Omegaforest

Any chance the Frame would be customised directly from the factory? Just my Guess but it likely only the Frame as fitting and parts would likely be at the Local Bike shop.W

Old Fireleg

Tommasini, Chesini and Somec were on the top in eye candy. The incredible Diamante is a dream.

Omegaforest

The bike arrived today. BB seems to indicated 920L. Other than the handle bar and stem, the rest of the component seems to be Chorus.

qcpmsame 

There is some chance a frame was customized as it was built by the shop, when I contacted Barbara about my Prestige, she indicated it possibly had received additional bottle mount bosses and other touches. But take things with a grain of salt, the serial number issues are real eye pokers as far as any semblance of sequences or a pattern to them.

Looking at the picture of the bottom bracket shell it has the same cable guides and “T” cut out as mine. I can make out the ubiquitous Suguino plastic accordian spindle protector, Those got used regularly when the original Campag items were missing of broke apart from hardening. My two vintage bikes both have them in place of the NR plastic protectors. The originals can be found on eBay, but these two piece originals can be pricey and the Suguino are well thought of anyhow.

The more knowledgeable here have posted about the problems with dating them by the factory’s information. The use of component dating as well as the lugs, forks, brazed on items and painting can get you closer to the date of being built. As best as can be determined my Prestige is a 1986 model, but Barbara feels it is a much earlier build year. I think the guys here have the year down pat, but its not an issue for me though.

Any full pictures of your new acquisition will be appreciated here.

Bill

Omegaforest

Dear Bill

Thanks for yr inputs. I truely appreciate the fact that Barbara took effort to identify our bikes. It’s not easy to identify every 30-40yrs old Frame. As Long as it sheds some light on the year it was manufactured, I am a happy man.

Will post some photo when I have it assembled and cleanup.

Cheers
Matt

qcpmsame 

Barbara is a very helpful asset to all Tommasini owners. She has been most helpful to many of us with her research. The lack of serial number sequences or even being present handicaps her and those seeking answers. It doesn’t stop us from enjoying our Tomassini any at all though. She is really good people and a credit to the marque.

jimmuller 

It would sure seem so, wouldn't it? I haven't written about mine because you folks are keeping her so busy I didn't want to add to the burden!

mrjav

Hi all,

On the topic of dating Tommasini's (one I feel would be perfect to start its own thread), I've just posted a translation of an Italian article from 1987 regarding the introduction of Marble paint styles...

https://rorymasini.blogspot.com/2017...nt-dating.html

I hope someone finds this useful. I agree with the frame fittings being sometimes difficult to pin something down, but based on others' insights, I think graphics and paint styles offer further clues if we can just get more info out there like this.

PS - to make a long read short... marble started in '87, just as T-Mar says.

qcpmsame 

Grazie Rory, as always a nice bit of information from Cicli Masini.

Omegaforest

Have to Agreed that every single bits of info. will slowly piece up the puzzle. Great blog u have, have spent sometime reading it.

My Racer was dated 86-87. And with some luck, I managed to contact the gentleman who sold the bike to my seller. He has promised to help inquire on the story behind the racer. Will update.

Cheers
MATT

Omegaforest

Update on the Racer

I managed to cleanup and assembled the Racer. Some of the parts are missing or not period correct. It is difficult to find these parts here in Singapore. Guess I will have to source separately on eBay. Coincidentally this morning, I received an important update to its history. This custom paint job was ordered by A club named RC Ahoy in Rotterdam. This is the one of 25 Frames ordered somewhere in 1984/85. The bicycle was then purchased from the club by the ex-owner....

Attached photos from today’s assemble.

Bianchigirll 

Great job!!

kdb3i

Looks very nice. That is an unusual paint job.

robertorolfo

Anyone have some idea what model this tricolore example might be? I've already contacted the owner, and he doesn't seem to have a clue, other than saying "it's SLX" (which I don't believe). He also doesn't seem to have a clue about cleaning a bike, but that's another story... Anyway, I'd guess it's "just" a Prestige, since the chainstay isn't chromed. And I also haven't seen many with Cromor forks.

https://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/b...321620496.html

Omegaforest

Yes. It looks unique. I could not find another similar paint scheme on the web. It was a customised paint job for the racking team.

