Colnago Master serial number identification

[Rab Wilson]

Hi, I'm trying to find out the build year of my 1st Generation Colnago Master. Bought as frame & forks at Bob Ross sale at Fenwick, Ayrshire, Scotland on Sunday 14th July, 2019. Built bike up to my own spec/needs.

Serial number is S497 - as seen on rear gear side dropout. Anyone know what year this frame would have been manufactured?? Many thanks!

 

[Nob]

That looks more like a Super than a Master as they look like round tubes?
Masters started out I believe with 4 sided tubing & sloping fork crowns..??
Of course I maybe completely wrong........as I’m sure there are more experienced Colnago experts on here....

 

[Rab Wilson]

Hi Nob, my frame has the crimped Columbus tubing.

 

[Rab Wilson]

Been out looking at frame again. Down Tube is Gilco Columbus four sided crimped tubing. Seat Tube is round. Top Tube is a kind of 'figure of eight' shape; crimp down centre line either side of tube. It has the Columbus decal at top of seat tube.

 

[icrinson]

Re:

Rab, Its difficult to see the frame from your photo, but the master had the unique Gilco 4-sided concave tubing. Certainly your fork is not a first Gen Master as this has a sloping crown with the Ace of Clubs panto. Have a look at this link to the 1985 catalogue, bottom right -
https://2velo.com/colnago-bicycle-catal ... 319a547_o/

 

[icrinson]

Re:

Rab,

The Master first gen had all main tubes as Gilco, I know as I have one. Not sure about your frame - you need a 1980s Colnago expert, which I am not despite owning 2 super's and an Master.

 

[icrinson]

Re:

In terms of your original question, my understanding is that Colnago never had a systematic serial number dataset, so impossible to read information about the frame from the 4 digit number. For what its worth my first gen Master has a 3 digit serial number 821.

 

[Rab Wilson]

Re: Re:

Rab, Its difficult to see the frame from your photo, but the master had the unique Gilco 4-sided concave tubing. Certainly your fork is not a first Gen Master as this has a sloping crown with the Ace of Clubs panto. Have a look at this link to the 1985 catalogue, bottom right -
https://2velo.com/colnago-bicycle-catal ... 319a547_o/

Hi, thanks! Will post more photos of frame/bike tomorrow and see if we can solve this mystery!

 

[jim haseltine]

A crimp either side of the top tube and 4 crimps in the down tube (rather than the concave of Gilco tubes) - it's likely to be a Nuovo Mexico. Having said that, I had an early Nuovo Mexico which had only 2 crimps in the down tube but had the same fork crown as your frame.

 

[Rab Wilson]

OK! Posting some more photos! Re ICRINSON's link to Colnago '85 catalogue; could it be a PROFIL frame?? Anyway, more pics to help indentify!