The passing of Harry and connected discussion of his bikes makes me think of the first one I ever saw. It was in Montreal, at the 1974 World Championships. A couple of us drove up and we were staying at a youth hostel at a Unitarian church, most of the young people there were in town for the Championships.
Many guys brought their bikes. I remember a Celeste Bianchi Specialissmo and a black Harry Quinn. The Quinn was notable for its short wheelbase and steep angles by the standards of the day. The course included a steep climb of Mont Royale and an equally steep descent. Many spectators went out on the course the evening before the race to ride it themselves. I remember the guy with the Quinn departing in the early evening to ride the course. Later that night he returned to the hostel with bandages from head to foot. Evidently overcooked it on the descent and crashed. Probably not the only one that evening to do so. Fortunately, the Quinn was not badly damaged.
While evidently red was the typical Quinn color, I always think of them as black because of that memory.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA
> From: Bob Hillery <rhillery@hawksi.org>
\r?\n> Subject: [CR] Harry Quinn on ebay
\r?\n> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
\r?\n> Date: Monday, October 26, 2009, 10:55 AM
\r?\n> Recent listing that may not yet have
\r?\n> been 'outed' here"
\r?\n> A '72 Harry Quinn frame & fork, item # 290363542493
\r?\n>
\r?\n> I don't know anything about HQ other than what I've read
\r?\n> here & on the CR site, but it is in my size & I've
\r?\n> got a couple questions:
\r?\n> 1. Seller says it's been clear coated to preserve decals -
\r?\n> mmm, I could make an argument either way and not sure which
\r?\n> side I'd settle on, keep it original or hey, good idea to
\r?\n> keep look protected without color touch up, etc. ... guess
\r?\n> that's not a "question" as I'm pretty sure I'll get both
\r?\n> viewpoints, and those more vehement at either end of the
\r?\n> spectrum ;-)
\r?\n> 2. serial number - looks in he photo like Q2351 ... would
\r?\n> that nbe a '72? - I have an inquiry out to the seller re:
\r?\n> this, trying to politely ask how the year was determined.
\r?\n> 3. Tange headset - probably not original?
\r?\n> 4. What would a typical build have for components, if there
\r?\n> is such a thing as a 'typical' build?
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Thanks
\r?\n> Bob Hillery , desperately looking for excuses to quit
\r?\n> working early today and do an autumn ride in
\r?\n> Stratham, New Hampshire, US