Brian,
Having recieved some photos of a recently purchased Ron Cooper from another listmember, I noticed that they have serial numbers on the BB shell, stamped on the under side of the DT socket. I looked on my frame, and sure enough under some grease and whatnot that is still on the frame as I recieved it, there is a serial number. My bike is number 213. My bike has no braze ons at all, not even BB cable guides. Only BO is a chainstay stop on the rt. c/s. My bike has long campy dropouts. This frame is early 70's. The other frame is number 426, has braze ons everwhere except ft. der. BO and short Campy dropouts. It is mid to late 70's. Going by this, a serial number should help us make a determination. I'd be curious to get an approx idea of when he becan to use the small "C" brazed into the cutout of the Prugnaut lugs. I think mid 70's is probably the answer.
One of the things I find most interesting/attractive about the Coopers is that Ron has a distinctive Italian style even though he's English. I find that style attractive and Ron does a great job of it. He is sensitive to fork bends and lug filing. I also like his distinctive semi fastback seat stay attachments.
Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
Apologies to all who wish only to debate fixed gear/wheel nomenclature,
but I just now acquired a Ron Cooper bike, and wonder how one goes about
figuring its date of birth.
thanks,
Brian Plaugher
Guerneville