I've acquired this older (and alas somewhat beaten)Tommasini but know very little about their bikes or models.
Can anyone help shed some light on the make and where this model might have fit in their lineup (and what its approx. date of birth would have been)?


(I am guessing the "92" in the serial number probably dates it.)

thanks

Peter

Contact Birmingham Bicycle Company, BHM, AL. They carry that brand.

better resource would be BF member rideTommasini.

Although the BBC is my favorite LBS. I deliver them 6 packs with regularity.

That bike is not 1992, more like 1972.

The decals on the downtube changed by the late 70's, removing the "racing".
Other things that make me think the bike is older is the lack of the stylized "T" in the
fork crown, and Tommasini in the seat stay caps.

Marty

I'd split that say no earlier than '82. Definitely not a 70's Tommasini (which are somewhat rare and pretty nice).

Otis, CR list shows the TOMMASINI RACING and no engraving on stem or seatstay caps on
an 'early to mid 70's tommasini. The late 70's one has the engraving and new decals.


Some better pictures would help and some details of drivetrain etc.

Marty

+1

Very nicely crafted indeed. Some of the early ones to come into the US were actually labeled "Thomas" cause, uh, I guess the "Italian bike myth" isn't quite as powerful as some folks seem to believe.

That cast seatlug on the OP's bike sure looks post-70's to me. Also, I would expect a 70's Tommasini (at which time they weren't making "price-point" frames, AFAIK) to have Campagnolo dropouts. (Also, there's the under-BB cable routing.) I'm with Otis.

okay. learn something new again, I just love this place!

The 70's Tommasinis I've seen have all been more, um, "refined" than this one.

(It's a bit of a head-scratcher to me that that's a Tommasini, to be honest.)

I agree, later 70's at the earliest. Cast not stamped seat lug, under BB cable guides, Allen nutted brakes, and Columbus drop outs.

vjp

Not sure what the bike myth was but our early ones did say THOMAS because Irio thought it would be better to have an english sounding name for the US market, they thought Tommasini would be too difficult to market and pronounce. He did not realize that Americans were interested in Italian sounding names. But after he was urged to use his name, he changed it back to Tommasini and that's how it stayed.

hmmm... the seat tube looks different... better pics would be great, include some of the head tube area and complete bike if possible.

Might be I'm raining on the parade, but I don't believe this IS a Tommasini. There are no hallmarks whatsoever that suggest it - other than the decals. Fastback seatstays? And what is the engraving on the side of the seatlug? That's not Tommasini. The headlug cutout is unusual, too - never seen that before.

Plus - dare I say it? For an early Italian frame, that serial number seems almost TOO good to be true!

Anyone think I'm off-base here?

I was kind of hinting at the skepticism you express in my last post.
If it is a Tommasini, it's not that early, at least not too early to have a SN, AFAIK.

I got this response when I emailed Tommasini in Italy.

"Thanks for sending the pictures.
We regret to inform you that the given suggestion are correct and that the frame is NOT a Tommasini.
Kind regards,"

So there you go. Or rather "there I go". Caveat Emptor. I guess decals are cheap.

oh well, at least it rides well. And actually seems rather well constructed (I presume Columbus dropouts, while not Campagnolo, are still a sign of decent materials) and detailed.
So I wonder what it is...

I'll get some more and better pictures and post them.

thanks for all the input.

Peter

OK, so if it isn't a Tommasini, what is it?
it doesn't seem like a cheap frame. (though maybe columbus dropouts are a dime a dozen.)
and the cable routing inside the top tube can't be trivial.
here are some additional photos. the little logo at the top of the seat tube seems distinctive.
any clues?
Peter

I've never seen that engraving on the seat-lug before, but it sure must ring a bell with *somebody*, I know I've seen the little half-moon cutout head-lug before, but drawing a blank...try linking the pics to the CR list. Whatever it is, it's a quality frame, so please get rid of that rusty pinch-bolt!