Re: [CR]Mystery (french?) stem for identification ...

(Example: Framebuilding:Paint)

From: "Eric Elman" <tr4play@cox.net>
To: <fred_rednor@yahoo.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <858630.64020.qm@web30601.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Mystery (french?) stem for identification ...
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:55:20 -0400
reply-type=original

All,

I should have written "I believe the stem to be Milremo" rather then stating it so absolutely. Here's my reasoning:

1. I have one just like it except with an oval engraved around the lettering. 2. The above stem came on a Bob Jackson fitted with a Milremo handlebar, saddle and rims. 3. Ron Kitching's 1979 and 1981 catalogs list the Milremo "Super Sport" stem and describe her as follows: "a superior forged duraluminum stem made especially for the 'pros'. Fitted with concealed expander bolt and clip bolt both with Allen-Key heads, the clip is neatly engraved MILREMO" 4. I still have the stem in my display cabinet and although the script is extremely stylized, it certainly looks like Milremo to me.

So, not conclusive; allowing you to decide.

Eric Elman
out of hiding in
Somers, CT USA


----- Original Message -----
From: Fred Rednor
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 7:58 PM
Subject: Re: [CR]Mystery (french?) stem for identification ...



> Don,
>
> I have a stem that appears identical to thise one, except mine bears the
> th
> e old style, rhombus shaped MAVIC insignia. This makes me wonder whether
> MAVIC actually made their own stems, or if they were made for them by
> someo
> ne like Balleri? Then again, I also have an Italian made stem, in French
> d
> imensions, that looks close to this stem. That stem was made by Fiamme.
>
> So my suspicion is that this stem is merely a "rebranded" piece, actually
> m
> ade by... well, by some famous manufacturer who must remain nameless.
> Inte
> restingly, the auction says it was taken off of a Carlton,
> in which case it _should_ have a diameter of 22.2mm (as opposed to the sta
> ndard French diameter of 22mm), which made me wonder whether the engraving
> is a badly done version of "Milremo"?
>
> Could it be that, even though Milremo was a sort of off-brand, it had
> devel
> oped enough caché in the UK that someone would place a slight variation o
> f that name on their own stems, hoping to fool the consumer?
>
> Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginai (USA)
>
>> http://ebay.com/<blah>
>>
>> For future reference (after the auction is gone), it looks
>> like a
>> cinelli 1-A stem with 3 wide flutes ending in semicircles -
>> down the
>> sides and top, and says something like 'Gilbema' or
>> 'Cilbiema' on the head/front.
>>
>> I'm guessing it's french only because of the accent
>> on the 'e' in the
>> spelling on the stem. Quite likely, the brand may have
>> died because
>> their logo was too hard to decipher !! Can you imagine
>> walking into a
>> bikeshop and saying, "Sir, sell me another
>> <mumble>, please!" :-) :-)
>>
>> If this is from a newly discovered ancient parts-maker,
>> should we try to host these photos on the CR Website ?

>

> =0A=0A=0A