Frame forensics assemble! Is that really an Allegro?
 

Hi all,

I just found a old one to restore, and I'm trying to identify and date it. Most things points on an Allegro, but there's a few points that don't match. I rely on your science to confirm my guess.

Things that are compatible with an Allegro:
- Well, obviously, there was Allegro stickers on it, there's some glue remains.
- I'm living 15km from the defunt Allegro factory, so there were quite common here.
- Most of the components can be found on the 1985 Allegro spec sheet: Berelli handlebar, SR seatpost, MKS pedals. 600 EX Arabesque crankset, Altus FD. 1985 Datasheet
- French BB threading and metric size tubing. BB is a Shimano, date code is FD (april 1981)
- Bocama lugs and Weinmann brakes (brakes date code:1982).

Things that don't match
- What annoys me the most: it does not have the serial on the left on the seat tube. I sanded the area, there's no sign of a former brased plate there. Was this still a thing on Allegros in 1985-ish?
- the upper seatstay treatment. 70's Allegro had wraparound seatstays, but I don't know if fluted seatstays were the standard on 85's Allegro frames.

Undefined informations that may help to identify:
- It has a small nipple on the inside of the DS seatstay
- It has a small lip on the downtube to mark the position of the shifters.
- Only stamping fund is "v437" on the BB shell.

What do you guys think? My guess is a 1983 - 1986 Allegro nr 78. Could I be right?

Side quest: any info on the headset brand would be appreciated.

Cheers

Gabriel - Switzerland

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3fd7a502ed.jpg
Closeup view of lugs
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a3474c697c.jpg
Nipple on the inner of the DS seatstay
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0c80318d95.jpg
Fluted seatstays and no sign of serial nr
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1e1b3a7f04.jpg
Overall view. It seems it had a hard life...
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...513a45ec27.jpg
Remains of Allegro stickers
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f2572ea6f7.jpg
Any idea what this headset could be?
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...31b4bd7f8c.jpg
BB

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Excellent puzzle!

Would think it slightly earlier than dates you suggest due to absence of recessed brake mount and absence of seat tube w/b mount.

It's clearly later than most of the examples we get here on the forum.

Have never before seen this headset. Will be interested to read if any members recognize it. Wonder if it could be a model of EDCO. Since you are in CH it may easier to locate EDCO catalogue materials than for most of us on the forum.

The very b-line kitting makes one wonder as to the tubeset employed, if kitting original. Possible you may find a tubing mark on steerer. Clearly, rear mech for example could not be original.

Thanks very much for posting.

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The seat stay cap treatment makes me think of Puch Bergmeisters; I have seen (but do not have at hand) photos of bicycles with both Puch and Allegro markings on the same bike. For that matter, the fork crown appears to be the same one used on my 1976 Puch Royal X, a slightly-sloping box crown. I looked over the materials I gathered on Allegros when I owned one and had a brief obsession with them, and - I am not quite sure how I found it, but in my notes I recorded that its serial number H1611 is stamped into the underside of the BB shell. The cable tunnels under the BB shell and serial number placement look right.

Allegro DID use the little plaque brazed onto the left side of the seat tube from the era when they used the pre-war era lugs (Ekla?) through the 1950s bikes using Nervex Professionals and from c.1960-1974 when they used Bocama No. 14 type II lugs. They even still used that method when they were using Bocama Professionals, the bog-standard ones EVERYBODY used for a while there. But everything gets murkier after c.1975 or so.

While most of the attention devoted to Allegros here involves the models built with metric gauge Reynolds 531 between, say, 1950 and 1974, they did build a pretty wide range of bikes.

What size seat post does this bike take? What is the BB threading?

need to look up the date Allegro closed the doors, but if this one's legit it may be one of the last frames made.
Also have a vague recollection that Allegro was merged with, or acquired by, one of the "competition" in its final days.
Was that Mondia?
BTW, can't zoom in enough to tell, but the DOs: are they GPM, or something French?

Thank you guys for your comments.

Yes the rear mech is not original. It came with a Shimano Tourney dated 1988, was clearly replaced once in the bike's life.

Allegro Nr78 were buildt with Vitus 788, maybe after sanding I will see others markings.

I will have a look at some Puch photos to search for resemblance. The seat post diameter is 26.6mm and I forgot to mention that the fork is a Tange. BB thread is French (Shimano with marking 35xP1 on both sides).

Yes, Allegro was aquired by Mondia

I sanded both DO's to find a clue behind the paint. Absolutely nothing, inside nor outside

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1f690fa916.jpg

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what was Allegro's close of play annum?

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The buying by Mondia was announced in 1989, factory closed in 1990.

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Thank you! :thumb:

Did Mondia put the Neuchatel facility into operation for the fabrication of Juvela & Mondia badged product or was it dismantled?


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the DO has that distinctive "bump" on the outer curve that's characteristic of GPM, but I don't see many with the eyelet.
Here's an example on a Bottecchia frame, adjuster screws removed, but GIPIEMME stamping is clear and present

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...477584d8e4.jpg

Excellent info, didn't know that. Thanks!