[CR] Cinelli Mod. B

(Example: Books:Ron Kitching)

Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:14:33 -0800
From: "Kevin Moran" <gridplan@yahoo.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR] Cinelli Mod. B


Listers, I believe the frame I auctioned (eBay # 150327167727) is exactly what I said it was: a Cinelli Mod. B. As to whether it is from the 1970's, that's open to debate. I listed it as being from the 1970's because that's the date I was given by the seller in Italy. Pictures from that listing are here:

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/gridplan/cinelli70s/orig/

I've been reading some of the posts regarding this frame. Comparing photos is only natural. But I think it would be folly to draw from them any firm conclusions as to the marque's defining characteristics. How many pictures of distinct Cinellis are we talking about relative to the number they produced during this period? It can't be but a small percentage, and they can't possibly capture the variability inherent in the production of these frames. They weren't stamped out by machines. People made them -- many hands, maybe even those of a few subcontractors. These frames are not all going to be alike, nor will they all exhibit the same level of craftsmanship. I would expect, though, that if they were going to be a little sloppy with a frame, it would be with this, their economy model. As for serial numbers, not every Cinelli had one. A friend of mine in Italy owned his since his racing days and it did NOT have a serial number. I think he has since sold it on eBay. But I would bet there are other examples out there.

http://fotoalbum.alice.it/quadriciclo/cinelliorange/cinelliorange039.html

Similarly, not every chainstay bridge had supports. Some were crudely welded like mine. I have a picture of an old white Cinelli like this, but I've decided not to post a link without consent of the owner. There's a good chance he reads this forum. As for the fork crown, to my eyes at least, it looks much like the one on the Mod. B in Chuck Schmidt's 1960's Cinelli catalog: a flat, chromed crown in kind of a crescent shape as viewed from the side.

Kevin Moran Bloomington, Indiana USA

P.S. For what it's worth, you can see the remnants of the Fischer stamp ('+', as in '+GF+') on my BB, which is what I would expect.

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/gridplan/cinelli70s/?action=view&current=IMG_2143.jpg