What separated the small Italian builders from the bulk of the Continental European bike makers in those days was the crisp lug work!
The edges of the lugs were filed smooth and the points usually thinned. Any cutouts were also crisp.
I lusted for a Colnago from when I first saw one in the early 70s until I got my 1978 Super. It was the clean lug work that attracted me. The paint was never too thick and didn't destroy those crisp lines.
This one, "she looks like she's had work done, and not to good either!"
I don't doubt that this is an early whatever Colnago frame but it appears the top tube/head tube lug has been poorly repaired plus there are other things besides the braze-ons that just don't look right.
You should be able to spot and identify a Colnago (just like a De Rosa and other famous Italian makes) from 20 feet away. This one doesn't pass the 5 foot test!
Aside from the decals, this frame is "Just Wrong"!
BTW, when did Colnago start using signature decals on the rear of the top tube? I thought it was in the late 70s or early 80s?
Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA
Mark Battley wrote:
> You could be right Matthew.
>
> Those headlugs are similar to mine, without the small extra point that are
> common on the classic post 1970ish Supers like Dale's.
>
> http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/
> VSROXEmPa5HNamM6nPFYcxMrKditsiJpBq_ddg7ww5pmjNSSA/DSCF2252.jpg
>
> http://picasaweb.google.com/
>
> http://www.cyclesdeoro.com/
>
> The top headlug does look odd, but maybe it's just the paint??
>
> Shame about the extra brazeons, but not a big deal to remove, at the cost of
> paint and period correct decals.
>
> Mark Battley
> Auckland, New Zealand
>
> ------------------------------
> *Mighty* thin lugs indeed. My '71 had a similar issue under it's rather
> "goopy" repaint...
> But I'm gonna go out on a limb here and disagree with our fearless leader:
> The lug style, holes on the BB underside and semi-sloping "scalloped" fork
> crown suggest '68-'70 to me!
>
> Matthew Bowne
> Brooklyn, NYC
>
>> From: oroboyz@aol.com
>> Subject: Re: [CR] Pre-'70s Colnago(?) frameset
>>
>>
>> Marc, this frame has some unfortunate stuff going on with the top head
> lug:
>> http://tinyurl.com/
>>
>> With that fork crown I am pretty sure its a 1971 model.
>> See mine of that year here:
>>
>> http://www.cyclesdeoro.com/
>>
>> Dale Brown
>> Greensboro, North Carolina USA