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Poetic
Well, it may be a bad time of year for selling, middle of a nippy winter and all, but I find myself in dire need of some readies so offering for sale a few frames, one whole bike and a wheelset (latter two listed separately). I'd prefer to hang on to it all but if I can shift one or two things it'd be helpful! Available for collection/viewing in W3, on the border between Acton and Chiswick.
Three vintage frames to start, open to all reasonable offers. Not going for a fixed price on these, but I trust the denizens of the forum to have a good idea of an appropriate ballpark – if you're interested, PM me with an offer and I'll give you a yay or nay.
Starting with the one with least clear provenance: Nominally, it's a 'Colnago', but as any fule know, it is nothing of the sort – just a simple, nicely made 56cm (centre to centre) frame and fork in a knockoff dress, painted-up to look the part. Bought it to build up as a Philistine fixie, to put two fingers up to any casual, unobservant bike snob! An honest (dishonest) frame that is deserving of a moment in the sun!
From a fake Colnago bearing the name to a genuine Colnago not bearing the name. Colner was a spin-off brand from Colnago started in the 70s (COLNago ERnesto) reputedly to get around UCI rules prohibiting manufacturers from supplying/sponsoring more than one team as well as being able to sell in shops in areas that already had a protected Colnago dealership. Used by Italian pro team Vibor but also more notably by Belgian pro team IJsboerke. Supposedly a 'B brand', but differed merely by being a tad less ornate than those that carried the Colnago name. Ironically, probably rarer now than its parent.
The frame here is from approximately 1976; an early model without cable lugs or braze-ons for shifters. Lovely sleeves just like 'ordinary' Colnago; Columbus tubing with the peak marks on lower head tube and fork crowns. Finished in the original blue which has a lovely almost powdery patina. Small bit of rust on the top of the forks but that's only from it having been sat around (not there when I picked it up) – probably about five minutes with some polish and it'll be fine – I would do it before sale but all my stuff is in boxes at the mo and I don't know where the Solvol is hiding! Lovely frame and fork (1880g/725g), 56cm square centre-to-centre, Campagnolo dropouts, 27.2mm seat-tube. Peachy.
Final frame on offer is a Jan Willemsen. Willemsen was (is?) a rider and framebuilder from the Netherlands and the example of his work here is a beautifully made, Columbus tubed frame, very much in the mould of a Colnago Super only with British threading. 58Cm seat tube, 57cm top tube, in a dark gunmetal grey complete with 'clubs' on the lugs and including both a headset and seatpin. Campagnolo dropouts, Cinelli Super Corsa bottom bracket shell, 27.2 seatpost, dating from probably late 70s, maybe early 80s. Lovely – bravo, Jan!
In case I've messed up with formatting the pics full gallery here. Ta!