Mel Pinto special

[dbg]

I just received this and am thinking it would be a good project. Can anybody pinpoint year/model info for me?

[zonatandem]

Looks like early to mid-70s design. Double twin laterals and the massive fork crown tend to indicate that time period.
For several years Mel pinto imported tandems from Europe, probably France/Italy. He then usually put his own name on them.

[TandemGeek]

I just received this and am thinking it would be a good project. Can anybody pinpoint year/model info for me?

Find the serial number then call and ask: Mel Pinto Imports is still a going concern and still located in Falls Church, Virginia.
http://www.melpintoimports.com/homepage.html

[dbg]

I'm presuming there's little value in restoring it to anything near original. So I'll plan to upgrade whatever seems appropriate. Any opinions on whether the ATOM rear hub/drum brake is worth keeping? Rim brakes include canti front posts and center-pull Weinmanns on the rear.

Should I pursue other hub brake options? (I have a Nexave hub and interfacing hub brake that looks like it could fit into the 140mm rear drops with spacers (axle is long enough). Is that sturdy enough?

Any other general recommendations?

[zonatandem]

The French Atom drum was a bit problematic in its day. Arai is now 'the' drum brake in the US.
Enjoy the project but would not sink a lot of $$ into it.