Omegaforest

You could drop an email to Barbara at Tommasini website. She is very helpful and replied both my emails. The Techno has a similar paint job. Another beauty. Great hunt!

robertorolfo

This may sound strange, but I wouldn't want to bother her with this request. It's not my bike, and I don't have access to the bottom bracket to see if anything is stamped there. She sounds like a good person that is going out of her way to help people, so I wouldn't want to take up her any more of her time.

I'm not even seriously interested in buying it, unless he takes my lowball offer because he is as ignorant about the bike as he bad at cleaning it.

qcpmsame 

@robertorolfo, One thing to note, Barbara is very helpful but it usually is about 2-3 weeks to receive a reply from her. I have always received a reply to my questions, from her though. Include the picture as an attachment, to your email also. Even if you found a serial number, it might be pointless for her use, there is no logic or pattern to them and some frame don't have one.

I own a 1986 Prestige, it has the chromed AiR fork, SL tubing and the seat stay caps are exposed chrome, with the Stylized "T" and three broken lines pressed into them. This one may be a different year model, so take all of the with a grain of salt please. If you get a look at it, and you have an opportunity to dig into it somewhat you can pull the seat post and look for the rifling/ridges that are the mark of SLX tubing. If it is worth your time and should it look and ride well, please get drive side pictures, pics of all the drops and fork ends, all the lugs, and the routing of the derailleur cables and any guides for them. That is a real nice looking Tricolore frame-set.

@Omegaforest I scored an identical stem and bars to yours last week, on ebay. I have them cleaned and polished now and ready to do the swap out on my Prestige as soon as I have the time to do it properly. 100mm stem length, and 42 cm bar width.

Bill

Edit roberto posted as I was composing my reply, sorry about that if its TMI.

robertorolfo

Thanks for the reply, and there is no such thing as TMI in these forums, amiright?

I'm sort of scared to go see the bike, because I'm afraid I might buy it even though I don't really need it. But I'm thinking about it. The more the ad stays up, the more desperate he will probably get (it's already been 3 weeks, and he lowered it from $1,000 to $900)... Maybe I can just visit it in the name of research?

qcpmsame 

Bill

Omegaforest

Wow! Congrats on yr purchase. Photo pls after you have installed.

May I find out more on AiR fork. Do they Nornally come with higher end models like prestige and S prestige?

Matt

qcpmsame 

@robertorolfo I don't have any background on the AiR fork, some of the more knowledgeable folks here can best fill you in on its significance. I have read several mentions about them, but nothing with any history about the details. I saw that the Bugier.net catalog for Tommasini, which I understand is actually a blending of several editions, had the fork on both the Prestige and Super Prestige. The logo for AiR will be on the sides of the fork crown, with the "T" encircled by a chain ring above, on the tops. No idea as to what the logo, AiR signifies either. I really need to do some more research on Tommasini, several of the members posting in this thread have done their research, and its much more detail oriented.

When I get the stem and bars completed I'll be posting some pictures here in this thread. My build thread is long out if date as far as the final configuration, as I come across period correct pieces, and better functioning of appearing, I will pick them up and work towards making it period correct. Not very much is left now, looking for some less damaged Superlegerra Nuovo Record pedals now, I have no intention of trying to touch up its paint, the chrome plating beneath is fine and matching the unique pearlescent pink would be difficult.

Bill

Omegaforest

Are you in Florida? It almost impossible for me to purchase vintage parts here in Singapore. I have a few parts on my Racer that’s not period correct too.

How does yr frame look like?

Cheers
Matt

T-Mar

When the Air fork was introduced in the mid-1980s, extant literature shows it being used on all models except the bottom of the line Tretubi. When the Competizione was introduced in 1990 it did not use the Air fork. We have also recently seen a Racing, dated as 1986-1987 by Barabara from Tommasini, with a non-Air fork. After the introduction of the Air fork, the non-Air fork only appears to have been used on models at or near the bottom of the line.

robertorolfo

Hmm, interesting. So the Cromor fork might actually be something of a red flag?

@qcpmsame I'm going to email the owner again to try and get a feel for his willingness to negotiate. The little bit of mystery is helping to take the N+1 edge off a little bit. That said, the more I hear about Tommasini, the more enchanted I become...