Chromovelato mystery for you guys
06-14-19, 06:51 PM
#8
weapons-grade bolognium
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Are those pics from a CL ad?
06-14-19, 08:19 PM
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Most likely Japanese, given the Eisho Seisakusho lugs, though some American builders were known to use them. Serial number?
06-14-19, 08:29 PM
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I take it there is supposed to be a bicycle frame somewhere in these images?
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I take it there is supposed to be a bicycle frame somewhere in these images?
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06-14-19, 08:47 PM
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Maybe have someone else take the pictures for you? Are you sure you waited for the camera to focus before taking the pic?
06-15-19, 08:17 PM
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Whatever it is, it's sweet and my size. 
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06-17-19, 06:36 AM
#21
Strong Walker
Those Nrs stamped on the lugs (73 and 61) are the tubing angles.
The detail work on the lugs (or lack of) and what looks like a bit of a rough brazing job lets me doubt its Japanese.
If you found that in Europe, i'd bet good money on Razesa, they had a lot of Cromovelatos out in their days and the decals never stuck.
The detail work on the lugs (or lack of) and what looks like a bit of a rough brazing job lets me doubt its Japanese.
If you found that in Europe, i'd bet good money on Razesa, they had a lot of Cromovelatos out in their days and the decals never stuck.
06-17-19, 08:15 AM
#22
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Why yes, I have seen that serial number format. It's consistent with one of the variants seen on the Nishiki ONP produced by Kawamura's high end department. Typically, there is an NP prefix but not always. However this is not likeany ONP that I seen, which was the top Nishiki model of the very late 1970s. The lugs are missing the cutouts, the stay tops aren't fastback design, the rear dropouts aren't vertical and the ONP frame wasn't chromed. The ONP BB shells also typically have a cutouts representing four petals or a large 'N'. If there was something distinctive about the shell, I assume you'd have mentioned it.
Having said that, I have seen a reported Japanese market Nishiki Professional with the same serial number format, though with an M-prefix. It was chromed, had semi-wrap stay tops like yours and horizontal dropouts. The pictures didn't show if it had lug or shell cutouts, so it could match the subject bicycle. Assuming it is from Kawamura, the serial number is believed to represent a 1977-1978 model.
However, the serial number could also be reverse engineered to July 1980 and could represent another manufacturer. These are not so far apart that the frame features would be incorrect for either interpretation. It would be interesting to know if there is a date code on the steering column of the fork. Also, what size seat post does it take?
Still, I'm perplexed about two characteristics of your frame. The chrome, investment cast fittings and reinforcing tangs on the brake bridge suggest a high end model. Yet the seat angle, appears to be much more relaxed that the head angle, which should be ~73 degrees, based on the lug stamp. Also, the junction of the chain stay and dropout is not finished, clearly showing how the dropout plugs into the slot of the chain stay. For a high end frame, I would expect this to be filled and filed, showing a seamless transition. Neither are typical of the ONP I've seen coming out of Kawamura's high end department.
Having said that, I have seen a reported Japanese market Nishiki Professional with the same serial number format, though with an M-prefix. It was chromed, had semi-wrap stay tops like yours and horizontal dropouts. The pictures didn't show if it had lug or shell cutouts, so it could match the subject bicycle. Assuming it is from Kawamura, the serial number is believed to represent a 1977-1978 model.
However, the serial number could also be reverse engineered to July 1980 and could represent another manufacturer. These are not so far apart that the frame features would be incorrect for either interpretation. It would be interesting to know if there is a date code on the steering column of the fork. Also, what size seat post does it take?
Still, I'm perplexed about two characteristics of your frame. The chrome, investment cast fittings and reinforcing tangs on the brake bridge suggest a high end model. Yet the seat angle, appears to be much more relaxed that the head angle, which should be ~73 degrees, based on the lug stamp. Also, the junction of the chain stay and dropout is not finished, clearly showing how the dropout plugs into the slot of the chain stay. For a high end frame, I would expect this to be filled and filed, showing a seamless transition. Neither are typical of the ONP I've seen coming out of Kawamura's high end department.
Last edited by T-Mar; 06-18-19 at 07:49 AM. Reason: 2nd paragraph, changed vertical dropouts to horizontal
06-17-19, 06:00 PM
#23
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If T-Mar is stumped then I'm double-stumped, sorry can't be any help but I am stoked to see the name that corresponds to the lug-maker since I've seen the "Eisho Seisakusho" logo often and never can remember it right, maybe I'll bookmark this as a reference.
