frubin

""Hi all.... M-theory sent me here (that's what they all know him by) I'm new to the forums and would like to know more about my Confente. The history, value and possibly where to get parts, etc."" Anybody know where to get Confente Pantographed parts (chainring, cinelli necks etc) for his frames?

M-theory

Thanks for posting over here Fred...

Now we need pics of the bike!

cyclotoine

you might have better luck fining somone who can mill your cinelli stem and rings than finding them. and I dare say it might be cheeper!

Dr.Deltron

Just curious where you got the bike? Your Q's make it sound like you found it at a garage/estate sale.

Like finding a '32 Bugatti in your Grandpa's old barn. .

I just saw one that was bought for $8,500, if that helps.

Call 831-384-6989....ask for Jaque. He knows Confente's.
and tell him who sent you. .

Dr.Deltron

But then they wouldn't be original!!!

But they probaby would be cheaper!!

repechage

Mario was not a big "pantographer" There are some spade cut out chainrings around..Cyclart has some in downhill racer sizes, but they are not the full tilt version. A Confente could be ordered with the owners last name milled into the side of the 1/R stem, a $10 option, done in a plain font, think "LeeRoy" drafting lettering.. (anyone remember that?) I have seen one with small, spades cut into the shift levers, cut clear through. Also, more cut out levers where the opening was beveled about 45 degrees from both sides an almost teardrop shape, painted fill, quite nice.

Now... without telling the serial mumber... does it have a leading zero? And describe the fork crown... and I will tell you more.

Do remember there are less than 140 of these with his name on them.

Trivia question... was a Confente ever ridden in LeTour? and by whom if you think so.

M-theory

Ah.. give him a break Dr. D.... He met Mario Confente back in the day, cherished the bike Mario built for him and just found out (by me) that it was, um......er.. valueable. But yes, at first I offered to give him a bit of cash for that old thing..... He wanted to keep it for sentimental reasons although......

frubin

No just did not realize that they are so highy prized.

repechage

Regarding Confente history, Russ Howe wrote a short but good article that can be googled pretty easily, first written for The Bycycle Trader.

There is more out there if you have the tenacity.

Last one I saw sell on ebay was a Pro-Pista with two forks, I think sold for over $7,400, it was a bigger bike, like a 62cm or so, don't quote me, thankfully too big for me.

If you have one and it fits... ride it, Mario did not make museum pieces, he made bicycles.

frubin

I bought it myself from Mario Confente when I used to live in Los Angeles. He built it for me.

repechage

Since it was for you, service it and ride it. But do insure it at an agreed value price.

Devotion

PLEASE tell us the serial number and provide a pic or two!

frubin

Where is the serial number located?

repechage

On the bottom bracket, above the spade cut out, on the down tube socket there is a cutout, surrounding that will be numbers. one will be the frame size, Mxx the other number will be the serial number, there might be space between the numerals.

frubin

My Confente frame is #011 and frame size 65

Dr.Deltron

AWESOME!!!

That doesn't make it valuable....




It's priceless!!!!

Ride it and enjoy!
You're one lucky cyclist, my friend!

jet sanchEz

Good lord! He built it for you? Wow, let's see some pics. And a story to go with them; were the two of you friends or something?

repechage

011, that is an intersting number, the zero indicates that it was not built in Los Angeles, but up in Northern Cal, near Monterrey. Mario got locked out of the Los Angeles shop on Union Pacific Avenue when he had learned of business plans beyond him by the financier of Custom Bicycles by Confente, Bill Recht of Rexart among other companies. Basically, Mario found out of these plans and gave notice, then was locked out, in short order including no access to his personal tools.

There were about 80 frames I have gathered built by that point. Highest number I have found is 055. There is one without a serial number that I am aware of.

The story was that Mario made good on the bikes that were on order but undelivered at that point, but he did it without the deposit money which stayed with Rexart.

So, when did you order your bike? If ordered while Mario was in Los Angeles, what did the folk left behind in Los Angeles say about the deposit?

Serendipper 

This is too good...popcorn just won't do! We MUST see pics. What a great story...

*popping popcorn anyway*

frubin

I bought it from Mario in Los Angeles between late 1977 and 1978. that's about the best I can do on when I purchased it. He built it in LA because I went to his shop to talk to him about building it, and he took measurements for my bike frame. I met him later in Los Angeles to pick it up and take it home and eventually started hanging Campy SR components on it. It had to been built locally because he told me that the black paint in the Spade frame cut-outs were still wet and not to touch them until the next day. So I am positive that it was not built in Monterey.

Devotion

Mario died in early 1979 and produced around 135 frames. Number 011 would have been produced a few years earlier, no? Something isn't adding up.

repechage

Do you have any paperwork? Mario died on March 8, 1979, not having access to the Union Pacific Avenue shop for quite some time, remember this was 30 years ago.

M-theory

How many miles are on the bike Fred, what shape is it in and what parts are you trying to replace/find?

And how are those pics coming!!?

frubin

Your right I just not sure now about the year. What you say makes sense.

Dr.Deltron

Another round of popcorn, pleeease! .