[CR]"NOS" parts from Cyprus

(Example: Bike Shops)

Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 23:25:07 -0400
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "John Betmanis" <johnb@oxford.net>
Subject: [CR]"NOS" parts from Cyprus

I just received a couple of items from eBay seller "Georgiou Vintage Parts" in Cyprus. A pair of black Bluemels Club Special fenders and a supposedly NOS vintage "ping-ping" bell. I ordered both items at the same time but the fenders came a week ago and the bell just today. Looking at the fenders, they are stamped "BLUEMELS Club Special Made in England", but don't quite look like what I remember from the 1950s. When did they actually stop making them? The profile looks about right, but more rounded; I remember them being more squere shouldered. Also, they used to come with a reflector sticker (maybe even a white patch) and the mud flap on the front fender was black, not white like what I received. Anyway, not a real big deal for me. The bell, however, was nothing like what I was expecting. I remember these being all aluminum, extremely light, about 1-3/4" in diameter. This one "looks" like what I wanted http://i6.ebayimg.com/02/i/06/a5/4e/a7_1_b.JPG but it's larger, almost 2-1/2", and made of chrome and zinc plated steel. It even has a lower note than what I rememebr because of its size. Of course, the description doesn't give much of a clue "NOS VINTAGE BELL CORRECT STYLE FOR MOULTON BIKE" which doesn't really imply the 1950s.

Anyway, my point is, do you suppose these are actually NOS parts, or reproductions? Has anyone dealt with this seller in the past and what do you think? It actually looks like there are other vendors in Cyprus also selling vintage bike parts. Makes you wonder how all these vintage British parts ended up in Cyprus. At least the shipping was relatively quick.

John Betmanis
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada