Re: [CR]Benotto ID help

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Chater-Lea)

From: "Takao Noda" <tanoda@d1.dion.ne.jp>
To: "Classic Bike List" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <B6F67F87.130D%banjers@mac.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Benotto ID help
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 22:32:56 +0900


I have found an advertisement of Benotto 3000 " Aguila del Tachira" ,Ariostea-Benotto team model on " La Bicicletta" 1984. It seems the last model in Champagne color and with traditional decals ,for in 1985 bikes of the Ariostea -Once-Benotto team were in Blue and white colors.
    The ad. said that it was silver brazed ( no percentage !). Unfortunately it did not say where it was built , although on the decal is " Fabbrica Biciclette Torino" and the address of the company is Padova. The decal of Columbus( SL) was on the right side of top tube near the head lug. The brake cable guides and shift lever bosses are brazed on. Derailleur cables go under the BB. The front derailleur boss is not brazed on. Investment cast lugs and crown are elaborated. Chain stays are specially formed to have more rigidity.
    If your frame is of this model, the ad. can give you the information of other components.
    The only thing I know with certainty is that the bikes of VIVI - Benotto team 1983 were made by Umberto Marnati , Milan.
                           Takao Noda
                  Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan


----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Jones-Bamman
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001 9:50 AM
Subject: [CR]Benotto ID help



> My weekend foray to flea markets yielded a Benotto frame with a few parts
> and I'm hoping that someone out there might be able to help with a bit of
> info on the company and possible date/provenance. The first issue is
> whether the Benottos produced in Mexico are clearly stamped/marked as such.
> I searched the CR archives and couldn't find any leads on this. This frame
> has a seattube decal stating "Fabrica Biciclette Torino" leading me to think
> it's conceivably Italian, but I defer to the experts here on the list.
> There is also a small decal above declaring "Del Mundo 1977/San Cristobal".
> The Benotto name (white letters on a dark blue field) is found on the
> seattube, downtube, headtube and back of the seattube.
>
> The fork is chrome with "Benotto" enscribed on the crown with traces of dark
> blue paint remaining; the paint is in reasonably good shape and is a dull
> gold with a slight greenish tint (underline "slight"). Bottom bracket has a
> clear "B" cutout and another which is more stylized (kind of like deco
> version of a "B"). There are two separate numbers stamped on the bottom
> bracket: "61" on the drive side and "1358" placed opposite. The lugs are
> fairly short pointed; those on the headtube have been additionally
> modified, forming a pronounced waist before reaching a point. Finally, the
> chainstays transition from oval to a shape approximating a diamond (or
> square on its edge) before tapering to the dropouts; the dropouts are Campy,
> fork and rear. The frame came with a newish Campy headset (I don't know the
> post SR models so can't identify), a very cool black Gipiemme aero-looking
> seatpost, and Ofmega cranks; no idea if any of the latter are original.
>
> Curiously enough, there is no sign of a decal/sticker referring to the
> tubing used, leading me to wonder just what this thing is. If there was
> one, given the uniform shade of the paint, it must have been removed early
> in the frame's career, unless this particular metallic paint doesn't fade
> much.
>
> Anyway, being a complete neophyte with this company's products I was hoping
> you all might be able to help me at least get a better sense of the relative
> quality of the frame--maybe even a rough guess as to age? It's going to fit
> me fine, so I'd like to build it up with components that are approximately
> period-correct. On the other hand, I paid virtually nothing for it, so I'm
> prepared to hear the worst.
>
> Sorry for the length of this post, but figured that these were reasonably
> relevant details. Thanks.
>
> Richard Jones-Bamman
> Storrs, CT