toobusi

New to the site. This is my first post.

In 1977 I worked in my neighborhood bike shop. Long story short, the owner took a brand new Garlatti from one of his distributers that had been in the NYC bike show showcasing the Campy Nouvo Gran Sport Components. I purchased the bike for $500 and rode it as my primary bike for about 8-9 years. While it did not have a Columbus sticker we were always under the impression that it was. I have had in and out of use since then and have recently pulled it out of a long storage. I am almost done with a complete overhall, repacking hubs, headset and bottom bracket. The bike is a bueaty, full chrome, some minor pitting, paint is beat-up. Still a great ride. But thinking of selling. Put the money towards a mountain bike.

Two Questions.
1. I weighed the Frame / without fork. 5lbs. Anyway to tell if it is Columbus?
2. Any thoughts on value? Bike is all Campy Gran Sport, except Universal Super 68 Brakes, Mavic hand built wheels, tubular, with old fashion wire wrap at spoke crosses.

Any help is appreciated.

Eric

PS: Garlatti is a small bike company out of Parma Italy, Not many around the states.

jet sanchEz

Hrm, if it is a higher-end Columbus tube-set you may be able to see splines in the tubes. Check the BB. That is just one way that I know of identifying SLX, maybe some experts will chime in later.

unworthy1

Jet is correct, but I don't think you'll find the splines in the BB (indicating SLX) on a '77, cause that seems a bit early for SLX (correct me if I'm wrong). What you CAN feel for is ridges (splines) in the bottom of the steerer, where it's open inside the fork crown. 5 ridges in that location indicates a Columbus steerer and therefore likely a Columbus SL or SP tubeset for the entire frame (depending on size and intended use). Garlattis are rare, as you say, but they are pretty highly regarded...you might scour the CR archives for more about what yours might be worth.

toobusi

Ill try and check the head tube and fork, just put it all back together. I did shine a light into the down tube and it looked smooth. But at 5 lbs. it seems to light to be ordinary steel?

M-theory

""Ill try and check the head tube and fork, just put it all back together. I did shine a light into the down tube and it looked smooth. But at 5 lbs. it seems to light to be ordinary steel?""

5lbs for a bare steel frame is heavy if the frame is small. It's OK if the frame is 60cm+. I'd say that an Italian frame with Nuovo Gran sport would more likely be Columbus Aelle, Cromor or general 'Tretubi'. But still, likely Columbus steel of some sort. Check the seatpost diameter......it's probably 27.0mm. If it's 27.2 then that could mean Columbus SL or higher-end stuff.

ollo_ollo

I have a 53 cm Columbus SL frame that weighs 4 pounds and a Chromor 53 cm that weighs in at 4.5 pounds, both are late 80s. I would guess your frame may be Aelle. As to value, there is a guy up in Tacoma, WA that has been selling NOS, early 70s vintage, Garlatti bikes for $300 each on craigs list. They appear to have a Campy Gran Sport group with steel cranksets that are the old pinned style. Last ad I saw he only had a few left. REcently, on e-Bay, a NOS Legnano with a Campy 980 group sold for a bit over $300 & a NOS Benotto with Campy NR had a bid in the high $300s but didn't make reserve. Don edit: Here is the link to Craigs list go to https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/bik/255617680.html

ampalabike

I doubt it being Columbus besides the weight thing for the sole reason not having a Columbus sticker. Italian framebuilders would put the sticker on the tubes when they used Columbus tubes. As you got the bike new and it never had the sticker it is highly unlikely that it was build with Columbus. Don't forget the sticker was a sales argument at the day much like the Made in Italy sticker. The Garlattis I have seen were all very nice frames with chromed lugs but never Columbus tubing. So my gues would be Falck or similiar.