A customer of mine—well, a regular for over twenty years now—recently acquired a Rossini classic frame. So I mentioned that somewhere in my house I had a stem with a Rossini stamp on it, though I couldn't remember if it was 3T or Cinelli. Said I'd bring it in if I found it during my move. Well, I did find it, so I brought it to the shop.
Unrelated to that, the image above is a Cinelli 1A stem.
It's got Nakagawa stamped on it.
The 1A stem is the origin of the modern aluminum stem, and it's already a perfectly completed design.
↑Top of the image is the handlebar side.
Since the late-period version is overwhelmingly more common among 1As, the Cinelli marking appears as a logo.
Next, the stem with the Rossini stamp that I found.
I'd also assumed this was a Cinelli 1A.
Some of you may have figured out the twist already from this image, but I'll hold off on that for now.
On the side of the stem, the Rossini text logo.
On the front of the stem, the Rossini brand logo stamp.
Again, with the top of the image showing the handlebar side, the Cinelli marking is the older version—"Cinelli Milano."
Overlapped at the part that inserts into the fork steerer tube.
...I didn't know this either, but this stem has a drop angle—it turned out to be a 1A pista.
POSTSCRIPT: The pista version of the 1A is actually called the 2A model.
Someone pointed this out in the comments.
For details, see here.
By the way, the Nakagawa is 105mm and the Rossini is 95mm.
Back in the day, stem lengths in 5mm increments were the standard.
↑Plated right chainstay and Rossini stem
↑Plated front fork crown and Rossini stem
...They match perfectly.
I'm not posting shots of the frame's main triangle since it might lead to identifying the owner.
These images were taken when he brought the frame set in to have the BB threads chased and the headset replaced.
This Rossini owner says he'll use the stem I brought him, but honestly, he doesn't like the angle or the length.
So what—does he want to go with a generic stem with no frame maker stamp, one that happens to have the perfect angle and length for him? Or is he going to endure the hardship of hunting down a Rossini-stamped stem with just the right angle and length? Or maybe he's betting on the nearly impossible chance of stumbling across one by luck?
Anyway, right now he's going to "prioritize aesthetic appeal," and even if it becomes a curse, he can't resist the visual perfection of this stem matching his frame.
After all, whether it's actually the right size for him is something nobody will know if he keeps quiet about it. So shouldn't he prioritize the moment when someone who shares his passion looks at the bike and says, "Oh man, nice stem you've got there"?
I think this stem has the power to make someone judge things that way.
Unrelated to that, the image above is a Cinelli 1A stem.
It's got Nakagawa stamped on it.
The 1A stem is the origin of the modern aluminum stem, and it's already a perfectly completed design.
↑Top of the image is the handlebar side.
Since the late-period version is overwhelmingly more common among 1As, the Cinelli marking appears as a logo.
Next, the stem with the Rossini stamp that I found.
I'd also assumed this was a Cinelli 1A.
Some of you may have figured out the twist already from this image, but I'll hold off on that for now.
On the side of the stem, the Rossini text logo.
On the front of the stem, the Rossini brand logo stamp.
Again, with the top of the image showing the handlebar side, the Cinelli marking is the older version—"Cinelli Milano."
Overlapped at the part that inserts into the fork steerer tube.
...I didn't know this either, but this stem has a drop angle—it turned out to be a 1A pista.
POSTSCRIPT: The pista version of the 1A is actually called the 2A model.
Someone pointed this out in the comments.
For details, see here.
By the way, the Nakagawa is 105mm and the Rossini is 95mm.
Back in the day, stem lengths in 5mm increments were the standard.
↑Plated right chainstay and Rossini stem
↑Plated front fork crown and Rossini stem
...They match perfectly.
I'm not posting shots of the frame's main triangle since it might lead to identifying the owner.
These images were taken when he brought the frame set in to have the BB threads chased and the headset replaced.
This Rossini owner says he'll use the stem I brought him, but honestly, he doesn't like the angle or the length.
So what—does he want to go with a generic stem with no frame maker stamp, one that happens to have the perfect angle and length for him? Or is he going to endure the hardship of hunting down a Rossini-stamped stem with just the right angle and length? Or maybe he's betting on the nearly impossible chance of stumbling across one by luck?
Anyway, right now he's going to "prioritize aesthetic appeal," and even if it becomes a curse, he can't resist the visual perfection of this stem matching his frame.
After all, whether it's actually the right size for him is something nobody will know if he keeps quiet about it. So shouldn't he prioritize the moment when someone who shares his passion looks at the bike and says, "Oh man, nice stem you've got there"?
I think this stem has the power to make someone judge things that way.