[CR]More about Picchio

(Example: Racing:Beryl Burton)

References: <000001c7d76b$1c765ca0$696e4d44@ts>
To: tsan7759142@sbcglobal.net, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Sun, 05 Aug 2007 11:44:48 -0400
In-Reply-To: <000001c7d76b$1c765ca0$696e4d44@ts>
From: <oroboyz@aol.com>
Subject: [CR]More about Picchio

In the late 1970s into 1980s, the marque was imported into the USA by William Lewis Imports in Texas, he also imported Tomassini, Zullo and Montagner (latter used Oria tubing, ruffles & ridges in tubes, etc.) Now he does his house brand named Quattro Assi, which has been sourced in S. America, Taiwan and ?

We sold a few Picchios through CDO "in the day". A few purple metallic road frames (model name escapes me) with fluted rear of seat tube for tire clearance, a red metallic tandem (which was very cool), and two Specials (IIRC he only got one small batch of this models) in the Torino city colors (silver with black and yellow seat tube bands).

The thing that attracts me to Picchio, from a craft point of view, is that the components (lugs, BB shells) looked 'different', had different profiles and aesthetic character... either Picchio had their own pieces made or the builder modified existing frame parts to such a degree that the frame had a very personalized look. This sets them apart from so many builders who competently but just boringly plug the same old bits together (my personal pet peeve).

I think production numbers were small from Picchio, especially when compared to more familiar juggernauts of the biz.

Picchio DID an market indoor trainer and a fancy repair stand too. These very well may have been a case of private labeling of existing products. I did own a repair stand and a trainer at one time (wonder what happened to them....?)

Dale Brown cycles de ORO, Inc. 1410 Mill Street Greensboro, North Carolina 27408 USA 336.274.5959 http://www.cyclesdeoro.com http://www.classicrendezvous.com

-----Original Message----- From: Tom Sanders <tsan7759142@sbcglobal.net> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Sent: Sun, 5 Aug 2007 10:15 am Subject: [CR]Picchio Special...a few questions

A few weeks ago a buddy asked me to keep an eye out for a Picchio for him. I had only known of one and it belonged to a lady on the West Coast that I occasionally correspond with. I had never seen one. I looked up the photo of one on the Dale's site and was wowed. My buddy asked the list for one seeking to purchase one and I don't believe got a single response. I am wondering why a bike so wonderful looking seems so rare. Weren't many imported? Are they more plentiful nearer their point of origin? In Canada or Australia? Were there production problems that limited their production? When were they imported to this country?. There were at last two models ( I think) ...were they all as cool as the one on Dale's site? Perhaps we have someone familiar with the brand that could shed a little
light here?
Tom Sanders
Lansing, Mi