Tecnotrat - who ?
 

There is a lot of information on the 'net etc. about this Italian company, but what is the correct information ?

It seems that they manufacture bicycle frames, presumably only "racing" frames and of a good quality. Am I right so far ?
I have seen photographs of their frames with the Tecnotrat decals on the down and seat tubes, including tubing decals.
Do Tecnotrat use their own tubes as has been mentioned, including crimped tubing and made specifically for them, or do they use anyone's tubing as has also been suggested ? Do they manufacture their own lugs, drop-outs, bottom brackets ? Some suggest that they might, some that they buy-in, but I've no idea !

Do they make frames for other frame builders / companies [not only in Italy] and there are many such names mentioned in various places, including those names that are regarded as the very best quality frames ? My suspicion is that they do, but that is my personal opinion.

Names that have been mentioned include Coppi, DeBernardi, Saoronni, Detta [who are they ?] etc.

Can anyone please explain the factual situation, or even have suspicions ? Nobody seems to doubt the quality of these frames !

I'd never heard of them until now, but after seeing this brochure, I'm glad you brought it up. They sure look impressive! The Debernardi name is in their letterhead, but that could be coincidental. Could Detta be Detto? I've actually seen a couple of those in Italy last month, and I'm pretty sure they weren't made by Detto Pietro themselves.

http://www.italiaanseracefietsen.com...1-712x1024.jpg
Picture courtesy of Italiaanseracefietsen.com.

Saronni frames seem to be associated with Tecnotrat and there is mention of some association with Colnago in years gone by. In spite of what has been written, did Tecnotrat actually manufacture the Colnago Regal frame for example ?
Did Tecnotrat manufacture frames for Abeni, Record, Europa, Banani, Ferrari, Masciaghi, Cornelo and others, I wonder ?
Heart shaped cut outs in lugs and Gipiemme drop-outs seem to appear on several frames, including 4x crimped tubing.
Do Tecnotrat frames appear in Germany, Begium and Holland, under various names ? I don't know, but I find this fascinating as image of great craftsmen building up frames in small workshops is the image I've treasured over a very long time.
Please reassure me !

Tecnotrat w Falck tubing
 

I have been looking to ID a frame that has similarities to these, any thoughts. Mine seems to be a track/sprint in plain gauge, 26.8mm post, has frame size stamped on BB DT socket and no obvious frame number anywhere.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a5ec04b722.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d7e6dad6d5.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7cb2fabb1d.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ec95d6dd4b.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...757f39a329.jpg

mine (vascoboy/pink bike) has few markings expect for the technotrat stickers
i find that many of the technocrats are joined similarly at the seat lugs
many of the technocrats were sold as Albani, De Bernardi & Europa during the 80s, and they also built for Pinnarello & others (so all over the map in terms of tubing, & build quality)

ok thanks for the info, I'll continue to look. The De Bernardi's have a lot of similarities, guess I will never really know for sure.

To my eye, the pink bike and the blue one have very different seat stay attachment.

Yes, but similar I would say. There is a thread here with several Tecnotrat frames with slightly differing stays, all of a similar style. The yellow one looks closest to mine I think. https://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/v...ic.php?t=56784
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...33a87b1df6.jpg

I’ll throw this Technotrat frame into the mix as well that I recently bought in Australia. Again, similar seatstays with heart on the headset lugs only. Mine is stamped with the size on the BB but also has EC stamped faintly in the seat tube indicating “Europa Cycles”.
The other difference that can connect these frames are the dropouts. Mine has Gipiemme rear dropouts with unmarked drop outs on the rear. I’ve seen others with Technotrat dropouts.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...52bf1dcb4.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9b30213e9.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a6f652f42.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8a630f194.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...62cc8276e.jpeg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...631a31719.jpeg

[QUOTE=MarkinOz;22010661]I’ll throw this Technotrat frame into the mix as well that I recently bought in Australia. Again, similar seatstays with heart on the headset lugs only. Mine is stamped with the size on the BB but also has EC stamped faintly in the seat tube indicating “Europa Cycles”.
The other difference that can connect these frames are the dropouts. Mine has Gipiemme rear dropouts with unmarked drop outs on the rear. I’ve seen others with Technotrat dropouts.

Thanks, I think my dropouts are unmarked, I have not seen the EC on mine either, I'll take a better look, but think its going to be under the paint.