Macktheknife

Hey,

I found a racing bike in my grandfather's shed. Think it's a Tommasini. I'd like to restore it but i know little about this. Will upload pics as soon as possible. But as newbie, i need 10 posts. So. Looking for experts who want to assist me.

CO_Hoya 

From what I see (over BB cable routing, single water bottle, top tube cable guides), I’d guess early 80s. But what do I know?

Pic assist:

Macktheknife

Do you think it's a real one?
Any more info about the type?

Macktheknife

If you know any other expert on the matter, don't hesitate to contact them.

xiaoman1 

MTK,
Any markings on the seat stays, rear-drops or front drops, what do they say?
I thought that Tommasini's had a panto on the rear brake bridge and a T on the tops of the fork and a stylized T on the BB shell... but no expert on that so can't be definitive.
Tommasini expert will chime in soon there are a lot of them on this forum.
In any case lugs look good on my small screen, so for free even if not a T ride and enjoy.
Ben

due ruote 

Looks pretty sweet to me. Legit or not it looks like a high quality frame. Hope it fits you. Is there a box of parts with it? Wheels?

squirtdad

check the inside of the drive side bottom stay....not sure if it is just dirt or stray grass, but kinda looks like a crack

also looks like a repaint....see some dripping paint

good chance it is not a tommasini..... repaint and components but need real experts

but still could be a nice ride

Spaghetti Legs 

Is there a “T” cutout on the underside of bottom bracket? That has a lot of features of a late 70’s - early 80’s Tommasini. Only question I have is the fork, which on yours doesn’t look to have any distinguishing marks. Some Tommy’s from that era, I think, will have a blank fork crown, but it is less common. Here are pics of a similar era Tommasini I have. It’s a repaint and I think the decals are from later than the ‘81 - ‘82 date of this one.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/151996...57679058778848

stardognine

I'm not the expert, lol, but it definitely has a certain look. Gotta love those cutouts, on the head tube lugs. 👍 Good luck, hope it's "legit". 😎

Steve Whitlatch 

Just want to point out that it is my size and ........

P!N20

Interestingly there was an alleged Tommasini posted here recently which has some similarities to yours: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...l#post20969652

I'd also like to see under the bottom bracket shell and if the dropouts are stamped 'Gipiemme' or 'Campagnolo' or nothing.

Manny66 

Could be very early 70's Tommasini. The fork crown should have a "T" . The Asian junk parts are throwing it off as they appear to be from the mid to late 80's.

T-Mar

It's definitely not early 1970s as it has the Portacatena dropout, placing it 1978 to circa 1983. Some of the early Racing models were economy frames, lacking the usual embossing and cutouts, though they typically have the chainring embossed fork crown. I can't confirm that it is a Tommasini but it is a high grade frame.

Manny66 

It does have all the typical early 70's decals in place,, but you could be correct. We'll find out soon with a few more pics.

qcpmsame 

Here is a link to the thread in C&V, for Tommasini discussions and gathering information:The Tommasini Lounge. I got a lot of good information from this thread when I built my Prestige, and @T-Mar was a great source of input as well. The business website link:Tommasini Cicli, you can use their link to ask questions about specific bikes and models, but take it with a grain of salt, also.

There is a pretty good Facebook group for Tommasini, the family participates and offers responses frequently, as it is set up and moderated by the business. Please keep us updated if you do decide to build this one up, it looks like has some good potential in it.

Bill

Spaghetti Legs 

Also Kevindale’s outstanding thread

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-registry.html

Macktheknife

Dropouts are stamped Campagnolo.
Bottom bracket looks like one from Kevindale's list. Uploaded pics in my album, but cannot post them yet.
Being a newbie sucks.
Maybe one of you guys can post themfor me.
Have looked at all the threads you suggested.
Restoration is high likely.
Should i replace the Japanese parts(Sugino, diacompe) with Campa parts?
How big are my odds to find a Tommasini fork?
Thx for all the advice.

machinist42

FIFY

jdawginsc 

Zeus British thread headset...? Interesting.

Campagnolo drop outs. Has the cut out lugs but not the engraving.

Looks like a fun bike to restore, though.

jeirvine 

Zeus headset. The plot thickens...

qcpmsame 

That's the thread I wanted to link here most, I could not find it and ran out of time to just be lurking here, while at my desk in the office. That is one Tour de Force of a thread for Tommasini owners.

Bill

T-Mar

While it's not the greatest image when enlarged, the photo shows that the medial side of the right rear dropout has the raised circular boss that was added for mounting the Portacatena chain device (see pic). Given that Portacatena was introduced for the 1978 model year, the frame should be no older than this. The other end of the time frame is a bit harder to peg down, as builders often had excess stock of dropouts lying around after the product was discontinued.

Given the additional picture showing the bottom bracket shell treatment, I have no reason to believe this is not a legitimate Tommasini.

The lack of embossing, particularly on the fork crown, suggests that this could be a tretubi version of the Racing model. I'm not aware of Tommasini having produced any frames below this level (i.e. Aelle or Zeta) but it would be interesting to know the seat post diameter and whether the bottom inside of the fork's steerer tube has the five helical ridges indicative of a Columbus steerer. This would aid in determining the frame's tubing configuration, given that there was some variation in the Racing models.

Macktheknife

Thanks, T-mar.
That's awesome news. I'm certainly going to restore it now.
I've uploaded close-ups of the right rear drop out. Added pics of the front and rear derailleur. Pics of seat stem and front fork and steering tube are on the way. But having some trouble getting them off. So that will take some more time.
I'm going to try to change everything back to Campa. Thinking of sandblasting and powdercoating the frame, but not yet sure it's the best way to go.

T-Mar

Thank-you for the additional pictures. They confirm a Portacatena dropout, which corroborates the 1978 to circa 1983 date. The rear derailleur is a slightly later, lower mid-range, Campagnolo Triomphe. It was probably built from a frame. I'm looking forward to info on seat post diameter and the presence or absence of helical ridges inside the bottom of the steerer tube. Regarding a repaint, I would give it a good cleaning and re-assess before I made a decision. There's a lot to said for retaining OEM paint and decals, especially on a bicycle like a Tommasini, even if they are far from pristine. Picture assist...

Macktheknife

Thanks for the info.
Do you have any idea where to get a Tommasini fork? Preferably in Europe.
I'm from Belgium.
The rest of the stuff i can find easily.
I'm currently negotiating on Campa brakes, headset and Nuevo Record derailleur.