Larry,
You betcha....
I have been tracking Mondia serial numbers for quite some time and have ama ssed a modestly sizeable database of same, from which I feel comfortable in rendering reasonably accurate estimations with respect to build dates base d upon a frameset serial number (...and even more so when I am provided wit h a host of other little details about the bicycle itself).
For example:
01) Mondia and Juvela serial numbers were actually interspersed - which is to say that neither were independent of one another nor were they entirely sequential unto themselves.
02) From the late 1950's, brake cable guides consisted of a pair of front a nd rear braze-ons located at the 5:00 o'clock position along the right hand side of the top tube. Then commencing with model year 1978, these were mo ved to the 12:00 noon location wherein a series of three cable guides were affixed.
03) A singular set of water bottle cage bosses were first offered in the fo rm of down tube braze-ons in model year 1976 or 1977 (...I still do not hav e that one quite nailed down yet).
04) Commencing sometime during the decade of the 1950's, Mondia began equip ping their bikes with a chrome plated forged Vagner fork crown, and continu ed to do so until model year 1977 when this was superseded by an investment cast Bocama (BCM) crown of semi-sloping design having a Mondia logo on eit her shoulder.
05) Bottom bracket braze-on derailleur cable guides did not appear on Mondi a bicycles until model year 1978 (...although even then, their Cyclo-Cross offerings continued to use a separate clamp mounted twin cable guide).
06) Prior to the year 1978, almost all models of Mondia bicycles imported i nto the U.S. had exposed chrome plating in the center section of their seat tube whereas examples produced thereafter have this same area covered with paint.
07) Mondia bicycles built after 1978 no longer used the previous convention of "spray paint fade" as a demarcation between their paint and the exposed chrome plating to be found on their rear stays and front fork. Rather, th ese later bikes used CdM rings to differentiate between the two areas.
08) Also making an appearance in model year 1978, Prugnat lugs with cutouts supplanted use of a Nervex Pro lugset with modified Bocama (BCM) bottom br acket shell on most models (...Mondia had previously abandoned use of an ac tual Nervex BB shell sometime around 1965).
09) For model year 1981, Mondia moved their serial numbers from the top of the left seat stay to the left side of the seat lug coincident to stay faci ngs changing from a flat to concave profile.
10) In model year 1982, Mondia began shipping bicycles having exposed chrom e plating along the entire length of their right chain stay on most models.
11) In either 1984 or 1985 (...again, I do not have this one quite figured out) Mondia introduced yet another new front fork design, this time incorpo rating a fully integrated sloping crown.
12) The 1985 model year saw additional braze-ons in the form of a chain han ger on the right seat stay as well as another one for a front derailleur.
13) Also first appearing in 1985 were reinforcement bosses for bottle cage braze-ons.
14) 1986 saw Mondia finally forego their distinctively colorful head badge which had been mounted with traditional rivets in favor of a new "painted" rainbow logo badge.
Of course, all of the above guidelines are just that - guidelines and NOT a bsolutes inasmuch as Mondia actually offered a rather diverse range of bicy cles from the 1950's through 1990's. And while I believe these guidelines to be accurate with respect to certain of their models (...Supers and Speci als come to mind here in particular), there are definite exceptions to be f ound when talking about their Criterium, Prestige, Presto, or Cyclo Cross m odels (...not to mention their later offerings like the Discovery and Winne r).
Anyway, if you can provide a serial number and a few good detail pictures ( ..."OFF LIST", of course), I feel reasonably confident that I can in turn p rovide you with a relatively accurate estimate as to the vintage of your pa rticular bike (...or, of course, you can attempt to divine same based upon the information provided above).
Regards,
Robert "Mondia Maven" Broderick ...the "Frozen Flatlands" of South Dakota Sioux Falls, USA
P.S. I invite any an all contributions and/or corrections that other listm embers might be willing and able to supply with respect to the aforemention ed "guidelines". Don't be shy, but please don't just guess.
P.P.S. All of you other "Mondia Mavens" out there, be sure to stay tuned t o this very channel as next week after Christmas I will be offering a "spec ial deal" on reproduction Mondia seat tube decals to CR List members. Sorr y, no advance sales - limited supply - purchase will be contingent upon act ual Mondia ownership and proof of same.
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> Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 20:20:33 -0800> From: curmudgeon1957@yahoo.com> To
: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: [CR]Mondia questions, more stuff
for sale> > Hi, Gang-> > I just horse-traded for a Mondia 'Special' frames
et, and have a question or two about it-> 1) Is it possible to date a Mondi
a frame from the serial # ?> 2)This frame came with a Stronglight 'Competit
ion' headset, and a bb set up with a cottered axle (no logo on any of the p
arts); the Reynolds decal is (I believe) the early 60's style; there are no
bz-ons except for top tube brake cable stops, and a tiny ring to guide the
brake cable- is it pretty safe to assume that it is a early-to-mid 60's mo
del?> 3) Head badge is missing; I would like to buy or trade for a badge.>
> Any input would be much appreciated!
< snip >
> Happy Holidays to all,> Larry Myers> Portland,OR,USA> > _________________
______________________________> Classicrendezvous mailing list> Classicrend
ezvous@bikelist.org> http://www.bikelist.org/
vous
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