molteni frameset. Those seat stay caps almost look like
> somebody
> > tried to stamp "DE ROSA" (with a big O) onto the stay caps *after*
> they've
> > been brazed onto the frame... and with nothing to support the caps on
> the
> > backside they collapsed/dented.
> >
> > Overall, the frameset looks like it could be a De Rosa but the
> indentation
> > for chainring clearance isn't consistent with mid-70's De Rosas nor are
> the
> > squarish reinforcements for the bridge tubes on the stays. There is the
> > (better?) possibility that the frame is a Benotto, IMHO.
> >
> > Tam Pham
> > Huntington Beach, CA - USA
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________