PLEASE NOTE: i HAVE NOT FINISHED THIS CONFENTE TRIBUTE DUE TO LACK OF INTERNET ACCESS. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP GROW THIS TRIBUTE TO CONFENTE EMAIL ME AT victoriacycles@live.com
click on links below:
"The genius framebuilder "
Mario Confente the unknown name with the great talent.
In 1976 he could finally open his own workshop in Los Angeles. That's where it all began Confente's name finally on a downtube.
1976 Mario Confente began his own production of frames
WHAT THE LEGENDARY FRAME WERE WORTH THEN
WHAT THE LEGENDARY FRAMES ARE WORTH NOW
Two years after the New York show, Confente died of heart failure. He had built 135 frames: 124 for road racing, 11 for track racing. No other brand of bike has seen such a precipitous increase in value.If pristine, this $800 complete bicycle commanded $3,000 to $4,000 in the late 1990s. As recently as 2003, Confentes sold for well over $6,000. Now 2010 Confente's pristine condition will start at $5,000 and bid up to an average of $9,000 for a complete bicycle. Restored? Repainted confente will not loose much of it's value.
"Good period for Confente production"? this is not a Masi or other company with multiple builders, subcontractors or specifications over the years. Mario built frames under his name for less than two years and built every one personally. - Jim Cunningham
"Good period for Confente production"? this is not a Masi or other company with multiple builders, subcontractors or specifications over the years. Mario built frames under his name for less than two years and built every one personally. - Jim Cunningham
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There are some non- Confente frames with original Confente's lugsand other braze-ons. Curtis Odom This is a CAD model of my Confente BB shell. I will post a photo as soon as I take one. This is based on an early sand cast shell. I was given this some years after the master death. It was removed from a full box of his shells. It was the only shell in the box that had been filed and is unfinished.  Curtis Odom Here is the short and obtuse answer: In a box full of them. I do not want to out the person that had them as he may not appreciate it. I probably could have got more of them but I expected to be refused when I asked for this one and I felt like I had found the holy grail. This was the only one in the box that had any filing done to it. This was more than 15 years ago. I recently tried to track these down and found the person has divested himself of all of his old frame building stuff and parts. I have dropped a few clues here, not many but I think it is a dead end as the rest were likely trashed. This was 15 years ago so long after he passed. definitely not in his shop.
 Jim Cunningham of Cyclart has some of the build cards. He has alluded to having all of them but I think he only has the cards from bikes on order or built in Los Angeles. When Mario was up in Northern California building and Jim was getting a medical condition taken care of back East, the bikes were painted by at least two others. This is something Jim Cunningham does not deny but does not restate. He has never stated outright that he has all the cards.                   |
Confente's start in Verona, Italy
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| Mario Confente produced a small group of "special build" just before he departed to California. These are numbered "M" and a single digit. M1 was build for Michael Wotten and M2 was built for Jerry Ash. One lucky collector has owned M3, and presently owns M4 and M5. M6 and M7 were probably built under the Masi roof but received Confente decals. for more Confente/ Masi follow link below: Mario Confente Part II "Confente and masi" |
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| The bottom bracket and the steering tube are both marked with #1 |
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| Bottom bracket shell has an "M' cut-out and #01 engraved. |
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Confente USA
"I bought it myself from Mario Confente when I used to live in Los Angeles. He built it for me." -Fred R.I can tell you for sure that I picked it up from Mario himself in Los Angeles. One of the first things that he said was that the black enamel paint used on the "Spades" and other trim portions were still tacky and be careful not to touch those areas until dry.
My frame is a 65 cm frame but I am only 6'3" and it fits very well since Mario took the measurements. I think I paid about 4 or 5 hundred dollars back then. Had no idea they would become so rare and highly desirable and worth a great deal of money. Mine has got the chain hanger also - nice convenience. It has the cable guide grooves underneath on the bottom bracket and paint filled spades on the front & rear bracket frame joints and painted inset slots on the front & back of the fork crown where the front brake is mounted.
Some timeline help, Mario died March 8, 1979. Most if not all of 1978 he was up in Northern California building after being locked out of the Union Pacific Avenue shop which was taken over by Medici at some point after his tenure ended there, both Medici and Custom Bicycles by Confente were financed by Rexart up until this point.
The Zero Series
Mario had traveled to Monterrey previously to meet with Boyer and a sponsor of Boyer's, George Farrier. Farrier had a machine shop in his garage and Confente was impressed by the size of the shop. In the year that followed, he worked without distraction. Farrier recalls the day Mario showed up at his property, "Mario pulled into the driveway in his car. I was surprised to see him. I asked him what he was doing here and in his thick Italian accent he said that he was here to build bicycles."
