I am glad that you saw the value in #039 and rescued it to be used as it should be, rather than relegated to fixie status or worse.It’s quite possible that the vendor you bought it from was confused about who made the frame, perhaps mixing it up with the 3Rensho-made Specialized frames. It’s interesting that the other vendor had some of the backstory of these bikes. It doesn’t really surprise me, as Austin has always had a strong cycling community that migrated between Texas and Colorado, with additional cross-pollination reaching both coasts. Many people back then were deeply connected to the cycling scene and would have access to such information.

Being from San Antonio, I was on the fringe of this information, even though the shop I frequented had a good connection to Austin through Bill Lewis and all the exotic (for me at least) frames he was able to get to us. That connection eventually got me more involved there, and later in Colorado as well. Thanks for posting some photos to this thread. Seeing them and the bike out on the road (Texas Hill Country?) reminds me that I don't get mine out nearly as often as I should and that when I am home in December, I will make it a point to do so.