Toni, what does it say on the sticker that includes Padova; or can you host a photo? Padova is on the eastern side of the Veneto, pretty far from Milan and Grosseto that Irio has been associated with.
Angel Garcia Verona VR Veneto Italy
Toni, Although there may be other bikes with this name I know from talking with him that Irio Tommasini, when he first started building bikes, used the name Thomas because he thought they would sell better in the U.S. There are very few of them around because he did not stay in the business very long for monetary reasons. Eventually, I believe, his wife talked him into going back to building bikes and they became Tommasini. There was one Thomas at L'Eroica this year that Irio himself tried to buy but to no avail. He doesn't even have one of his own first bikes. Best, Edward Albert Chappaqua, New York, U.S.A. ---------------------------------
Funny coincidence that. Never heard of a maker called tomas before, end
then saw two tomas bikes in one day.
First I came across one on today´s ride (1200 participants, wow). Old
chap overhears me saying to my son that a beauty of a Cinelli had turned up again after we had marvelled at it last weekend. Chap says that he´s one also, so I go to look at it, find the seat lug treatment
strange for a Cinelli, but the lugs have nice winged C´s cast into them, all lugs, with the name "tomas" in the fork crown and seat stay tips. The bike´s been refinished, so who knows.
Next after the really super ride with sunny, but not hot weather, good
company, great signposting, a good time, I remember that on the way home there´s a lost and found office auction. So what do I see there
but a tomas racer, Aelle, 600, that sort of thing, dirty, patina, but ride away condition, and perfectly within the CR timeline, and again the tomas name engraved in the fork crown and the seat stay caps. The sticker on the steering head mentions the Italian town of Padova. People don´t want the bike so I pick it up for a Euro, 1.55 US Dollars. Best thing is it´s been retro-fitted with white Bluemels Club Special
mudguards - been looking for white ones for some time.
But then, returning home I find tomas isn´t in the Used Bike Buyers´
Guide. So, is there anyone who can enlighten me who tomas is/was?
Thanks, and kind regards, Toni Theilmeier, Belm, Germany.