Someone I know messaged me about this bike this afternoon and he too was wondering how the seller determined the vintage. He has messaged the seller for more pictures of the brakes and derailleurs. I'm thinking if they are European and not Japanese, this may be a more interesting bike. If they are Japanese, less interesting but not enough to make me lose interest. However I hope he can get the bike before me, I'm beginning to agree with my wife that I don't need it. But we don't always agree on everything.