JunkYardBike

Picked this bike up locally today. I couldn't pass based on the craftsmanship and Galli Oro bling. Does anyone have information on this builder? Possibly a small scale builder local to the NJ/NY area? Obviously it's not one of the Norman bikes. Internet searches produced: Norman Fay of the UK (but the decals are wrong), Norman Hill of Canada, and Norman Taylor of Jack Taylor cycles (possible he built a few of his own frames?)

I'd guess late 70's or early 80's. Campagnolo front and rear DOs (portacatena on the rear). Only markings on the BB shell are 'C' on one side and '2' on the other.

Oh, and the Norman decals also adorn the forks. Frame appears fully chromed beneath the paint. Seatpost is 27.2. I'll check for tubing splines when I get it disassembled.

JunkYardBike

More:

-holiday76

i've got no idea but was it cheap?

I also want the gold brakes...

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Dig the tire savers!

JunkYardBike

No, but it was probably a fair price for what I got.

Have you seen the price of gold recently?

I guess, if you don't care about rolling resistance. Strange to see them on a race frame.

JunkYardBike

I'm gonna guess it's Columbus SL/SP tubing. The fork steerer has helical ridges, so it's Columbus.

Interesting discovery is that the BB spindle (marked Galli but also marked with the Stronglight 'S' - the cups are Stronglight Competition) is marked with the same 'C' and '2' found on the frame's BB shell. Note to the builder?

I was also surprised to find the cheesy looking black plastic headset is a Stronglight Competition. Velobase suggests it was predominantly used on track bikes. Or maybe it's a plastic version A9, because it has needle bearings. When I replaced the front fork, the upper race just fell right out.

bibliobob

No idea, but that's nice! If you decided to break it up, I bet someone would pay you a decent price for the gruppo (if for no other reason that it' s uncommon).

Congrats!

JunkYardBike

Thanks, I'm definitely smitten by the Galli components. I understand most (or all?) were manufactured by other companies and branded Galli (for instance, the derailleurs are Simplex I believe), but they are far more interesting than Campy, and in some cases more elegant in my opinion. I really enjoy 'accidentally' coming into stuff like this.

lotek 

the filled seat binder ears were a trademark of Faliero, wonder if this was someone who was heavily influenced by Masi? looks like an awfully nice build.

repechage

While Masi was known for filling the seat lug ears with a tube and brass, he was by no means the only guy who did that. It dates way back, and my "production" Fiorelli top level bike has it done.

It is primarily an Italian thing, only a few French builders did it, or anything equal in efort.

There were a number of contract Italian builders though, Norman could just be a marketing brand name.

The only Norman that comes to mind is Norman Fay. And this is not one of those.

repechage

The nutted brake fixing and the short dropouts with the chainrest holes suggest a 1977 ish build

JunkYardBike

Thanks for the responses. The decals do appear very simple, almost an afterthought, and they were obviously not clear coated. There are also remnants of the same decals on the rear chainstays. So maybe as you suggest, a small bike shop or distributor using the frame as a billboard? I may post this up on the CR list to see if any members there have any memory of the Norman branding.

JunkYardBike

Wait, so you're saying it's a Masi? I can live with that!

lotek 

Don't we all wish our mystery bikes were Masi

rhm

Ahh, too bad it's not a real Norman!

Actually, by most people's standards, I don't think Norman Cycles ever made anything that nice.

Is the whole bike completely Campy-free (except for the dropouts, I guess)? That's cool.

What is the BB threading?

And it fits you, right?

JunkYardBike

I thought of you when I was creating the thread title, but I couldn't figure out how to succinctly express "not that Norman marque"

Unfortunately, it's a bit big at 62cm, but I can probably ride it. Also, the BB threading is English, which might throw a wrench in the Italian built theory (if anyone has actually theorized that). I suppose the construction is in the Italian style?

Here are a couple other frame details, which may be completely irrelevant:

JunkYardBike

Not much to add, just wanted the weekenders to get a look at it.