For any List member who wants an almost unique frame NIB..and very rare, you could do worse than buy the 54cms GELIANO frame ( item no 270208144693) that is currently being offered for sale with a starting price of $349 or a Buy Now one of $399. The auction finishes on 6 feb.
The frame is the product of a friend of mine, Jean-Marie Duret's company, based in the Loire Valley about 120 miles south of Paris. Made from Columbus SL tubing the frame dates from the 1985/86 period. The paintwork on this model would cost a fortune if you had to get it done in the States..possibly double the price the seller is asking for the frame. This specific finish was called Galaxy for obvious reasons..and was piloted at the 1985 Paris Show in September and then featured on the firm's stand at Milan a couple of months later. I worked both Shows for Jean-Marie, and remember on the Monday morning towards the end of the Show the trio of frame-builders, the Rossin brothers,Luigi Daccordi and Idio Tommasini visiting the stand to congratulate Jean-Marie on behalf of what the trio called the craftsmen-framebuilders of Italy, for having the best looking frames in the Show.
This particular frame was built by another of these French jobbing builders who supply the trade..another Bernard Carre type. His name was Denis Quillon who was formerly the foremen builder for the small high-end company MERAL. When Meral ran into difficulties in the early 80s and uprooted from near Tours in the Loire valley, Denis stopped in his own neighbourhood and set up his own company, supported largely by Duret. As his fame spread he built frames for a number of top riders such as Laurent Fignon, and his Castorama team-mates..and celebrities such as Alain Prost, the Formula One driver. Denis is currently a consultant builder and designer for Look , as well as heading up the custom-builder CYFAC.
Although this ebay frame is in Poland..and I remember a lot of Gelianos going to the eastern-bloc..and Germany..and Denmark and Sweden..the seller is quoting a price of $40 for economy delivery to the States, or $80 for air-mail.
Norris Lockley..Settle UK
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