Classic & Vintage - $2000 Ideale Saddle?!

Hi everyone. My apologies in advance if this has been discussed but I really want some opinions on this saddle. I just noticed it on ebay. This Ideale 57 saddle sold for over $2,000! I've seen these things go for a few hundred tops but never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined seeing one go for over $2000! Makes me want to put mine on ebay to see what happens. :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ideale-57-Alloy-Rail-saddle-to-fit-early-Rene-Herse_W0QQitemZ110338838097QQihZ001QQcategoryZ56197QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This topic sounds familiar (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=505194)...

Japanese collector

Ideale used to be the pre-eminent French saddle brand. Today Brooks and to a lesser extent, Leppers in the Netherlands, are the only survivors of the leather saddle tradition in Europe. Berthoud is reportedly considering reviving leather saddle manufacture in France.

Items like this are rare as most have not survived over the last 50-60 years and the alloy rails make it even rarer still... this saddle is also in amazing condition.

I can see it as being a must have for certain collectors.

This topic sounds familiar (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=505194)...

dang...i knew that would happen. that thread just didn't turn up when i did a search because there is no mention of "ideale" in the thread title. i've watched ideale saddles go on ebay and have always been curious about them. i actually had an ideale rebour 88 saddle with alloy rails a little while back. i ended up selling it locally with the seatpost for $100...it wasn't in great shape. i guess the guy who bought it didn't care for it and put in back on craigslist. he kept lowering the price and the last time i saw it, it was down to $40. i picked up another bike with an ideale saddle and have not been able to find anything like it (pic attached). if i can sell this thing for $2k, let me know! i'll definitely stop riding on it. :) it's funny that i've found 2 of these things over the years. it's not like i'm looking for them or anything!

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww56/vamosaver_photos/DSC00069.jpg
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww56/vamosaver_photos/DSC00070.jpg

working in a bike shop has its downside, I swear the only Ideale saddles I saw were cheaply made health hazards that never were worth much in comparison to the brooks that I saw.

Ideale made many saddle models over the years. Some are very common and some are out of this world rare. I recently sold one on ebay to a buyer in japan for $100. But the one I had was not rare, a Mod. 90 with steel rails... quality equivalent to a brooks B17, maybe a little nicer.

Early alloy rail models from the 50's and 60's are what command the highest prices. It all depends on the model because some were only made for a very short time.

Their look, profile, logos, style are the height of french Constructeur saddles... and if you have a $7500 Rene Herse sitting around without a proper saddle then price is not much to consider when you want to get your bike rideable again!

I have a nice Ideale model 5. Does anybody know that one?

How many threads can we have on the same saddle?

Some folks have money, most don't.

There will always be collectors of fine, rare items.

Collectible gold coins are a better investment, but with all the dumpster divers here, who knows what may turn up?

I found a really nice Gloria in the trash, some 00 steel wool and oxalic acid made it look like new!

How many threads can we have on the same saddle?

Some folks have money, most don't.

There will always be collectors of fine, rare items.

Collectible gold coins are a better investment, but with all the dumpster divers here, who knows what may turn up?

I found a really nice Gloria in the trash, some 00 steel wool and oxalic acid made it look like new!

Amen.

How many threads can we have on the same saddle?



Anyway,

These are sooo cheap!

Only $1125
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370164719960&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBUAA:US:1123

And cheaper still (although without the alloy rails)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370164718919&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBUAA:US:1123


And this is a 57 - a bargain at $167, but without the rails at all!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&item=370164714877


Oops, missed this bargain:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370164720952&_trksid=e11002.m204&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%252BIA%26itu%3DIA%252BUCI%26otn%3D10&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBUAA:US:1348

Price drop. Only $1485. Appears to be in good condtion. "Ideale 57 FT Record saddle process Assouplix "

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190443642007&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBUAA:US:1123

working in a bike shop has its downside, I swear the only Ideale saddles I saw were cheaply made health hazards that never were worth much in comparison to the brooks that I saw.

I have three Ideale saddles mounted on my bikes... a Professional, a 92D, and a 70.

All are pretty wonderful.

I recently bought a box of vintage parts and old Schwinn saddles for five bucks. Lo and behold, there at the bottom of the box was an Ideale 2002, which looks absolutely terrific on my Mercier 300 rebuild. My Brooks B17 is still probably the better saddle, but i'm duly impressed with the Ideale so far.