Re: [CR] Refinish or not part 2

(Example: Framebuilders:Pino Morroni)

Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 11:25:29 -0700
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>, <crumpy6204@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [CR] Refinish or not part 2


Well, I think I'm mostly with the seller on this one. If one is to have a classic bike refinished, who better to do the job than the original manufacturer. I'm not sure his list of updates is complete, so I'm not sure which brazeons are original and which added, but the brazeons now on the bike are very typical of what would have been added to a bike from the 50's through early 70's when it was refinished in the early 80's.

The brazon shifter bosses, pump pegs and BB cable guides all have the virtue of reducing the number of bits clamped to the frame tubes and thereby protecting the restored frame finish. I've personally had a very similar set of brazeons added when refinishing early 70's frames in the early and mid 80's. And increasing the spacing to 126 was very commonly done as well. All these changes make perfect sense if one has the objective of actually riding the bike as opposed to just displaying it.

I agree that the bike now looks similar to a new Mercian Vincitore, but the Mercian Vincitore is one of the most classic models still made today, almost the definition of KOF. Some might have preferred to restore the frame as originally built and rebuild with period correct bits. But that would have been a task for a dedicated collector as opposed to a rider, even if done back in the 80's. And while one doesn't exactly see a dozen 50's Vincitores on every weekend ride, this wasn't so rare as to be the last in existance.

I do think the seller is being a bit optimistic in the price he hopes to receive. While it is perfectly possible the refinishing and mods cost 500 GBP, we all know one almost never recovers the full cost of a complete restoration if one sells the bike soon after. I note a new Mercian Vincitore starts at 680 GBP. So the starting price of 400 GBP might seem an attractive alternative to a new one, but for the Buy It Now of 650 GBP, many potential bidders might prefer to pay the 680 GBP to Mercians and have their ideal choice of size and color, and perhaps for a reasonable added charge, their choice of options.

I'm trying to resist buying more bikes, but a Vincitore is one bike for which I would make and exception. So if this were a touring version with lots of fittings for cantilaevers, racks and mudguards, I'd be tempted to have a go at 400 GBP. But unfortunately this seems to be more a racing frame.

Regards,

Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA


--- On Sat, 8/1/09, crumpy6204@aol.com wrote:


> From: crumpy6204@aol.com <crumpy6204@aol.com>

\r?\n> Subject: [CR] Refinish or not part 2

\r?\n> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

\r?\n> Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009, 9:55 PM

\r?\n> Re BRITISH!?1950s Mercian

\r?\n> frame?EbayUK#370237661375 Surprised that no one has made a

\r?\n> comment so far, The seller has dropped his price a bit,Guess

\r?\n> everyone is on an Italian kick right now. BUT take a look at

\r?\n> this, The seller tells me that the Mercian recommnned all

\r?\n> the changes done!? Cheers John Crump

\r?\n> oldwhatsaConfenterwhatshisnameanywayBrit Parker, Co USA