Piemme is one ... using the spelled out initials of the shop owner, Pietro M. (can't recall his last name off hand, but Maasland knows it well). This frame (sourced from Steven ... thank you very much) was made by Romani, on Pietro's behalf. There's an "R" on the top of each fork crown, and the stay tops say Romani:
<http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/fujifish1/MarksVintage/PiemmePista/Piemme 76_Pista51_5Red02.jpg.html> Be sure to click on the "double exposure" squares above or below the center of the image to really see it.
Ciao, Mark (missing another Cirque ... wahhhhh) Agree Southfield MI USA ~ ~ ~
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 10:41:45 -0700 From: "Mark Bulgier" <Mark@bulgier.net> To: "Rick Cool" <cool_one@cox.net>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: RE: [CR]Palo Alto on eBay
Rick Cool wrote:
> Has anyone noticed the allegedly Ritchey-built and on-topic
> Palo Alto on eBay?
> http://ebay.com/
Definitely Italian-built, not Ritchey. Seller does say it is by Biemmezeta, an Italian builder. (I think seller might have added this info after Rick saw the auction - it does say "Revised".)
I'm pretty sure it is newer than the seller thinks it is too. That particular type of squashed-down fork tips and stay ends at the dropouts is a technique I didn't notice until mid-eighties I think. The fork crown, lugs, under-BB cable guides and chainstay bridge all look eighties to me too.
It may have been PA's top of the line, but it's distinctly B-grade, semi-mass-produced. Might ride sublimely (giving it the benefit of doubt here) but the workmanship is not great.
Side note, Biemmezeta is simply a phonetic spelling-out of the way an Italian would say the letters B-M-Z -- "bi - emme - zeta". A few other Italian bike companies are/were named that way, but the only ones I can think of right now are Gipiemme for GPM, and Duegi for GG ("due - gi" or "two Gs"). Who wants to think of some more?
Mark Bulgier Seattle WA USA
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