Any Stella experts know when they changed from riveting a headbadge to the head tube, to the decal?
My Tour de France, purchased new in early 1972, has the decal.
The slightly earlier bike now on eBay -- 120098728515 -- has the riveted headbadge.
According to the seller, the rear derailleur on his is marked Patent 71, just like mine.
btw, I was out for a ride in the rain Saturday, and part of the route was also being used by a local group's organized ride. My son and I stopped for a drink of water at a trail-side shelter, and one of the helpers there came right over -- he spotted my bike and wanted to know more about it. On the way back, we stopped there again, and he saw us and exclaimed "Oh, Stella! You're back!", and another rider there came over for a look. She was very smitten with the bike, or so it seemed, and we chatted long enough for my legs to cool off.
So, how did they recognize Stella as an older bike? Did the Silca pump give it away, or the chromed forks and stay tips, or the chromed headlugs? Whatever, it's good to know that there is an appreciation for classic steel
Joel Niemi, Snohomish Washing-out-in-the-rain-ton, USA