Hey ya'all --
Some of you may recall an exchange of messages back in late April and early May begun by a listmember's outing of his own eBay auction: KOF framebuilder Anthony Mezzatesta was auctioning a custom-built, lugged steel frame -- built to the winning bidder's specs.
Yup, he's at it again. Item # 110072973076 . He's using a classic 531 tubeset. Bargain priced, I thought then, and I still think so -- except my bike cash is currently earmarked for a Baylis repaint and to finish paying a fellow lister for my dream FUSO at the beginning of next month.
Although I've never met Anthony, this was the additional bio info he
posted at Dale's request a few months back:
> Growing up in New York City, a neighbor brought over an old Legnano
> bicycle from Italy. The moment I saw that bike, I fell in love with cycling.
> When he tired of the bike, what a thrill it was that he gave it to me.
> I rode that bike with such joy and pride. It was my first love.
>
> As I got older and grew out of that bike, I decided to buy a
> Sakai. That was my ride for over 2 years. Boy, was it uncomfortable.
> At that time I was 17 years of age, (1973) I knew that I had to build my
> own frame. And so, the passion began. I had an audience with the
> great Vic Fraysee of Paris Sport Cycles and he suggested that I build
> by first frame out of Durafort tubing. He proceeded to sell me three
> sets. I went on to build 3 frames for my siblings and myself. I was able
> to get advise not only from Vic, but also from the late,
> great Francesco Cuevas.
>
> In 1980, I moved to Portland, Or. and worked with another great
> Jim Merz, while I took evening classes for hand engraving and jewelry
> design at the Oregon College of Art and Craft. In 1981, I moved back to
> New York and began building frames in the Poughkeepsie area where I
> built frames for the Hudson Valley Velo Club, And the Vitesse Cycling
> Team (now Verge) and Some of the Mangoni team. Now I reside and
> am building in the Pittsburgh Pa. area, where I've built frames for
> Kraynick cycling Team.
>
> I have built hundreds of frames in the more than 30 years that I've
> been building.
Hoping Anthony doesn't mind me outing his auction, I'm...
Dan Kehew
Davis CA USA