gpdave

Yesterday I picked up what I think think is an early 60s Olmo Special. Unfortunately the fork has been replaced by what appears to be a Schwinn Varsity fork. Oddly the front wheel looks to be original, the hub is marked OLMO , and seems to be in good condition.
The bars , stem and rear wheel also seem to have come the same Varsity.
The cranks , headset ,and seatpost binder are marked OLMO.
Campgnolo Gran Sport mech and Mafac braking.
Does 1961 to 1963 sound like a good guess?

merziac

Wow, that's cool as heck, nice find. I have a 60 something as well, maybe the model up from this and its pretty cool but a bit small so.....

There's a registry, just google it with the s/n and you will be able to get close I bet.

Mine is a 60-1 Gran Sport, the guy before me had it put on there so the work was all done.

juvela

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lug pattern Agrati "BRIANZA" nr. 000.8030/U

pedals Sheffield (Noli-Cattaneo) model Corsa 655



serial, on seat lug, a helpful dating aid

has format LNNN (letter, number, number, number)

letter will give approximate date by consulting registry
would expect a C, D, or E

original stem/bar set was Ambrosio

usually see this model from this time as coming through with Huret Allvit gear ensemble

the Gran Sport ensemble may be a helpful dating aid

original finish a plus

Olmo Serial Number Dating Registry

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RustyJames 

Not much help but good gravy that is HOT!!

juvela

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the cycle's Campag Gran Sport rear gear mech can offer some dating assistance

this model enjoyed a relatively long production life during the course of which there were several versions

you can make a visit to velobase.com to view the different ones and compare them to your example

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bikemig 

Like merziac I have an Olmo Gran Sport which I think is one model above the Special. Mine is quite possibly from 1960 based on the date from the campy hubs. I'm fairly certain from what I've read, there were 3 models at the time as there was a model above the Gran Sport with I believe has Columbus tubing. My Gran Sport has Falck tubing. The parts are almost all original. The saddle is a reproduction Olmo saddle. I changed out the bar and stems as the originals were too short and narrow. These are clincher rims and the original wheels, which I still have, were, of course, tubulars:

gpdave

It looks like 89 E on the seat lug.
The fellow I bought the bike from said he found it while helping a woman clean out her father's barn. I hope they can find the missing parts.
Dave

juvela

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serial registry has record of machines with serials 86E, E36 & E106

all suggested to date from about nineteen and sixty:


1960? Olmo city bike​​​​​​1960?

Olmo Professional Deluxe

​​​​​​1960-1961? Olmo Gran Sport


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listing for Special models of 1960

​​​​​​1960? Olmo [Special]

​​​​​​1960? Olmo [Special]

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Charles Wahl

No idea about the date, but your bike seems to have a lot in common with iab 's "bought it for the dropouts" example that's current. Obviously, yours is later, but there look to be similarities in lugwork, stay ends. Nice find.

jylog

What a great Franken-bike! Looks great, and as far as I know (and that's not much, sorry) your estimate seems correct. But again, I don't know much.

gpdave

Thanks for the responses and info everyone.
I think I will disassemble the bike and give the frame and chrome bits the OA treatment.
At the same time I will start the search for suitable replacements for the forks, rear wheel etc.
I will post updates as the project goes forward.
Dave

juvela

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correct fork quite a challenge

use of that Agrati semi-sloping crown with the horizontal groove in the side seemed to end by about 1970

it might be easier to find one with the "BRIANZA" pattern crown which would match the lugs... they were in use well into the 1970's

locating one in good nick and with a long enough steerer may take a spot of searching

count yourself most fortunate that fork replacer chose to re-use the headset

be careful to guard transfers when performing rust removal, they are waterslide type and not clear coated

on the subject of transfers: are you able to read the bike shop transfer at the base of the seat tube? tried enlarging the image a bit but could not make it out...

two possible places to check for fork are subito.it and ebay italia


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gpdave

Thanks for the tip , I'll check it out!
What would you recommend I use to protect the transfers?