Anyone have background on FN saddles of Italy?
05-20-18, 01:10 PM
#1
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Anyone have background on FN saddles of Italy?
Looking for some background on FN saddles of Italy. This saddle was fitted to a 1946 Legnano Tipo Roma. Haven't been able turn up much information aside from a loose reference that the company may have been situated in Bologna. And I came across a similar saddle on a 1940 Malaguti that is posted here: Malaguti '40 - BikesRetro
The overall detailing of the saddle is not dissimilar to early Brooks saddles of the same era. The oval embossing on the saddle flap is worn although it reads, "Marca Deposit." with the image of what appears to be an animal in the center of the badge and the letters FN below. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.,
best,
Mark
The overall detailing of the saddle is not dissimilar to early Brooks saddles of the same era. The oval embossing on the saddle flap is worn although it reads, "Marca Deposit." with the image of what appears to be an animal in the center of the badge and the letters FN below. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.,
best,
Mark
05-20-18, 03:05 PM
#2
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I can't add much. I have photos of one or two other saddles like this, and have one in my possession. Mine has an ITALIA badge, but the same stamp on the skirt, though it is barely recognizable.
The skirt design is the Capitolian she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus. I have never seen a good specimen of this stamp.
Other stamps from the same company read F.N.I and Bologna.
The skirt design is the Capitolian she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus. I have never seen a good specimen of this stamp.
Other stamps from the same company read F.N.I and Bologna.
Last edited by rhm; 05-21-18 at 05:53 AM.
05-20-18, 05:35 PM
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It's an efFeN saddle, I like it! 
05-21-18, 07:13 PM
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A friend of mine has one. Lots of prewar advertising, less postwar advertising. Don't see much after 1950.
1940_MilanoSanRemo014 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1942_MilanoSanRemo003 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1940_MilanoSanRemo014 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1942_MilanoSanRemo003 by iabisdb, on Flickr
05-28-18, 01:26 PM
#5
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I see in both adverts that neither of the side flap ovals contain the embossing of the Capatoline She-Wolf. In researching things a little more, the bronze statue of Capatoline suckling Romulus and Remus was believed to be from the the 5th century B.C. and cast by an unknown Etruscan artisan. This brings us back to RN (or RNI) and references to Bologna, a city that was the northern capital of the Etruscan Empire at the time and most likely the reason for RN adopting the legendary statue as their marque. I have since come across a few other images of saddles from RN but this is the only one to bear the marque of Capatoline and perhaps it was a short lived version of their company marque?
05-29-18, 07:03 AM
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I have ridden some seriously lousy “ FN” saddles over the years but none with that actual logo.
Sorry - couldn’t help myself.
Sorry - couldn’t help myself.
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N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
