[CR] Torpadunno. Any Torpado experts out there?

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

From: "Benjamin Butler" <benbutler78@hotmail.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:11:27 -0400
In-Reply-To: <mailman.11365.1280198372.76241.classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References:
Subject: [CR] Torpadunno. Any Torpado experts out there?


List,

Last night I went to see a rather curious Torpado frame that I didn't purchase. In the pictures, it had all the right details: Magistroni "Torpado" branded headset, chrome lugs, long Campy 1010 dropouts. It is a "Sprint" model, which as far I can tell is identical to the "Sport" model. But when I saw the frame in person, it had a spot-welded kickstand plate on the frame, as well as an ugly welded seam across the bottom of the BB shell. But the paint looked quite original. It was pretty heavy too.

Any Torpado experts that can weigh in on this? When is this frame from and where did it fit in the Torpado lineup? And was welding a BB shell down the middle ever a method of construction that was used on a lightweight?

Here are a few public pictures from the seller: http://www.flickr.com/photos/coleemde/sets/72157624585966306/

Thanks as always for your collective knowledge,

Ben Butler
Brooklyn, NY USA