Hi crew,
I have the same catalogue as Mark Bulgier scanned but also have the
Tradex price lists associated with that particular catalogue. The dates
are November 1980 and January 1981 on the two price lists, one covering
complete bikes and the other covering components and accessories -
including lots of panto gear. Prices are in Liras and much can be
learned about the relative cost of components 25 years ago to each other
compared to the way we value certain items now.
Getting back to the Mex/Super issue which is probably already resolved
in most members minds, upon close examination of the original pics it's
obvious that there is no crimping at all on any of the frames in the
catalogue. I have a 78 Mex as well as a couple of 83 Mexicos and the
crimping on the 83's starts at a certain length back from the lugs,
along the tube - not all the way into the lug as the reflective pictures
in Bulgier's catalogue suggests. Of course the 78 has no crimping. One
interesting fact is that the Mexico Oro rear derailleur cable is within
the chainstay - a feature on no other frames of that series. Cant tell
if the front is also hidden - but it would make for a cleaner area for
the gold plating....and that's an issue that is worthy of debate...were
the Mexico Oros gold plated or simply gold lacquered over chrome?
Looking at several old Oro frames....I would put money on the lacquer
with the exception of the Pope's bike and also the later Nuovo Mexico
with the gold stays and fork blades. According to the Tradex (Italy)
pricelist of 1981 a Mexico Oro complete new bike cost 1,265,000 lira, an
'ordinary' Mexico was 1,000,000 lira and a super was 874,000 lira.
Considering the cost of polishing a full frame to achieve either a gold
plated finish (you must have a plated frame to apply the gold plate to
begin with) or a chrome/lacquer finish, the premium of 265,00 lira
shouldn't cover gold plating as well. Something else, a Saronni Export
frame with Aelle tubing was just a touch over half the price of a Super
and less than half that of a Mexico. (Sorry Saronni enthusiasts)
Will contact Ray and see if he would like to put some scans of the price
lists up with the pictures. Also, the 6 arm crank was still being
offered as an option but was only in the catalogue - not on the price
list.
Greg Softley
Warm and delightful Coffs Harbour
Australia