Just a nice bottle cage
 

Made by ALE in Turin.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a6af9d8783.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f9115bb901.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...002d640f88.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...46ed15e364.jpg

Wow. Ancient?

That is nice.

That was my first bottle cage. Hand-me-down, but I can't remember from whom.

That is a nice cage design. Much more elegant than the more common REG erector set style spring cages.

My theory/suspicion is that spring cages went out of style because they weren't necessary anymore when squeezable plastic bottles replaced aluminum bottles. Considering a lot of people like to use stainless bottles nowadays, maybe they should make a comeback.

They keep that in the museum, right next to the shroud...

Haven't been able to find out much yet. I'd say this one stems from the early sixties, for now. There was also a version with a plastic spring clip, which would be later, I think. But since there was also a bar-mounted version, a concept that went out of fashion sometime in the late sixties, I don't think they are any newer than that.

Well, my story is pretty simple: I picked it up from a stall at a vintage bike fair yesterday, fell in love with it and didn't want to put it back down. Which kinda ruined my negotiating position with the seller. But hey, "the simple elegance remains long after the price is forgotten". :)

Still fondling it, of course. But I think I need a new bike for it ... ;)

I went out today and met a guy who sells at a local flea market. He pulled this Schwinn Sprint cage out of a bag and I just had to take a picture. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...29d2eea096.jpg

I'm trying not to buy things that I don't have an immediate use for. Here is his posting if you want to contact him about it. I picked those Deore shifters already.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bop...833228176.html

Nice find!

I pulled the same ALE cage off a one owner '74 Lambert I bought a couple years ago, decided the bike was too much of a project for meso it is looking for a new home but I fell in love with the cage. Not sure if it was purchased new for the bike or if he transferred it over from an older bike. Mine has quite a bit of light rust but it still has the springs on the clip, I figure a bath in white vinegar and a good polishing with foil then some clear enamel and it should do nicely for my old Raleigh 3 speed. Now I need a vintage bottle to go with it.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fa62b2c8f2.jpg

I have those clips which I suspect were used for a bottle cage! I did not know who till now. Now if I could find the cage.

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Allara be me fave maker o' cages.

Love their hinged mounting clamps. No bendin' needed.

They also have a series of models where the bottle rolls in and out on a roller.

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Nice, but I don’t have any CV bikes that old.
Tim

I bought a different model ALE cage for my Colnago and it came with the same clips.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...77ce73cc82.jpg