PeterAnker

Hi guys,

Could you please help me with some info on this Tommasini:
- aprox year of fabrication
- what were the original parts as it was sold new?
- what model of Tommasini is it?
- what tubing
- what parts are on the bike?
- how bad do you think the rust is on the last photo? Is it safe to ride?
- what sort of value does it have in the condition?


The headset and RD seem Record. The crank has "Strada" on the inside. I don't know the model of the crankset and the FD. And the brakes are Galli - whats the deal with those?
The bike as it is has a weight of 10 kg.
It has a Grosseto logo on the front.
The rear hub is a shimano 600 I think, with 7 sp, so its a wide back fork. The wheels fits smooth, no pulling involved.
It has Campagnolo stamped on the rear hub tabs.

PeterAnker

exxongraftek

The rear portacatena dropout makes the bike at least a 1977 or newer. I believe the crank arms and front changer to be original to the bike, as the front changer only took that form in 1978.
IF the crankarms are original, the date code (letter inside a symbol) may shed more light.

The rust is disturbingly deep and it is not only on the thicker portion of the butted tube, but also in the thinned area. I could not sell a bike with that deep rusting in that thin tube area.
I might choose to keep it and ride it myself after preventing further rust progression but it is a clear liability to sell it even after de-rusting it.

PeterAnker

Thanks for the reply.
The drive side crank has a 8 in a rhombus, and the non drive crank has a 7 in a rhombus.
So its a 1978 crank.
Is it safe to say that the bike is 1978?
And about the yellow triangles on the lugged parts... I can't find a single other Tommasini with that model, they all have the "T", mine has triangles, isn't this curios?

The tube is thicker at the end right?
How can I save the frame from rusting any more? Will the rust progress if a I keep the bike inside?
And a funny thing: The top tube has ball bearing in it. And the only hole in the top tube is in the seattube (where it conects), and the diameter of the hole is smaller then the diameter of the ball bearing. This is also very curios . What am I missing?

exxongraftek

It is likely that it is a 78 or 79 model. The portacatena dropout gives you a firm date it can be no older than. Often stocks of parts may take a small builder several years to use up.
The lack of the "T" in the lugs also suggests an early model, as does the scalloped seat stay caps, as by 1980 Tommasini frames had both "T" logo lugs and stay caps.
Yes, the tube is thicker at the end, but the rust is also extending into the thin area. This is why it could be carefully ridden by you AND ONLY YOU because you are aware of the issue.
There are compounds such as "Naval Jelly" and some even more advanced compounds I've not used that will stop the oxidation process and allow you to seal the area with touch-up paint to prevent further damage.
The bike should indeed be kept inside to prevent further damage. I'm a bit surprised there are no holes in the head-tube/top-tube junction that would allow a headset bearing to accidentally enter.
Likely the bearing is not quite as big as it sounds? Or it is perhaps a brass bead left over from the brazing process.
Many of these were sold as bare frames with a Campagnolo headset (only) installed. The buyer would then specify the group (usually Campagnolo NR or SR) to finish the bike.
The Galli brakes (among other brake brands) were often substituted for the Campagnolo brakes as a cost-saving measure, as the perception was that Campagnolo brakes were a bit over-priced back then.
(Safely) enjoy your bike. Even with the mis-matched parts, she's a classic Italian at heart - albeit a weak, rusty heart.

exxongraftek

And please, for the love of all that is holy, get a proper seatpost bolt! She deserves it!

Fourthgrace

As others have said, this is a late 70's Tommasini and in some markets this model was branded "Thomas". You can see a good example currently listed on Thomas Tommasini Campagnolo Nuovo Record Small Size 51. Classic Eroica Cinelli | eBay

T-Mar

I agree with the circa 1978/1979 age assessment.

Regarding the tubeset, I have never seen a Tommasini from this era built with anything other than Columbus SL, not even tre tubi SL. However, it's simple enough to confirm. Remove the seat post and check for the size, which should be stamped on it. A Columbus SL seat tube will use a 27.2mm post. Next remove the front wheel and look inside the bottom of the fork's steerer tube. A Columbus SL steerer tube will have five spiral ridges. If you find anything different, just report your findings and we'll tell you what you have.

As for the model name, during this period, we just referred to them as Tommasini. I don't recall individual model names until the early 1980s, when he started modifying tubing into aero profiles. At that time, the standard Columbus SL was called the Prestige.