Somec - Società Meccanica enthusiasts

I think this one is maybe brain tubing, similar to my olimpus deda zero above on same page. But slight differences on where tubes meet.

Nice paint though !

Minimal update but swapped out the black flite for a blue one

Hi, I bought this locally. It's missing cable stops on the top tube but I'll try to get that fixed. Planing on painting it and was wondering if you guys have any rough estimation on which kind of decals to use.
Planning on white pearl with fadez so maybe the pixelated decals even if they're a bit too modern?

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Very interesting !
I missed out on a track frame with similar lugs recently, to me it looks like an early Somec, so 60's-70's ?
The fact that it has the decorated lugs but not engraved "somec" seat stays point to the early frames.
Is the fork the original or not ?

It is possible, if it is an early frame that it had campagnolo cable "rings" rather than brased on stops on the top tube (is there any sign of filing ? or work to remove old welds ?)

Nice!

Agree with @ArthurDent, and it's possibly an earlier one with no guides.

Also forks don't look original, but do they?

AHH it's maybe for lose cable guides! I hadn't even considered that. The fork is Tange prestige so it couldn't be an original? I haven't unpacked yet as I'm moving it to the workshop where I store my n+1+1

What I've seen of the workmanship is really impressive, especially the rear dropouts, not an ounce of superfluous brass.

Exactly, probable that it had "loose" cable guide rather than brased on.
The fork i doubt it is the original, Somec being italian most of the early bikes (all that i've seen) have been columbus tubing.

Somec are great quality yes though ! And lovely catch you got there !

Hello and congrats, its a nice frame. Usually these were mono-coloed in red, burgundy, blue (both light metallic and dark non-met), yellow. The fork is indeed a candidate for being non-orig for its shape, but you can never know, however yours is not the cheapo model, but SL. The Falck tubed ones had no panto forks, but the looked the same as the panto ones. I have the same frame but with panto seat stay caps it was red until it reached the current state like yours and the decals were the old-school yellow ones with thin edges, pure text, no "Adidas" stripes, pixels, coat of arms. Since you paint it white and fade, pixel is one way to go, or "Adidas", like this Air on ebay:
Also at least these striped decals are available, while the older "pure squares" are not that easy to find.

That Somec Air... 😍

Yepp... "it really whips the llama's a55".. there was another in Switzerland recently, also nice and a tad cheaper:
Somec Air Columbus SLX/SPX frameset RH58

but the seller of the blue-white also has a pink lo-pro, that's the really cheeky stuff

Thanks for the input! I´ve started hunting for a SOMEC panto fork on Ebay. I'm wondering if it's NOS as I cant find any signs of threads in the head tube, and there should be for this time (as I'm guessing that thread-less wasn't an option at the time?).

Also the details on that Air...

Make sure to have some cardiovascular medication at hand... they are no cheapo, get ready to pay more than what you paid for the frame and fork.
Here's an example from Cicli Berlinetta in Germany. Nice and coolb but I would avoid these big name shops, or at least in cases, like this. The fork is magic - although its Gipiemme dropout - if you anyway go for a more modern look its okay for yours - although not the original style for your frame. But the price.... eh....

It depends how period correct @SasenFrAsen you want to be ?
I think your frame probably had a flat fork crown and no Somec inscription, this might help you find something as it will be easier to find a "plain" fork than anything with a Somec logo on it.

Yeah, as @ArthurDent pointed out, all depends on the desired originality (and your pocket). I assumed with the faded paint of the later models that can be ruled out already, but that doesn't mean your bike won't look cool. Actually, I think yours had flat top with logo, just like mine, since it has the tulip lug cutouts, meaning in its time it was no lesser model (actually in the really early stages the lesser models meant lower cat. gruppo and simpler paintjob, you can search for SOMEC Special and Supercorsa to see the difference.) I can post you a pic of my fork later if you need for reference

If you don't care about "period originality" (a new term), you can contact Lara from Somec and send them your components and they'll pantograph for you. Newer graphics, sure, but original at least and cheaper.

That's right, their prices are really down to Earth according to a friend who went that way.
Actually a guy from Denmark recently popped up on German Classifieds selling Somec bikes and parts panto'd by Somec, worths a check if you like them or not, I am not affiliated in any ways, just bought a stem on behalf of a friend, he was cool (and most importantly speaks English, which is something to consider ;) ) Check Here

Words on the cable guides.... one of the oldest known SOMECs from '75 has them as well (there is a '73 in existence but not even the tulip looked like that back then), what I can tell you, mine came with rotten front guide, and many others I've seen over the years had the same problem... only at the front. As @ArthurDent pointed out the existence of the tulip cutouts but the missing seat stay cap -SOMEC- text dates it to one of the early ones, same for the crimped chainstay behind the chainwheel. I would say, it is pre-'79 while the company was founded in '73. Closer details not even SOMEC knows, as they don't have old records. Even with the fork you have it could be a good looking bike, but if you could get a similar shaped to the original you would avoid questions, sad looks or the "you know the fork is not orig..." from SOMEC fans :D Actually the cheaper models had the same fork, but without the logo, also note the experimental logo on the '75. If you go toward the faded "Martini" style with pixel decals, you would better off getting a similar to what I posted earlier even if non panto - oh wait, that you have...

Do your lugs have round cutouts at the bottom? Mine is considered '79 and have neither crimped chainstay, nor round lug cutouts.

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Thats a great shout to that guy selling Pantod stuff, his prices are pretty decent. Makes me think that Somec must not charge a great deal for this kind of work as i "vintage" pantod stuff goes for crazy prices

The thing is that somec is a small brand compared with other brands like colnago, bianchi etc. therefore the demand for panto parts is not that sought for which makes the prices a bit lower.

I’m the guy selling these parts, I bought a lot of 6 bikes and a bunch of parts, only keeping 3 bikes and some parts.
I bought it at a fair price, that’s why the prices are similar low.

Picture is just for the tease.

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Oh hi! I guess it can be added, that if mortal me would walk to Colnago or Bianchi as Hey guys would you panto whatever for me whether on my new bike or for my old ones, they would roll on the floor laughing.... Besides many people appreciate SOMEC more than the other big names.

Any more photos of these three ? They look beautiful !!!!

I wouldnt mind some older logo panto'd stuff late 90s-2000 is the logo type that would suit my two Somecs, but i guess the would be vintage parts, or does Somec offer requests ? Because if they could panto some older logos onto some bits i would be pretty happy.

But yes having exchanged emails with the company on info about certain models, and serial numbers for some bikes i do really think they have a nice people who care about their community !

Ive Got some late 90’s panto stuff for sale.
Right now i dont have any good pictures, I’m limited to a 10m2 room because of renovating. I can add some shots of some of the parts I’ve got.

Yeh i saw, but they don't match the logos on my frame ;) Its all in the detail, and if i get panto i want the correct logo !

I see😉