Fred,
Don't let Cinelli logo's on fork crowns or bottom bracket shells make you think the frame is a Cinelli as well. They supplied frame building parts to many framebuilders world wide. On a touring frame I made for my wife, for example, I used a Cinelli brake bridge and fork crown with the C logo engraved on the top of each. Over the years, I have used many of their frame parts on custom frames I have built.
Another thing is that painted frames with chrome ends are often completely chromed underneath. It isn't easy to transition chrome when doing the stays for example without some kind of edge that is a problem. It's just easier to chrome the whole thing. However, the painted over chrome is usually not polished so it can have a rough appearance. The frame in question may have just had the beat up paint removed to improve the impression of it's appearance.
Doug Fattic Niles, Michigan
From: <saint09@bellsouth.net>
With the cute little heart on the head tube, my first thought was an early
DeRosa, then I may have incurred everyone's wrath, especially that of Bob
Hoovey, by saying it's a rare Masi. But then I noticed the Cinelli logo on
the fork crown and despite the sellers claim that it's a Campy bike, I think
it's more likely a frame that was either chromed originally or had all the
paint stripped off. The rear seat post binder looks rather crude for a
Cinelli and although hard to tell from the photos, it looks like it also has
internal brake cable routing. Could it be an 80s Cinelli or maybe the fork
was changed at some point. Did Cinelli put their logo on the forks?
Fred Durrette
Summerville, SC