Mario built a number in Los Angeles, my best guess 78, he got locked out of the workshop and landed in Northern Cal, built at least 55 up there. The Northern Cal bikes got a leading zero in the frame number, they were not numbered sequentially with the frames from Los Angeles, though some were delivered in person in Southern California after his departure.
painted by Jim Cunningham of CyclArt
Mario had traveled to Monterrey previously to meet with Boyer and a sponsor of Boyer's, George Farrier. Farrier had a machine shop in his garage and Confente was impressed by the size of the shop. In the year that followed, he worked without distraction. Farrier recalls the day Mario showed up at his property, "Mario pulled into the driveway in his car. I was surprised to see him. I asked him what he was doing here and in his thick Italian accent he said that he was here to build bicycles."
Mario built a number in Los Angeles, my best guess 78, he got locked out of the workshop and landed in Northern Cal, built at least 55 up there. The Northern Cal bikes got a leading zero in the frame number, they were not numbered sequentially with the frames from Los Angeles, though some were delivered in person in Southern California after his departure.
painted by Jim Cunningham of CyclArt
Thick? Confentes were painted using imron and so their paint is thicker than Raleighs or other mas produced bikes of the day, but the paint is superior, and exactly as it should be.
there were some "fake" Confente frames made from original Confente lugs...
the zero indicates that it was not built in Los Angeles, but up in Northern Cal, near Monterrey. Mario got locked out of the Los Angeles shop on Union Pacific Avenue when he had learned of business plans beyond him by the financier of Custom Bicycles by Confente, Bill Recht of Rexart among other companies. Basically, Mario found out of these plans and gave notice, then was locked out, in short order including no access to his personal tools.
There were about 80 frames I have gathered built by that point. Highest number I have found is 055. There is one without a serial number that I am aware of.
Confente #07
The story was that Mario made good on the bikes that were on order but undelivered at that point, but he did it without the deposit money which stayed with Rexart.
I ran across this thread today and wanted to chime in. 3 years ago I acquired Confente #07 from the original owner via Jim Cunningham. Bike was delivered in Sept 77 to it's owner for $529. It is an orange crit frame, 62.5 cm. I'm tall at 6'4", as was the orignal owner, and the bike fits well. Only thing I changed was the stem to a engraved "Confente" stem, which improved the reach. The orig. stem had the owners name engraved on it. The rare feature on this bike is an integral chain hanger which is part of the cog. It is a 5 speed with the 6th space for the hanger. Handy when servicing the rear wheel, or for speedy wheel changes during races. 6 speed cogs came out at that time making this feature obsolete pretty much right off the bat. Don't know if any other Confente has this feature.
I have all the original papers including a letter to the orig. owner announcing Mario's new location near Monterrey. The postal date stamp is 3 weeks before Confente tragically died. I also have the orig. build card, a Confente jersey, T-shirt, cap, and water bottle. BTW, Fred Rubin (frame no. 011) appears on paperwork listing 33 clients Mario was building frames for.
I feel extremely lucky own a bike like this that is rare as hen's teeth, fits me right, and is a dream to ride.Letter is postmarked Feb 14th 1979. It announces his new location in Encinitas, CA. It was mailed from Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007. The gentleman I bought my bike from had in fact also ordered a pista frame from Mario a week or two before he died. My bike is numbered 07 and was delivered by Mario in person to the prev. owner in So Cal.
-Bike forums ByeEnzo
the zero indicates that it was not built in Los Angeles, but up in Northern Cal, near Monterrey. Mario got locked out of the Los Angeles shop on Union Pacific Avenue when he had learned of business plans beyond him by the financier of Custom Bicycles by Confente, Bill Recht of Rexart among other companies. Basically, Mario found out of these plans and gave notice, then was locked out, in short order including no access to his personal tools.
There were about 80 frames I have gathered built by that point. Highest number I have found is 055. There is one without a serial number that I am aware of.
Confente #07
The story was that Mario made good on the bikes that were on order but undelivered at that point, but he did it without the deposit money which stayed with Rexart.
I ran across this thread today and wanted to chime in. 3 years ago I acquired Confente #07 from the original owner via Jim Cunningham. Bike was delivered in Sept 77 to it's owner for $529. It is an orange crit frame, 62.5 cm. I'm tall at 6'4", as was the orignal owner, and the bike fits well. Only thing I changed was the stem to a engraved "Confente" stem, which improved the reach. The orig. stem had the owners name engraved on it. The rare feature on this bike is an integral chain hanger which is part of the cog. It is a 5 speed with the 6th space for the hanger. Handy when servicing the rear wheel, or for speedy wheel changes during races. 6 speed cogs came out at that time making this feature obsolete pretty much right off the bat. Don't know if any other Confente has this feature.
