Classic & Vintage - Help me identify this frame? BIG PICS!!

Picked up a free(!!!!) bicycle off of Craigslist here in the Bay Area. I have no idea what kind of frame this is. The frame has columbus decals as you can see. Semi-sloping fork crown is nice. It has a heart cutout in the bottom bracket with one circle cut-out on the lug (only visible from beneath the bike). Recessed caliper mounting with little cutouts on the rear brake bridge lugs(?). Headset is a Tange Nova, Calipers are "Universal" (wierd half black half silver), Also included is a shot of a decal of a signature on the top tube. I'm not sure if it is of any significance. The compnents on this bike dont seem to be original. It had Aerobars on it with newer shimano levers. The rear derailleur is a Shimano Altus. The crank is an Ofmega with the words "super competition" on the arms (original crank?). If you need a shot of something else or from a different angle, let me know. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!! Thanks!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/electroroland/bike/000_0008.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/electroroland/bike/000_0012.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/electroroland/bike/000_0009.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/electroroland/bike/000_0004.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/electroroland/bike/000_0003.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/electroroland/bike/000_0002_2.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/electroroland/bike/000_0002_1.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/electroroland/bike/000_0002.jpg

The brakes are universal 77's. The cranks are late 80's Ofmegas, I think, oh yeah, I see you named them. The signature on the top tube will tell the story, only I can't see the whole thing - I think maybe the frame is older than the component group? The parts are pretty middle of the road for the late 80's, and the frame seems to be a little more upscale -

you got a good deal, whatever. You need to lower the stem below its minimum insertion mark and it looks like the seatpost is beyond its limit as well. Could you post another picture of the signature?

I have seen that crown on Tommassini's. Although the frame looks somewhat Italian I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that it may be made here in the US by a small shop. What drop outs does it have? What threading is the BB shell - that is a big clue if you can determine what it is. Anyone ever seen a DeRosa like this?

Mike.

Nice fork crown. No DeRosa. Wrong chainstays, probably late late 70's to mid 80's. juging by the recessed brake bolt ports. De Rosa used this type of BB cut out, so did Benotto for a while, the tubular cable guides say something else. Do lwer the stem or get one of those Nitto units that lets one mount the bars high safely. No argument as to the price, a deal at twice even.

Looks just like a better early '80s Benotto, but lacks the Benotto seat stay caps. Possibly built by Benotto as someone's house brand...? I have a Benotto frame that looks very close to the same, including the tubular cable guides underneath.

Thanks guys. The dropouts arent marked. The stem and seatpost havent been installed yet. Theyre both so high because I removed the aerobars and removed a shim around the seatpost because its the wrong size. I just stuck them both in for the picture. I'll probably be replacing both the seatpost (wrong size) and the stem (I need one thats a bit longer) Underneath the signature it says "peinture par," which is french for "painting by." I can't make out the signature except for the "Bob." I guess the frame was custom painted. Anyway, heres a pic:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/electroroland/bike/1b033de4.jpg

Thanks again everyone.

theotherguy is right.
it's a mexican benotto.
e-RICHIE©™®

Looks quite like another machine or two I have seen they were all made by a UK builder called C.R. Apps. Quite a few about I belive D le Breton