Classic & Vintage - Anyone recognize this tubing decal?

Hello all.

I made my 2nd bike-related purchase of the year today, in the form of about half of a Gimondi-branded bicycle. It looks to have some mix of gipiemme/campy stuff, so I figured it was worth a shot. No fork, but frame looks decent to my eyes. My size, too.

Can anyone recognize this side-view of the tubing before it arrives home? ;) Any other words of wisdom would be appreciated, too, although I gather from the little research I've done that there are not too many of these frames and they are of mysterious origins.

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn113/parallaxvideo/Screenshot2012-01-02at11144PM.png

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn113/parallaxvideo/Screenshot2012-01-02at11158PM.png

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn113/parallaxvideo/Screenshot2012-01-02at11251PM.png


-Sofia

it is Toledo Tubing a much lesser known old branch of the Columbus family ;)

Maybe you could point the camera directly at the center of the decal so we could see the whole thing.

looks like seller pics, he probably doesn't have it yet

yeah, if I could see the whole decal it wouldn't be such a mystery! those are zoomed-in screenshots of the seller's crappy pictures.

I agree with everything, but let's just play. There is a little-known tubing called Falk or Falke, found on some Italian bikes, I think it was becoming rare back in teh '70s. But this label seems to have an F in it. I've never seen a Falke label, but perhaps this is one? Also, it seems to share a color scheme with the early Columbus decals.

Living not too far from Toledo, Ohio I'm inclined to entertain Bianchigrrl's suggestion that it's the Ohio branch of Columbus tubing. Go, Mudhens!

actually it's spelled Falck and not so little known, wouldn't be surprised if this frame is built from Falck since it was the "low budget choice" of many Italian builders (tubing drawn for Falck by Mannesmann). And not that bad for a plain-gauge budget tube. Clearly the decal is inspired by Columbus (or is that an "homage"?). For $45 I'd take a chance on it.

Looks like a nice frame and interesting components... the components will easily justify the price several times over.
Is the left crank missing?

for $45...go for it! I'm taken with the curvy shift levers!

Thanks for the help/encouragement everyone. I already bought it. It does look like the left crank arm/pedal is missing, but I'll just sell off what I can't use and build it up... haven't decided into what! Ideas welcome.

The only similar frame I've found pictures of is this red one, purportedly from 1978:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c-3zlJ370fI/TNRqM868yjI/AAAAAAAACc4/nOkQi7ujCV0/s1600/Gimondi.jpg

We'll be anxiously waiting for the answer (and a good picture)! It doesn't look like any Falck decal I've seen and I've never come across Toledo. It's too early for Oria or Dedacciai (sp?). Offhand, the only other Italian brand I recall is Tullio, but it not the same as the few Tullio decals I've seen.

just for posterity: here's a few legit Falck tubing decals and one for Tullio as well232431232432232433232434
I have never seen one like the OP's either so no idea what it may be until better pic is posted.

Cool. Thanks for the pics, unworthy1. I'll be sure to post better images when I get the bike, hopefully by next week.

I'm on the hunt for a chrome fork for it, in case anyone has any leads.

You may have a bit of a hard time tracking down an OEM fork, but good, chrome replacement forks should via available through any LBS.

I would use this

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-3773699254952_2185_40556808

Somas Track fork $150 http://store.somafab.com/sostbltrfo.html

The matching bottle would be the big selling point for me.

I would use this

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-3773699254952_2185_40556808

Somas Track fork $150 http://store.somafab.com/sostbltrfo.html
Really? A straight legged fork?? There lots of nice curved steel forks out there to match the frame better.

Chombi

A curved fork with a flat crown would look better

Update: frame has arrived

So I just got the frame in tonight. And the winner is:

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn113/parallaxvideo/photo7.jpg

"Telai Speciali," meaning 'Special Frames' in Italian... anyone know how to interpret this? Or what the 'MBZ' (?) stands for? Very curious.

In other news: I should have trust my instincts from looking at the pic, but the seller wrote it was 21 inches square, and i went with it. As it is, it has a about a 57cm ST c-c, and a 58.5cm TT c-c, a few centimeters too big for me in either direction :(. I have ridden 57cm frames before, and it works, but I know they are too big for me. I'm female, 5'7, 32" inseam.

I may keep the bars and saddle from it and part the rest of it out. On here in the FS section first, then ebay as a last resort. Has some decent stuff, campy FD and RD, gipiemme cranks and brakes, ITM stem, etc. The frame looks straight, has some small chips with light surface rust. I could really use the money right now, as I just rented out a new (art) studio. So, keep that in mind if you end up buying stuff from me later. ;)

In the meantime please let me know if you have any insight into the tubing decal.

Thanks everyone!

I'm interested in Gipiemme bits. What do you have?

-Tom

Everything has already been discussed in BF :p

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/551476-Aero-Tubing...-BMZ-Falck

I'm interested in Gipiemme bits. What do you have?

I'm gonna take 'em off the frame/clean them up and then photograph later this week, but:

- Right side crank arm w/ 52-42 rings
- BB (ITA)
- Brake levers, calipers
- Dropouts are stamped Gipiemme too.

Not sure what I'll be sellin' off but I'll PM you if you want when I post it up.

Everything has already been discussed in BF :p

Ah, of course :) Thanks for that link. BMZ, MBZ.... whoops.

Hah! Not only has it been discussed in BF but I was one of the discussors....I really need to get a better memory!
So: very likely this is some flavor of Falck (or perhaps directly from Mannesmann, bypassing the Falck middleman) tubing drawn for BMZ (who were one of the biggest contract builders in Italy, at times).
It's definitely too big for you if you're 5'7" and it's a 57CM frame, but the good news is you won't lose money re-selling it. If you weren't so far away I would suggest it to somebody here in SF who might be very interested.

Nice, good to have some insight into its origins. Yeah, I now know better than I did in early 2010, when I bought a 57cm mid-80s 501-tubed Peugeot and rode it for a year. In my defense it was a very cool bike and I could still stand over it -- and it was only $60... with a sweet white Sachs-Huret group :)

I am willing to ship it, if there is interest, and am a professional art handler so buyer can rest assured it will be well packed ;)

for $45...go for it! I'm taken with the curvy shift levers!

Those look like Modolo plastic levers. They usually break just as you're shifting into first gear up a steep climb.

they are indeed! I don't even wanna sell them, they are scary