I have all the original papers including a letter to the orig. owner announcing Mario's new location near Monterrey. The postal date stamp is 3 weeks before Confente tragically died. I also have the orig. build card, a Confente jersey, T-shirt, cap, and water bottle. BTW, Fred Rubin (frame no. 011) appears on paperwork listing 33 clients Mario was building frames for.
I feel extremely lucky own a bike like this that is rare as hen's teeth, fits me right, and is a dream to ride.Letter is postmarked Feb 14th 1979. It announces his new location in Encinitas, CA. It was mailed from Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007. The gentleman I bought my bike from had in fact also ordered a pista frame from Mario a week or two before he died. My bike is numbered 07 and was delivered by Mario in person to the prev. owner in So Cal.
-Bike forums ByeEnzo
Mario's build #15
Mario built mine in LA. Visited his shop for measurements and took his personal tour. While it was under construction I crashed at Manhattan beaches Criterium (other wise known as M.B. blood bath), was the end of racing for me. No broken bones, but over six hours of surgery to put my shoulder back together and three years of rehab to get use back. Must say in the end it all came out OK. Promised myself when I retired I would go back to cycling and have. Mario's build #15/64.5 cm (Orange in color) Criterium/road, bottom bracket raised to accept 180 mm cranks is my pride and joy. I will post pics when I have time to take them. In fact I still Have a Confente T-shirt, both water bottles, and cycling cap. Will shoot photos of those as well.
Jerry/Orange99
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| Confente #19 |
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| Confente #19 |
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| Confente #19 |
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| Confente #19 |
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| Confente #19 |
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Confente #19
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Confente #19
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| Confente #32 This Beauty was auctioned off and ended on December 12 2010 Winning bid was at $10,000 Shipping:$100 |
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| Confente #032 |
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| Confente #32 |
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| Confente #32 |
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| Confente #32 |
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Confente #32
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| Confente #39 Bought by Confente's Family through eBay  |
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| Confente #48 Confente Pro Strada road bike, #48, “55cm” (55cm, c-t seat tube; 54.5cm c-c top tube). Pearl white metallic with a very subtle, blue “opalescent” clear coat (when viewed in just the right light, a faint, luminescent cobalt glow highlights the pearl finish). Yellow head tube; yellow, black and orange decals and accents. Columbus tubing, chrome fork crown and dropout faces, Campagnolo dropouts front and rear, beautiful Confente-signature “spade” cut-outs in lugs and bottom bracket shell. |
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| Confente #48 Other notable components: Cinelli Giro D’Italia bars (40cm, old logo), Cinelli stem (105mm), Christophe toe clips (small size; older logo), Cinelli toe straps, NOS Benotto Cello bar tape, Selle San Marco Concor Supercorsa saddle. Wheels are Fir (Italy) “Sirius” tubulars, 32 stainless steel spokes, Campy Record hubs with oil hole, Record skewers, Genestoux (France) Criterium C silk sew-ups, Regina Extra Oro five speed freewheel (13-19), Regina chain (all of the previous are NOS).
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| Confente #57 Listed on eBay starting price of $13,500 The listing text: Mario Confente, bike #57 55.5 frame Cinelli bar Campagnolo Super Record Colnago Saddle: 3ttt SL |
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| Confente #57 |
Jim Cunningham from cyclart posted this comment on the Italian cycling journal:
As Mario Confente's partner at Custom Bicycles by Confente, the original painter of this bike and with the original order card in hand, I can confirm that this frame is in original condition.
The bike is NOT white. It was originally ordered as white with a yellow head tube as was Mario's personal bike that was on display in the shop. The owner later called and changed the color. I remember the call, because I was uncomfortable with his description of "off-white or tan" as they were two very different things to me. To agree over the phone on a color I looked around for something we could use as a reference and asked if the color of a file folder was about right. He agreed... and so it is.
