anon_nick

Hello! Been lurking this forum for years, and its finally time to join. I wanted to know if anyone had seen a frame by this builder before. It was given to me by my father. Im told its by an Italian frame builder long out of business named "Maber". The only taste of info I can find is a craigslist post from 2008 with no photos.

-1998 Campagnolo Chorus 9speed group
-Rolf Vector Pro wheels
-Various titanium parts, cassette, stem, handlebars

Its stamped with the number 11 on the bottom bracket area, and has very beautiful Walter lugs all around. To be honest, I might strip the paint and reveal the all chrome finish underneath.

randyjawa 

I can't tell you much about the bicycle, except that it appears to be very high end. As for stripping the paint, bad idea, in my opinion. Before doing so, you might want to consider how destroying the original paint and art will depreciate the value of the bike, and do so considerably. To learn more about this, have a look through Should I Paint My Bicycle?

Also, you might find that the chrome under the paint is not polished, meaning that it will not look nice at all.

MiloFrance

.....with photos of everything except the beautiful Walter lugs...

Bianchigirll 

I am with Randy please do not paint it. While the color may not be to you liking it seems to in very good condition. Also if you know nothing about the age or maker of the bike refinishing the bike destroys any evidence to track down that info. For all you know this could have belonged to former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi at one time.

anon_nick

You can see around the bottom bracket area that the PO had brushed primer to coverup the chipping paint, which so far that Ive seen, is polished chrome underneath. Some areas have tiny surface rust spots where water got underneath the loose paint, that was a concern of mine.

anon_nick

A few more pics. I read "BREVETT CEP" on the dropouts but a google search brings up "Brevetti CEA - Inspection & Leak Detection Machines, Via del Commercio, 36050 Sovizzo Vicenza, Italy"

randyjawa 

This is an example of an all chrome plated frame set. The lugs, fork socks and stay socks are polished but the balance of the frame set is not polished and does not look all that great, in my opinion...

unworthy1

brand is unknown to me, but clearly a great find: Genius tubing (or at least the fork is!) and very nice details: what's not to love? Problem besides losing the "originality" of the paint if you strip it (and I bet you'll never find those decals again) is that the chrome may not be present down around the BB shell, judging from one of your pics. It may be there on one side, but sure looks like it either never got dipped all the way or the plating has peeled off on the non-drive side. Think 3 times before you strip it...

FBinNY 

Maybe because they're on a different bike. It's hard to be sure based on the photos, but this looks to be a lugless filet brazed (or welded) frame.
r

Scooper

I think maybe the OP is using the term "lugs" when he means the dropouts?

The head tube to top tube and down tube joins are pretty clearly fillet brazed (..and beautifully done at that).

non-fixie 

Not likely. Unless it's a bunga bunga bike of course.

Numbskull

You have got a rare gem there. It would be tragic if you changed any of it. The link to your father will only intensify as years go by, and the low serial number and name mean you have a frame built by an identifiable single craftsman rather than a big manufacturer. Have you tried contacting the bike shop listed on the sticker? Perhaps they still exist, or someone in the town knows who owned it and is still alive. They could likely tell you more about the builder. You can also try searching google in italian.

bbattle

That's a very nice bike!

Don't touch the paint. As others have said, the chrome under the paint is not pretty to look at as it was never intended to be seen.

elraton

Don't know what made me search on this today.... but I had a couple Maber frames in the early 90's. One similar to the one pictured, Genius tubing and all a medium/deep blue a lot like yours. The other was SLX and white / pink. I left it / sold it in Peru after a race. The blue one I also eventually sold. I think at least one of the builders had an association or worked for Tommasini. My understanding is the name Maber came from the two guys who started the business.... Ma-something and maybe Bar"ber"elli or something. The ones I had came into the US via Austin, TX.

Manny66 

I wouldnt strip the paint. Mask and repaint a few spots and your good to go.

Insidious C. 

Zombie thread...

cog_nate 

Arbadacarba! [← Thread necromancy incantation.]

Just browsing around a few minutes ago, and this is now on KC CL: https://kansascity.craigslist.org/bo...386647993.html.


I think this is the same frame from the original post: splotches of blue on the head tube, seat tube and chainstay; little bits of red on the underside of the top tube and by the seatpost binder bolt; Walter dropouts. Different fork and headset, but it looks to me like anon_nick went ahead w/the paint stripping.

The braze-on derailleur mount is still there, so it isn't fully Drewed. Still... if it is the same frame, it's kind of a bummer.

cb400bill

#thatsashame

repechage

There is a lesson there.

unworthy1

Too bad if it got stripped but...at least he didn't cross the "Drew line". And wonder what happened to the original Genius fork (if this is in fact the OP's frame? That was one of the nicest details.

Spaghetti Legs 

Yeah definitely way better, even with those primed spots, than that stripped down version. The missing original fork is the only thing that would make me hesitate to snap that up if it was local to me.

3alarmer 

.
...this is why you never want to give some kid a very fine bicycle for free.