Re: [CR]Bertoni origins- Ben Lawee

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From: <FujiFish1@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 13:24:53 EST
Subject: Re: [CR]Bertoni origins- Ben Lawee
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
cc: Carb7008@cs.com

Hi, From what I have gathered (mostly from reading the postings to this list), Ben Lawee in California used Mr. Torresini of Torpado fame to build his Italvega bikes in the early 1970s through the mid or later 1970s (discussed in a very recent thread here too). Then, he took the bulk of his work to Asia somewhere, where the Univega bikes were produced. While producing the Univega bikes, he still continued to have "true" Italian bikes built, but this time badging them as Bertoni. I heard that some or most of these bikes were built by Bianchi. I seem to recall that there might have been another Italian company in on this too, but I cannot produce a name. Can anyone correct, amend, or add to this? Thanks...

Ciao, Mark Agree Southfield MI

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In a message dated 1/27/2004 10:22:14 AM Eastern Standard Time, classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes:
> Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 23:08:01 EST
> From: Carb7008@cs.com
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR]Bertoni
> Message-ID: <128.3a2bc134.2d473e21@cs.com>
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>
> A couple of years ago I bought a used Bertoni Pro Victory. It looked
> well-made, has a C-Record group and was cheap. I'd like to know more about
> this make
> but there's not much info available and bikes I stumble across on ebay don't
>
> sell for much which kind of surprises me cause the frame has some nice
> touches. Under the paint, the frame appears to have been chrome plated and
> it has a
> "B" cast into the fork crowns and BB. I did hear that the bikes were made
> by
> Italvega but I'm unsure about that. Can anyone tell me more about Bertoni?

>

>

> Jack Romans

> Sacramento, CA