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| Confente #67 |
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| Confente #67 |
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| Confente #67 |
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Confente #67    |
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| Confente |
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| American Cyclery of San Franciso |
RARE FRAME STOLEN FROM AMERICAN CYCLERY
Very distinctive Mario Confente frameset, serial number 11. This beautiful frame was stolen from American Cyclery on Sunday 10/25/98. It is an extremely rare and special bike built by the renowned Mario Confente. It is painted silver/blue with yellow confente decals and nice chrome lug work. 58cm with a short 53.5cm top tube. the frame has distinctive features with a Spade cut out on the bottom bracket, spade cut outs on head lug and seat lugs. If you hear of any Confente bikes or frames for sale or even someone inquiring about what it is, please call us at 415-664-4545 and ask for Brad. A substantial reward will be given for information leading to the recovery of this bike! bradley@bicycletrader.com |
| Cycle art owned |
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| Confente #24 Paeng Nepomuceno Six time World Bowling Champion from the Philippines, and holder of three Guinness world records, Paeng recently sold his Confente track bike. Paeng said, "It had been on display in my trophy room and I had not been using it anymore. I have been cycling for more than 20 years and cycling is part of my cross training and fitness program for stamina and leg strength which helps my bowling a lot." Paeng originally purchased the bike from the well known Brian Baylis. Baylis recounts some of the history of the frame, "Here are the real answers to your questions. That is a real Confente, frame #24 from LA.....I intended to keep it in my collection....the bike is 61cm which I could never ride, but I wanted an example of Mario's work. It was made as a frame for stock in NJ, at Rexart Cyclery. It was intended to be a fixed gear road bike from the very beginning, it is not a converted track bike; although it was ridden on the track during it history." |
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have a one ring and one cog and no coasting bike that I want to share with you and your readers.Thanks for all the hard work and more power to Campy Only.These are photos of my full Campagnolo Super record pista Confente #24 track/road fixed gear 61 cm bike that fits me perfectly made of Columbus PL tubing in original bright red which was recently retouched by Mr. Brian Baylis and keeping the original paint and decals intact . This fixie was an entry by Mario Confente in the March ,1977 New York city international bike show. Mario made only 124 geared road bikes and eleven track bikes. This is one of the eleven track bikes that he ever made. Mario Confente intended this more for road when he made it as evident with the drilled fork that has a provision for installing an optional Campy short reach front brake. Mario Confente came under the tutelage of Falerio Masi in their home country of Italy and was brought to the United States to be the lead builder for the new Masi factory in 1973. He made frames for various Tour de France riders and his bikes were disguised in various labels before he accepted the Masi job in California. After some years heading the Masi operation in Carlsbad, CA, Mario struck out on his own. Tragically, at the age of 34, Mario died in 1979. His frames are the combination of the Italian frame building archetype and the American penchant for superb attention to detail. This bike is a rider and here are the components of my bike : Campy Super record Pista Crankset,(167.5) bottom bracket and Campy short reach Super record front brake and levers and seatpost,pista pedals, toe clips and straps .The other components which I recently upgraded are: Campy pista super record 36 holes wheelset on Mavic MA 2 Clincher rims on New Continental GP Force 22 mm front and Continental Attack 23 mm on the rear , black Brooks swallow saddle and 12 cm Nitto lugged stem and Nitto 44cm dream bars , the saddle/ handlebar drop is 3 cm . I have a 50 T front ring and 19 cog (71 inches). I have been actually riding this bike a lot and I can tell you there’s nothing like riding a fixed gear bike that does not coast. I encourage your readers and cyclists around the world to try fixed gear cycling.Without a doubt, though, the most desirable thing about riding a fixed gear bike is the intimate feeling of being at one with the bike, as if it is an extension of your own body. With fixed, you can feel every distinction of speed, balance, acceleration and deceleration, giving you that mystical connection that so many fixed gear riders speak of. I am a bowler from the Philippines and cycling is my other sport.I come to the United States from time to time to compete and visit family. Best Regards, Paeng Nepomuceno            |
Confente #03
Confente #70
Confente #70
Tragically, Mario died on March 8, 1979 at the age of 34. He left behind a legacy that includes 135 frames bearing his name. He had accomplished immortality within 10 years of his frame building career; what other frame builder has not accomplished. You may ask what did Confente had in special? Did he have a secret that Colnago, De Rosa, or any very known frame builder couldn't figure out?
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| John Pergolizzi's 1977 Masi, decaled "Confente", built as a John Pergolizzi's 1977 Masi, decaled "Confente", built as a gift for Irene Ferrari by Mario Confente. Nick's Best Vintage |
I suggest you double check the frame numbers in your captions. Some of the bikes you show with a leading zero are Los Angeles made, the leading zero of course indicates made in Northern California, it makes a difference.
ReplyDeleteI would rewrite your paragraph regarding his building of the M series of frames at Masi. This was in Carlsbad, not Italy. The bike shown as #1 was indeed made in Italy while he built for Masi with what looks like an wayward Masi bottom bracket shell.
I have Confente Pro Strada # 37, 61 cm, white with yellow head tube. I have original receipt with Mario Confente's signature, dated 2-3-1977. Complete bicycle has been in storage since 1980. It was in a frontal crash and has slight deformation in top & down tubes. Still rides great. I intend to list it on ebay soon.
ReplyDeleteJim Cunningham here. I just found this page thanks for putting I together. I would like to correct a statement about me. I DO have ALL the Confente build cards and most of his photos ans business records. I am always wiling to share this information with Confente owners.
ReplyDeleteJim,
DeleteI have Confente #65 and it was set up with bar end shifters and has the cable guide stops on the downtube and has the original owners name engraved on the stem.
Can you provide the build card on this. Finest Regards, Jim