Originally Posted by
unworthy1
So maybe we can deduce that by '72 Columbo was labeling the tubesets (that is, including the foil stickers with the package) and so probably using the SL designation.
Maybe somebody can further refine the History...what Columbo/Columbus has published themselves kind of glosses over the period from 1930 to the early '70s, but we know they were cold-drawing seamless reinforced (double-butted) chrome-moly tubing for bicycles in those years, and it was being built into (mainly Italian) frames.
I recall a full page advert. in Bicycling! I think it was where Columbus using an image of Eddy holding up his bike had the tag line; America Discovers Columbus.
But they did not promote the gauges of tubing, just the brand.
To the typical consumer Columbus was seen on Bianchi and Ital-Vega bikes at least out on the West Coast. Almost forgot, Windsor too. The racers liked it for the beefier road fork blades.