Brian mentioned that some classic frames were made by the hundreds a week. Others are much rarer. I'd like to get a feel for quantities.
What do we know about how many of these bikes were made?
Here is what I know:
Until last week, there were 3302 Alex Singer made, plus a few unaccounted ones, and a few doubled-up serial numbers (I have seen a few orders for two or three bikes, all with the same serial No., with a "-1" and "-2").
So if we assume 3400 since 1938, that makes 52 bikes a year on average. Ernest Csuka told me that in good years, with three people working full-time, they could make 100-120. Lately, the numbers have been 10-20. (Serial numbers that are "serial" - meaning they start with "1" and go up from there - have a certain beauty, don't they?)
I suspect René Herse made a few more bikes - their shop was bigger, with 5-6 people.
I have heard that Cinelli made 400-700 bikes a year in the 1960s. Any confirmation?
What about Masi, Poghliagi, and others?
And what about Colnago, Peugeot PX-10, Frejus?
How long did it take Mario Confente to make the 130 (?) bikes he completed before his untimely death?
Does anybody know?
BTW, I am not implying that Singers are more valuable than Herse or Cinellis because they are rarer. There are much rarer bikes than that, but value depends on supply and demand, quite simply.
Jan Heine, Seattle