Tommaso - Take Two
 

Since Narhay posted his beautiful Tomasso...I thought I would take the opportunity to post about my baby...my Tommaso! Different paint scheme, same era! I now have mine outfitted with Campy stuff...the drivetrain is Campy Chorus Racing Triple, the brakes and shifters/brake levers are Record. This bike is one of the ones that gave me back my love of riding...I simply get on her and ride. I am also posting some pics of another Tommaso I had...and wish I had kept...the pink one that you see below...

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Some pictures of my pink Tommaso...as I said above, wish I had kept this one!
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=347467http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=347468http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=347469

Wow, the Tommaso's are coming out of the woodwork! Where have you guys been hiding them all this time? They really look beautiful and have nice attention to detail. They look well built and have a racy looking geometry to. Nice!

So since we know that they are made in America by an American, was the "Tommaso" name a marketing gimmick to make the brand sound Italian?

I have the Tomasso 'raw' frame below that is going to get some love and a build out. Any ideas about how to tell WHICH model of Tomasso it might be since it is free of labels. From what I have learned of the history, the importer, Ten Speed Direct, went under with unpainted frames in storage. I bought this from an SF LBS as a naked frame in about 2003 and I think it is an early 1990's model.

I have gear to build it out, but I am very up-in-the-air about colors...

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Thanks for your thoughts.

An SLX Tomasso that passed through The Lab a couple of years ago. 55cm, so too small for me, but a nice rider. First Italian BB I ever worked on.
Had been powder coated in CA by the PO. I bought it as a bare frame and built it up with Shimano 1050/1055.
My understanding is that most of these were built by the Billato brothers in Italy, then shipped to TSD for painting in the USA.
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...mrightside.jpg
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...rowndetail.jpg
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As I understand the history of Tommaso...the bikes were originally Italian and imported by Ten Speed Drive Imports (both of the ones I have owned had the TSD stickers). Eventually...and others may know the timing, but I think sometime in the 80's, the brand "became" American...so, no, I do not think that Tommaso is a "gimmick"

Based on my limited sample size of two...I highly recommend these bikes...both that I owned were great looking and riding (what more can you ask for in a bike?)...value wise, I find them to be highly variable, but mainly based on components that are on the bike. Both of mine were purchased for reasonable prices with full Dura Ace (age appropriate)...

As Daf says contract built in Italy just like the Geurciottis, Battaglins, some Lemonds, and a few other names owned by 10Spd Drive

I think these were just offered as tubing names and then the group applied Tomasso SL Ultegra Tomasso SLX Chorus.

I was never sure, but I always thought Tommaso was a made up name that sounded like Tommasini for a house brand. One of 10spd Drives gimmicks was they brought the frames in bare and used a good Dupont paint, so you could custom order any color or color scheme you wanted. We had a customer who got a CorMor frame in a hideous sort of Chartreuse Yellow with RX100 group. I think for another $200-300 he could have had a SLX Bianchi with Athena.

Very cool. Thanks for posting.

Mine is very smooth and feels very racey but on the big side for me and...to be honest...I've been spoiled by brifters.

Here's mine.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...tommaso8r1.jpg

And here are a couple of catalogs.

http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalog...so88%28tsd%29/

http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalog...so85%28tsd%29/

Mmmmmm.....Yellow Regal!

In the valuation thread, I just posted a good quote from the LinkedIn page of the guy who ran the factory that made Tomasso and many other brands on an oem basis. Now that I know so many brands came from the same shop, I see many more detail similarities between Rossin, Colnago, Tomasso and other frames from the same period. Cool.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/922666-Tomasso-What-Year

My frame looks very similar to the TL 8700 from the 85' catalog but mine is the Sante group, ambrosio bar and stem and araya rims so perhaps they came in different flavours.

http://i1037.photobucket.com/albums/...ps06f823c3.jpg

Think I might have your Tommaso frame, paid way too much for it on ebay around this time last year, impulse buy based on colour before I knew anything about steel bikes or their relative value. Now that the pain of paying is forgotten, nearly, I'm quite happy about the colour and quality of the frame.

The reason I think it's the same frame is because of the paint chips just above the downtube shifter braze on, could be coincidence but think it's too similar.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=427598

Haven't done anything with it yet as a few other projects came along as I was deciding whether to go retro or modern. Have a few retro built bikes now and think I'm not someone to ride everyday on friction shifters. The frame is worthy of more regular outings so think I will go the brifters route once other tinkerings are out of the way - Would be nice to have it on the road for summer.

That absolutely looks like the same frame...do you know where the seller on eBay was from? That could help confirm it. This was an interesting bike for me...I bought it because it had a DA group on it that I wanted for another bike. When we got it home, my wife suggested we go for a ride...this bike happened to be in the garage at the time...so I said sure...25 miles later I pulled back into the garage quite happy with the ride...it was VERY smooth riding. I kept it, rode it for a while...then moved on to my Blue Tommaso that fit a tad bit better...and I still have it today! This "Pinkie" as I called it...helped me to come to like the ride of Tomasso's...I think you will be VERY happy when you build it up...either retro or modern! Cannot wait to see it back on the road...

Item location was listed as, Brooklyn, New York if that's any help.

Nice picture...and...yes...my records indicate that I sold this bike to someone in New York, NY...seems awfully close to Brooklyn...

Since this has evolved into 'Show Your Tommaso' thread here is mine. I believe it is a '92 with TSX tubeset.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=427614

Nice bike, don't think we'll rival the show us your Bianchi page tho. :)

Wow, this is seriously tempting!

Tommaso Vintage Road Bicycle Frame Fork Columbus SLX Tubing Late 80's Italy | eBay

Looks like a real beauty for a great price!

I have seen better prices for a Tommaso frameset on eBay. I paid about $200 shipped for my frameset early last year. Mine is in excellent condition (see above photo). That being said, it is a large frame and not everyone may like the colors. But, with a good BIN price it would be tempting if it was my size.

Nice...but not a smoking hot deal...I have seen better shape Tommaso frames on eBay for about this price with shipping included. It is not a BAD price...just maybe a tad bit on the high side...and the frame shows a bit of wear...

Hmmm, an Italian made SLX frame in nice shape for $229?

That's tough to find.

If I was in the market, I'd jump on it.

Just came into a Tommaso and have been digging the threads. Thanks all!

That fuscia Tomasso was one of the most iconic bikes in the mid-1980s. It was featured in ads in the magazines with full C-Record, Rolls saddle and leather wrapped bars. Pure eye candy in 1986.

I know this a really old thread, but since it's been resurrected, I'll post mine up. One of the best bikes I've had, and my daily rider.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...416d8e3e91.jpg