[CR]help needed IDing unusual Modolo brakes, Nisi rims

(Example: Framebuilding:Norris Lockley)

Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2005 17:26:47 -0800 (PST)
From: "David Ross" <dlr94306@yahoo.com>
To: CR discussion list <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]help needed IDing unusual Modolo brakes, Nisi rims

I'm cleaning up my latest Zunow acquisition. It looks like a crit bike to me, only one set of water bottle bosses, fairly steep geometry, Cinelli Criterium bars. Flat fork crown and blades are chromed. The only non-Italian component is the seat post (SR Laprade, 27.0 fluted). I believe that at least some of the parts are original to the bike:

Modolo brakeset, painted in a Mondrian-esque scheme on a white background (calipers and levers)

Nisi Mercurio d'Oro 1977 rims on Campy Record low flange hubs

It has a few decals I have not seen on other Zunows:

headtube decal: "Zunow Ind. Ltd." seattube decal: "Produced by T. Kageyama" seattube decal: "TRIPLE BUTTED TUBES/TRITED/Zunow Ind. Ltd."

The serial number appears to be 818, and is stamped inside the left rear dropout. Front and rear dropouts are also stamped "ZUNOW SUPERB" (no "e" on the end).

In an effort to figure out the bike's birth year, I would appreciate any suggestions about the vintage of the components and the "Tange" decal (we must have a Tange decal expert on the list, no?). Here's a link to a few photos:

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/DaveRoss-ID-help

Small print: I believe the bike to be in the on-topic range of 1979 to 1983. I did check the archives, but Modolo returns too many hits, Mondrian gets none!

Dave Ross
Portola Valley, CA