Cambio corsa value?
 

I have a vintage Italian road bike with a Campagnolo Cambio corsa changer that I want to part out.
I am thinking of offering the following as a set:

Frame and fork with toothed rear dropout inc headset
Front and rear hubs- rear hub with gear that engages the dropout
Cambio corsa levers and clamps
All of the above in very reasonable condition considering vintage

In other words, all of the bits essential to the function of the changer

Nothing like this has sold on Ebay for some time- my usual method of gauging market value.
Anyone here have a notion of how I should price this set?

I bought the bike from a well known Italian Ebayer about 4 years ago. It had been converted to a "gentleman", and so not completely original- please don't slam me for parting it out. I was after the particularly elegant inverse brake levers, and the handlebar/stem.

Thanks

HI we certasinly need pics and while money is money some member her might appreciate the whole bike. also perhaps this should be in the apprasail threads

Thanks Bianchigirll.
My bad- I didn't realize that there was an appraisal section.
I'll get pix together in the next day or two.
In the mean time, I'm just trying to get a general idea of value.
Thanks
Retroman57

does it work? I mean is the bike rideable? I am certain to the right person it is very valuable, wait this is the shifting system with the levers on the seatstay yes?

Depends.

Brand and condition will give you a range of $200-$10,000.

If you bought it from a dealer, then what you paid should be a pretty good baseline. The market was stronger four years ago. But most Italian dealers do not present their wares in the best way to maximise profit.

Best way is to present a good ad starting at ten bucks with no reserve, but if that makes you nervous start it at what you have in to it and see where it goes.

Bianchigirll,
The bicycle arrived to me from Italy very carefully disassembled for shipping. I haven't reassembled to attempt to ride it.
All quite presentable, however. Someone like J.P. Weigle would be content to shine it up a bit and call it good.
Someone more obsessed might want an all-out concourse restoration.

The is the first rod changer- 2 rods on the right rear seat stay- Cambio Corsa. ca 1940
The second rod changer- Paris-Roubaix- probably rarer for short production period- had only 1 rod on the rear seat stay. ca 1950

One of the 2 rods on mine is a bit brighter than the other, so may have been re-chromed at some point.
Hubs will need a quick hand polish
Frame- chromed fork ends and rear stay ends. Minute pitting in chrome, but no visible rust.
The right seat stay that the mech is attached to has been painted black...not sure why.

I will try to post some pix tomorrow.

Thanks iab...that was helpful. A late boom era Huffy with squashed fork ends is worth close to $200.00 in my neighborhood (fixie punks don't know the difference), and I doubt that an NOS post-war Herse would pull down 10K in this market.

Thanks Ragooch- sounds like a good plan- the second one I mean. Starting the bidding at $10.00 might make it look like I was a crack-head that lifted it and no idea what it might be worth- probably not the way to attract serious interest.

Thanks,
Retroman57

Moving to appraisals

A rusty wall queen will bring you $200, a cambio corsa Cinelli in excellent condition will easily get $10K.

You can stuff your sacasm along with the crappy description of your bike. Nobody on this board is psychic.

Read this. Try again.

I'd still like to know what brand this vintage Italian road bike is.

-Kurt

Start it out at 99 cents and see how it goes.

Pictures now post to my Flickr photostream.
The set is here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fiveand...7623995034480/

Umbert Testi, Bologna, Italy
ca.1947-53
Testi was founded in 1933 as a bicycle dealer, and established as a manufacturer of racing bicycles in 1936.
The Testi factory mounted its own racing team, and won honors in the Campione del Mondo in 1947.
Headbadge is inscribed with "Campione del Mondo 1947" which places the vintage at '47 or later.
Serial number stamped on the seat lug appears to be 6522.

Testi introduced their first moped in 1951 (see Daniel Rebour illustration), and went on to be known for their light motorcycles.
In the '70's(?), Testi collaborated with Cycles Gitane with the "French Gypsy"- exported to France and co-branded Gitane-Testi.

I initially assumed that this bicycle was a racing bike repurposed as a "gentleman". Now I'm not so sure.
If it is a later re-paint, someone went to some considerable trouble with the box lining which is fairly intricate and matches on chaincase, fenders, and frame.

Front and rear QR are ring type- I assume the dog-bone type were earlier- ring type illustrated in 1953 Campagnolo catalog.
In my rush to complete the photographs before the light changed, I neglected to shoot the pie plate but I have it, and it is in top condition.
At some point, I'll shoot it, and add it to the Flickr set.
I also have the 3 cog freewheel- no longer tight.
I didn't photograph the stem/handlebar/brake levers as I want to keep them, but if anyone is interested I can make some pictures.

Items of condition which may affect value:
A dozen or so small chips in the paintwork
Chrome on driveside seat stay has been painted over with black- not sure why, or what the paint may be hiding.
2 small spots of brazing on the left front fork tip
Small lever on the rear mech appears to have been re-chromed. Some loss of plating at the upper bend.

Thanks for your interest.
Retroman57

That is a handsome bike, fortunately it is too big for me. With the chainguard one would think that fenders would be needed for it too look best.

Pricing on these are very difficult, this is where parting out would yield more than the whole, but it would be sad to see that happen. Personally I think the market for the lever changers has passed the top of the bell curve.

I do not like to admit this but my favorite 1970's machines will soon if not already be on the same trajectory.

$600-$900, on the upper end.

Thanks iab...appreciate your reply.

just joined this forum to see your pictures of the cambrio corsa and now the "testi" gentleman as well. stunning bike. do you still have it? or the pieces of it, anyway.

Very nice bike. I would think it would bring atleast $2000.00 -$2500.00