[CR] Decals for Columbus Record, Columbus KL

(Example: Framebuilding:Restoration)

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 14:03:31 -0800
From: Raymond Dobbins <raydobbins2003@yahoo.com>
To: Classic Rendezvous Bike List <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR] Decals for Columbus Record, Columbus KL


  A little thing that has bothered me for a while now: has anybody ever see n a frame with a Columbus decal specifically designating the tubing as KL o r Record?  I haven't, not even in a brochure or catalog.

I asked Richard Sachs and Brian Baylis if these specific decals existed, an d they both said yes.  I therefore have to believe that the decals ex isted, but were they ever used on frames?

The Colnago Mexico brochures of the late 70s, which describe the frames as built with Record tubing, show decals which appear to be the standard Colum bus SL decals:

http://www.raydobbins.com/misc/Colnago_Catalog/04.jpg

http://www.raydobbins.com/misc/Colnago_Catalog/09.jpg

http://www.raydobbins.com/misc/Colnago_Catalog/06.jpg

I had a 1988 Colnago Esamexico, which according to the Colnago catalog of t hat year, was made with "Columbus SL-Record" tubing, but the decal, again, was a standard SL decals (in other words, it just said Columbus).  Unfort unately my 80/81 Mexico doesn't have a decal at all.

So, did Columbus make a very small batch of Record and KL decals, and when these ran out, they said, what the hell, let's just use the regular decals?   That is seriously my best guess at why I've never seen even a photo of one of these decals.

If you've ever seen one of these decals, or if you have a photo, or (gasp) if you have a frame with such a decal, please share.

Ray Dobbins
Miami Florida USA