[CR]Re: Ross Signature on Ebay

(Example: Framebuilding:Technology)

Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 20:17:16 -0400
From: <WilsonJW50@aol.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Re: Ross Signature on Ebay

I recently picked up a Ross Signature that was a bit too large so I sold the frameset on eBay. That one was made in Taiwan and was clearly marked "signature" on the top tube. In fact, almost everything was marked Ross, from the seat stay caps to the toe clip straps to the tires! Mine was a 292S with first generation Shimano 105 "golden arrow", Ishiwata triple-butted tubing, and was made in 1985. I believe the one currently on eBay is older because it has 27" rather than 700C wheels, 5 speed rather than 6, and a total lack of braze ons, which my '85 had. If it is Allentown-built, then it is probably post-Kellogg and Redcay. A Google search will tell you more about Ross than you probably care to know. Also, there is a Ross Signature photo on Dale's shop website for comparison. Regards, John Wilson Greensburg, PA wilsonjw50@aol.com ps. I'm fairly new to the list, just prior to the the last Cirque. I'm a 55 yr. old die hard "roadie", my first job being in a very old-time (founded 1896) bike shop in W.N.C., now living and working as an electrical engineer in W.PA. On-topic bikes are: '83 Trek 760, '73 Schwinn World Voyageur, '78 Schwinn Superior, '83? Schwinn Super LeTour (US-made) converted to a fixie. You'll see me on eBay selling most anything bike related to support my habit, some of you already know me: jww5402. Thanks for this list, it's great!
>
>Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 14:00:05 EDT
>From: EdVintage63@aol.com
>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: [CR]Re: Ross "signature" on Ebay
>Message-ID: <ac.5bb56bd7.2e130825@aol.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>MIME-Version: 1.0
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>
>Ross for sale on ebay:
>
>http://ebay.com/<blah>
>rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
>
>On the general topic of "caveat emptor,"
>I don't see any real indication or proof this is a Ross Signature model, but
>the seller is clearly saying it is (though the word "signature" in the item
>description is cleverly not in upper case or quotes), and that it is built by
>one of the four named frame builders associated with the signature program. He
>can't even do better than a seven-year time span for the year the bike was
>built. What little I know of Ross bikes suggests that this is probably a
>Taiwan-built number - and very likely NOT a Kellog or Redcay frame. Maybe I'm wrong,
>but this seems another case of, at best, ignorance on the part of the seller who
>nevertheless makes some pretty strong claims for the item; and at worst, a
>carefully crafted deception. Or am I wrong about the bike? Any Ross experts?
>Ed Granger
>Lancaster, PA, USA
>P.S. As a new list member, some brief info. I am a 40-year-old mostly
>unsuccessful Cat. 5 road racer and A-Group bike club rider. I have been interested in
>vintage bicycles (60s-70s-era lightweights) since I began riding three years
>ago. Of course, I am old enough to remember when the 70s were the current
>decade, and briefly owned a Peugeot road bike circa 1981 that weighed about 35
>pounds. About six months ago, I purchased a mid-70s champagne Benotto 1500 with
>full Campy Gran Sport that I have tried ever since, with little success, to
>identify the frameset of (Dale Brown was kind enough to respond to my email query
>about the bike). Trying to learn more about my frame, building materials and
>techniques, and about vintage components (as a result of pondering an upgrade
>for the Benotto) has sucked me deeper into the mire and led to the purchase
>(or perhaps "rescue" would be a better term) of a pair of early-70's
>fillet-brazed Schwinn Super Sports. The piece de resistance thus far is my newly arrived
>'76 P-10 Paramount, resprayed but otherwise original and in extremely good
>condition. Coveted bikes would include: early 70s Masi GC (orginal pick! - lost a
>bid on one not too long ago, which did have the silver lining of preventing
>marital difficulties), Raleigh Pro, maybe something more esoteric like an Alex
>Singer or Flying Scot; or a nice frame build-up project from Ron Cooper or
>Eisentraut. Heck, I wouldn't mind finding an authentic Ross Signature from Kellog
>or Redcay, either.