Talk:Univega

Untitled
When this page is expanded, I would suggest placing the Italvega information before the Bertoni section to reflect the right chronology. Italvega was Ben Lawee's first brand, then came Univega, and his Bertoni brand would not debut until about 1980. Regarding Bertoni, it seems to me that the earlier Bertonis - the ones with the "shadow capital B" head decal - are very different from the "second series" Bertonis, which had the "slanted/slotted parallelogram B" decals and lug cut-outs. I've read that the "second series" steel Bertonis were made by either Bianchi, Billato or actually at the Columbus factory, while the "first series" Bertonis look a lot like Italvegas - which were made in Padova at the Torresini factory. The Bertonis probably deserve a page of their own since their provenance is a little complicated and hazy; also the "second series" includes some Vitus aluminum models - not to mention those Columbus steel frames that are the very definition of 'elegant simplicity' (and the thin layer of paint over chrome (cromovelato) in lavender, burgundy or blue are fantastic-looking). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.90.23.90 (talk) 17:53, 15 January 2012 (UTC)

The first two paragraphs of the Univega article are a bit innaccurate and unclear about where and when the various Ben Lawee-created brands were made. Italvega was first; made in Padua, Italy by Torresini. Univegas were next, made in Japan by Miyata; Italian-made frames were not marked as Univega, and Japanese frames were not sold as Italvegas. Bertoni frames were all made in Italy, with the possible exception of the Vitus aluminum frames. Bertoni was chronologically the last of Mr. Lawee's brands.

OK, I corrected the most obvious errors regarding Mr Lawee's life and career - with references to his obituary and Jones Bicycles' web page - but I don't guarantee the accuracy of the remainig less salient details that were previously posted. I fixed some, but not all, of the chronological errors concerning the creation of the Italvega, then Univega, then Bertoni brands. I believe all of the errors concerning where the brands' frames were made are now corrected, though the Bertoni mystery remains unsolved, though my best guess is that the first series were made by Torresini and the second series steel frames by Bianchi or a Bianchi subcontractor. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.18.115.133 (talk) 16:48, 17 July 2012 (UTC)

To the editor who insisted that second series Bertoni frames differed completely from Bianchis, I would advise you to take a close look at a mid-1980s Bianchi model 980 or Superleggera. The frame label will read Columbus Bianchi Superset, Formula 1 or Formula 2, which means that they really not much different from Matrix, SL, SLX, etc. Dropouts may have Bianchi stamped in them, but that is a courtesy from Columbus for a large-volume brand, too. Columbus/Cinelli lugsets as well as Gipiemme braze-ons, seat stay lugs and bridges are shared by mid-80s Bianchis and Bertonis. When Bianchi bought the Legnano brand after Bozzi's murder, you may notice that the Bianchi-made Legnanos have frame details that are very similar to second-series Bertonis. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.18.98.132 (talk) 19:21, 19 December 2012 (UTC)