Presto, change-o, it is now a 12 speed......

OK - just for the record, I checked the date codes on the Cavaletto brake calipers. 1987.

Speaking of brakes, this prompts another question - was it possible that this bike came equipped with 700c wheels? The reason I ask is that the Diacompe side-pulls that are on it have a long reach. Like the wheelset, the pads where missing when I took possession of the frame. When I went to put pads on, I noticed that they are all the way up in their adjustment slots.