dbg

I finally found a home for the Mel Pinto project hanging in my garage (for several years). Posting pictures below. It had bounced around my extended family for years (originally early 70's I think), when it unexpectedly showed up at my doorstep in bad shape. Somebody wanted to toss it but my sister insisted it be shipped to me. First pic is from its arrival. Powder coat and several upgrades were required. I even had several emails and one conversation with Sheldon Brown during my initial restoral steps. When he died I created a headbadge decal of Capt Bike and placed it on the headtube. I also added a Mel Pinto Special decal in the bike's original color.

Given to a friend in Madison, WI. Might be seen on the west side and burbs.

flypaca

I may have one simlar. what size wheels were on the bike? My frame was for 650 b and i was able to swap in 26x1 3/8 since in the 8o's 650's in the states were extreemly rare.

dbg

Wheels are 27". The front hub and rim was rebuilt with new spokes. The rear hub with drum brake was replaced with a new free hub (original rim) and nexus brake. The original brake setup had one front lever pull two cables. One went to the rear rim brake, the other to the drum. I didn't like that so I used a shift lever to create a drag brake setup for the newer hub brake.

An article I read (and a parts vendor I happened to talk to about Mel Pinto) both said they imported their tandem frames from Gitane.
The top headset bearings had crumbled and somebody rode it in that condition so the fork threads were totally mangled at the top. I chased them as far as I could and then used slightly larger new bearings on both bottom and top to raise the headset just barely above the mangled threads. Worked out OK.

Artmo

Nice job! Thanks for sharing.

hup

Great work! Your friends will enjoy it, no doubt