Randy,
I apologize for taking so long to reply, but quite frankly I have been rather busy preparing for an upcoming trip out of town ... AND ... I wanted to let at least a little bit of time pass before responding so as to better process any other ON or OFF list commentary in response to my plea for assistance.
I had actually considered a couple models of 3ttt components as being the basis for the "mystery" Pino stem, but I find it difficult at best to conclude with any certitude that such might be the case. One of the primary reasons that I believe this exercise will be unduly difficult (...but hey, if any collection of keen minds is up to the challenge, I suspect it is to be found here on the CR List) is because my own "best guess" is that Pino used an otherwise factory stock stem (...Ambrosio, Fiamme, ITM, 3ttt, etc.) as a basis upon which to craft his own whereby he chopped off the bottom end of the quill where any identifying mark or sizing stamp would have been on the pretense of lightening it, cut in a new slot for the expander cone, did a little milling work to alter its form and profile while in the process obliterating any other OEM logo markings, fit his own hardware, pantographed his moniker on each side of the neck and PRESTO! - instant Pino stem. Of course, the type of re-fabrication I am describing only makes the process of identification of origin that much more intriguing and literally begs for both speculation and debate. That is, of course, unless some one of us recognizes one or more subtleties that obscure the inherent truth - and they are willing to share that knowledge for our collective benefit.
Robert "gazing into the darkness of his own crystal ball" Broderick ..the "Frozen Flatlands" of South Dakota Sioux Falls, USA
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of randy dugan Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2008 2:56 PM To: classicrendezvous Subject: re: [CR]Please Help In Identifying the OEM Manufacturer Of This Stem
robert,
is it the same as this 3ttt model?
item numbers: 400000871527 140271922145
can't tell for sure as the photo angles are different.
best luck with the project, it looks great.
randy dugan
van nuys, ca usa
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I wish to solicit the collective wisdom the of CR List in an attempt to help identify the OEM manufacturer of that stem which came originally affixed to the 1983 Pino Morroni I am in the process of refurbishing. No, it is
not one of those proprietary titanium versions that Pino himself produced at various times during the 1970's, but rather, a forged aluminum unit which obviously originated elsewhere and was thereafter modified accordingly
to include the words "PINO" pantographed into each side of its neck as well as fitment with the type of lightweight aluminum hardware that Pino was well known to provision in conjunction with either his own or modified Cinelli stems. In any event, the mystery component in question can be viewed using the following link (.please view the four pictures found in the sixth row):
http://www.wooljersey.com/
I strongly suspect that the stem is of Italian origin, although I do not know that to be a fact. Its details are unlike any stem with which I am familiar, and the only other person I have really discussed this matter with posited that it might possibly be either an early 1980's Fiamme or ITM component - but he certainly was not resolute in offering that somewhat coerced opinion.
Carefully considered suggestions? Mere Conjecture? Wanton speculation?
Or maybe someone out there absolutely, positively knows just exactly what it is?
Robert "Inquiring Mind Needs To Know" Broderick the "Frozen Flatlands" of South Dakota Sioux Falls, USA