After reading this thread, I noticed, while reading Stevenson's "The High-Tech Bicycle", that a Toga decorated Pogliaghi Pista bike, with Toga's name on the seat and downtubes, and with the moniker "Tempo" on the top tube is found on page 40. Furthermore, a Richard Sach's "Signature" frameset, in a similar color scheme (although not designated as a Toga in any way) is also present on page 77. George George Hollenberg MD CT, USA
On Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 12:46 PM, James Swan <jswan@optonline.net> wrote:
> I was friends with Lenny during those times. He sold me the 531 tube set
> that I used to build my first frame in 1981. Here are some pictures that I
> took of Nelson Vails, Lenny and some of the other Toga guys:
>
> http://jamieswan.net/
>
> Jamie Swan
> Northport, NY, USA
> http://www.jamieswan.net
>
>
> On Aug 20, 2009, at 12:33 PM, oroboyz@aol.com wrote:
>
>
>> << Dale can you give more on Toga?? >>
>> The original Toga (not associated with current ownership) was IIRC on Ave
>> B.?
>>
>>
>> It was chocked with exotica.. In the mid 70s I remember many frames incl
>> Masi, Colnago, Speedwell Ti, ?R. Sachs*, etc,. hanging from the crowded
>> ceiling. Small space packed with people bikes and parts. They had their
>> counters built up maybe 3-4 feet so the staff looked down at customers;
>> there was rumored to be an illegal shotgun for protection stashed behind the
>> counter. While they had high end customers, they also had the?hoi polloi and
>> even some rough characters so vigilance was the guiding principle.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> The bike set up procedure was super strict; they tighten stuff twice and
>> hard. The story was that a drug dealer bought a bike, something slipped
>> loose and he came back and sprayed the shop with bullets. They didn't want
>> that to happen again.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> * Toga was the USA exclusive agent for our amigo Richard Sachs in his
>> early days. I still have a price sheet somewhere from those days where the
>> frames were $245 if I recall... Team Toga raced his frames, all painted Toga
>> green & yellow!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> The green and yellow theme worked it's way through much... Manager maybe
>> part owner (?) Lennie Preheim was one of the most eccentric and outrageous
>> race promoter character. At events he wore green everything. Boots, clothes
>> etc. Disparagers said even his teeth were green. But he promoted the shop &
>> team to a high level, at regional races Trexlertown etc. Nelson Vails was an
>> early protege plus rumored Pro Polish riders (sand baggers to others)
>> cleaned up at crit races... Lennie was at that time married to my
>> ex-partner's twin sister. Yes, Lennie was gay, sadly died of aids some years
>> ago.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> But Toga was quite a shop "in the day."
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Dale
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Dale Brown
>>
>> Greensboro, NC
>>
>> (Proprietor of cycles de ORO, once named "Toga #2" although no financial
>> connection...)
>>
>>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
-- George
George Hollenberg MD
CT, USA