Matches up with my experiences .
Honestly , if a production frame ( even "top-of-the-line" ) , from one of the big impressive names of the 1960's & 1970's , were x-rayed and analyzed and compared to , oh let's say , a brand new custom frame from one of the builders who reads the postings to this list . . .
The production frame would fall far short .
I have the hots for those Italian road racing steeds . I love 'em . I want more of 'em !
But , I've seen plenty of examples , even from big-reputation companies , that appeared to have been made either just before quitting time , or after a lunch with perhaps a bit too much Chianti included .
I won't name names , but there were some VERY well thought-of frames , that I wouldn't let my sister ride down a steep descent on ! ( of course I don't actually have a sister , but you know what I mean ! )
I sure do love my faithful Frejus-Legnano , though there are a couple of cosmetic flaws .
I sure do love my favorite Paramount .
Meanwhile , my Ron Cooper has fit and finish to the finest degree .
But , whether we are talking about the finest one-man craftsmanship in the U.S.A. , or elsewhere . . .
Or whether we are talking the finest small team craftsmanship in the U.S.A. , or elsewhere . . .
Still , there was this brand new Masi , in about 1974 . . .
Happy Trails ,
Raoul Delmare
Marysville Kansas
>
> Charlie Young wrote:
> > I believe that Ron's handiwork is certainly on a par with the
> > Bianchi Reparto Corsa works.
>
> Though you obviously didn't mean that as a slap at Cooper, I feel it's way
> too generous towards Bianchi. Though small compared to Bianchi's other
> factories, Reparto Corsa is still a mass-production facility compared to
> Ron's shop.
>
> I talked to a guy who worked at Reparto Corsa, maybe about '92 (sorry
about
> the OT). He actually was employed there when I talked to him so it's not
a
> disgruntled-ex-employee scenario. (He seemed fairly gruntled.) I'm not
> naming him though as this story could get him in trouble. He said only
the
> production frames got carefully designed! The one-off custom frames were
> just sorta built on the jig, without any CAD or even so much as a drawing
in
> lipstick on a cocktail napkin. They had a guy who just "knew" what length
> and what angle to miter the downtube for, say, a 57 x 57 frame. He'd take
a
> stab at it, and hold it up to the jig, and recut it if it was too far off.
> "Too far" was defined a bit more loosely than this fellow was used to - he
> said Gianni Bugno's frame went out with a sloping top tube and a BB height
> lower than they planned, and this was when he was the reigning World
> Champion. The attitude was "don't worry, he'll ride whatever we give him"
>
> I like Bianchis, love the one I own (warts and all), but I don't think
I've
> ever seen one as finely constructed as the average Cooper.
>
> Mark Bulgier
> Seattle, Wa
> USA