Is it or is it not (another) Benotto
 

Hi Allhttps://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ec90f95705.jpg

Just bid on a Benotto...spares repair..knocked about with a 'loose pedal arm'.
It's a bitsa everything but is it a Benotto (low end hi ten p'haps?).
Why I'm asking is there's no pantograph Benotto on the seat stays. Forged and chromed rear dropouts ..but no Benotto embossing, Chrome forks but cannot see if there is 'benotto'..and no view of the bottom of the BB,,so no view of any heart shaped cut out...(about to email the seller)
....just worn Benotto decals on an old purple frame....with mismatched Shimano parts....and banded on shifters..(not brazed on)
£36 on ebay so not the end of the world..plus have a week to collect and cough up.

Thanks in advance for comments.

I'm not surprised by the lack of embossing, given the apparent era. The total lack of brazed-on fittings, with the exception of the chain stay cable stop, and the presence of what appear to be long Camapgnolo dropouts with eyelets suggest that the frame is boom era. The decals are owner applied. The head badge rivets holes are arranged horizontally, as opposed to the vertical arrangement that I typically see on older Benotto. Regardless, it appears to be a well made, higher grade frame and well worth the purchase price. Once you get it, additional information may allow members to determine the lineage.

Thanks T-Mar..and there was me thinking I would have to grill the seller...didn't seem right for £35..Benotto or not..the quality of the rear drop outs had me sold.
Read somewhere that Benotto rear braze on for RD were top brazed from 1976-1979 (pre was clamped post was bottom brazed...??)

That's the one..

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4d655af863.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0ba7eaa86a.jpg


Couple of more detailed pics..no embossing but the chrome may turn out to be fairly ok.

Hi All
Checked out the bike....no heart shaped cut out on the BB...nice frame, chromed dropouts etc but inevitably more surface rust than photos show and with doubts on provenance/real idea of what it is/too many projects in the basement (that I know the provenance of) I walked away without the bike... least it wasn't raining or dark.

Good work! I (figuratively) walked away from one, myself, today. Strength in numbers.