I'll throw one more in here. Tonight I applied some decals to dress up the Vianelli I've had lurking about in Switzerland just waiting for its retrieval. I took it to Pierfranco's shop in October, post l'Eroica for some info, photos, etc. He handed me a decal sheet with four model names on it (among all the Olympic ring stickers, etc) and I asked him which model mine was. He said I could put just about any of these decals on here and it wouldn't make much of a difference! I asked for more specifics on where to put them and got an equally vague response.



So then you start checking these things out and realize that decals were put just about anywhere they could fit. Somewhat randomly at times even. Surely this may be a difference between a Colnago and a little local guy like a Vianelli, but look at the conversation we're having regarding, in my opinion, a master like Tommasini. It's a different culture in a small shop, and certainly even more so back 30 or 40 years ago when they were making tools for a purpose (the purpose was not collecting!).

More to the subject... what's the chance of finding a serial number on this frame?!? Any ideas what we're looking at here? Tucked away in a small room on the upper floor of the shop in Grosseto is what Irio claims to be his first frame. Maybe the first Thomas, or the first built in this shop, but I'm pretty intrigued by it.



Finally, I'm planning my next trip to spend some more time in this room... Irio has saved what looks like EVERY article or review written about his bikes. He has Gazzetta's in here with race results from the 40's. I mean floor to ceiling, stacks and stacks of pure Italian cycling gold!