Ya maybe, but out of fairness, if we read the full auction text and not just look at pictures, he noted the following points in additional description:
"One of the original pedals broke, so both of the current pedals are generic temporary replacements."
"Someone wrote to me because they think that the paint is not original, claiming Cinelli never used this paint scheme. Well, here is a Cinelli Track Tandem with the same orange and white:"
(Here the seller refers you to pics of the Cinelli I photographed at Bloomer Velodrome last summer) <http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/fujifish1/OtherBikes/CinelliPistaTandem /CinPistTandOrng03.jpg.html>
"Since it had been sitting in the basement for three decades, we had it taken apart and cleaned by a local bike shop. The few remaining fragments of decal were removed, revealing a clean and vibrant orange. So, the absence of decals does not mean that the decals were never there, just that we had them taken off completely (I know, but I didn't know anything about the bike). Also, where there is missing paint (see below), there isn't a layer of paint underneath the orange, just the bare metal."
and
"From what I understand, Dick simply used the bike to get to and from gigs, and treated it as a functional necessity. I can't imagine that he'd go through the trouble of having it completely stripped and repainted, just to store it in his basement for three decades."
So, the seller did cover all of those points, and regardless of it all being true or not, his story seems reasonable. He took it to his local bike shop and asked questions. He emailed people whom he was referred to (such as myself, who pointed some things out to him). And, he updated the description as more information came in, while also taking many more photos and making them available. As we've said here before, not all sellers on Ebay are vintage bike nuts like we are, and I think the seller did his reasonable best in representing it.
I have to apologize, as I didn't keep up with the original thread about this bike while the auction was active, so I don't know if some or all of this was already covered, but as for the bike...
The paint under the b.b. does look pretty heavy handed. The orange track tandem has some flaws in the paint under the solid shell b.b. too, albeit, in a much thinner finish: <http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/fujifish1/OtherBikes/CinelliPistaTandem /CinPistTandOrng31.jpg.html>
Can we assume though, that Cinelli would never have sent out a frame painted right over the oiler hole plug like that? I don't know about this feature on older painted Cinellis, so I can't comment. Of course, just because the seller removed flaking decals, doesn't mean they were correct or original decals. It is interesting to note the greater level of patina on the parts, as compared to the frameset, so perhaps the frame WAS repainted some time late in the original owner's tenure, but an untrained eye, like that of the seller, would never catch that I don't think. Also, the c.1965 chromed Cinelli that I had, earned similar patina on the parts, while the frame finish stood the test of time, however the frame was completely chromed, so it is a different animal.
Anyway, I thought this was a very nice bike, even if it needs a one or two color repaint. Can't see about the front der. specifically, but the rear der., cranks, post, bars, stem, "no-Record" hubs, brakes, etc. all look correct to me. Replace the pedals, saddle, and confirm the front der. has the cable stop, and you've got an all "correct" bike, even if not original. Whether or not the seller really believes it is original or not, is irrelevant once he admits that he went to others for his info, and seems to be doing the best he can. We often base buys like that on evaluating the bike itself anyway, and not what is said. As for the $2500, perhaps that is high in this market, but I have seen so many of them go for so much more, that I thought it would have sold.
Ciao, Mark Agree Southfield MI USA ~ ~ ~
In a message dated 2/20/2010 5:53:52 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, oroboyz@aol.com writes:
<<..The seller has zero feedback, which might have caused some to be wary, and the size is 59cm, which might be too large for overseas watchers. Vaughn, the seller, emailed me saying he would be willing to sell the bike for $2500 plus shipping. >>
Once again , we see a seller w/o a clue. Does he really think it's "all original"? Blobby (under bb) repaint, no decals, saddle looks to be an Avocet, mtb-like pedals... Not easy to get enthusiastic about this one.
Dale Brown Greensboro, North Carolina USA
-----Original Message----- From: FujiFish1@aol.com To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Sent: Sat, Feb 20, 2010 5:41 pm Subject: [CR] The orange Cinelli that didn't meet reserve on Ebay
I had been in contact with the Ebay seller of the orange Cinelli. It ended yesterday with the reserve unmet at under $1200. The seller has zero feedback, which might have caused some to be wary, and the size is 59cm, which might be too large for overseas watchers. Vaughn, the seller, emailed me saying he would be willing to sell the bike for $2500 plus shipping, as he is definitely not into vintage bikes (and it sounds like he "might" be willing to trade for a more modern bike, but I don't know about that really). Bike is located in East Greenbush, NY, which is somewhat close to Albany.
If interested, let me know and I'll put you in touch with him. The ebay item number is 260551082008. I have no connection, and stand to gain nothing ... just trying to be helpful.
Ciao, Mark Agree Southfield MI USA
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