Dating a Faggin
 

Hi All. I am new to the site and, in a way, to the world of vintage bikes. I am restoring a Faggin road bike, most likely from the 1980s. I can't upload photos yet because I have insufficient postings, but will do as soon as possible. The frame is white with a checkered blue pattern and its interesting feature is that the seat tube is tapered and creased in the lower third. It is all Campy, and the rear derailleur, at least, is Victory. The pedals are platforms have the original Campy cage and leather straps. The saddle is a Selle Italia Turbo, white. It has a six-speed racing cluster. My question really is where to find information about Faggin frames and built-up bikes. I have not figured out how to use the search function in this site's tool bar effectively, if that is part of the answer. Thanks a lot for all your help. More soon. --Dan

Faggin is such a quirky company. I tried to research models and years and such and found nearly nothing...

it’s almost like they don’t have models, just really cool bikes that don’t often look like others..,!

Sorry, I don't know much about Faggin other than being good quality Italian bikes. Date codes on the components might help pinpoint the build year.

Is your paint finish the "retinato"?

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-retinato.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-purchase.html

Thanks a lot. I am not surprised to hear this.

They're great frames! Lots of attention to detail and finely constructed...their paint jobs don't seem to follow any pattern...

I love mine (it is Cromor but the BB is engraved with MATRIX), though it at 55cm, it is just too small, so it is killing me that I will be looking for a forever home for it. But Fiona's paint is unlike any I have seen on the interwebs.

I misread the title.

Happy Pride Month, and date whomever you wish! :D

What is the tubing? And the dropouts? Is your paint job like this, but in blue?https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4a24d9010d.jpg

...general information, but won't help much in dating your bicycle. Their book, Faggin Milestones, also has a lot of history, but won't help in establishing a date for your bike. There were a few years in the late 70's early 80's where they tried to increase production and compete for the US export market, but eventually they gave up on that. Your bike is from that time period, as are the three I have had. Your best bet on dating would be to discover if the components have date codes....many of them do.

There was a wonderful sort of autobiographical history of the shop, with some great photos of production and chroming, but I can't find it any more, and it might have dropped off the internet.

They were famous for pantographing and some wild paint schemes. They seem not to have much name recognition, and sell at a discount here, in the used marketplace. There were full SX Columbus models, as well as three main tubes Columbus models. I've only seen three of them in person, so I'm not an expert on them.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f3338d4cbe.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7495ac5bf9.jpg

Yep...I have seen SL, SLX and now my Cromor...never tretubi models.

Maybe they did a lot of one-off paint jobs when they scaled back to do-able production.

i also find they chromed a lot, but not always all...which in those models leads to paint peel...much like some years of Bassos...

Thanks a lot for all the replies. (I am embarrassed to say I haven't figured out how to reply to individual postings -- I just hit Reply and it looks like it is going to all.) The paint scheme is indeed retinato, in blue. just like the one posted in red. The tubing label says Columbus, and the seat tube interior diameter is 27.2. The bike was bought at a shop in Paris. The dropouts are stamped Campagnolo, with adjusters in the rear. I will study the components better -- nice Campy in excellent condition, but not Record or Super Record. It has the feel of a mid-range bike from a fine manufacturer. Thanks to you all. Will post pictures soon as allowed. Dan in Toronto.

Have you tried contacting Faggin? They are still very much in business, doing primarily custom frames.

drahimi What is the spacing? Although it could be cold set by a PO, it might give a clue? Any serial number?

Interesting history including Faggin's daughters taking over operations and one son in law basically in production... 3alarmer krakhaus rccardr

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5cbc3a79ff.jpg
Faggin paint on a modern steed
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ead82cf81d.jpg
Speechless.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c9a777f831.jpg
This thing is cool...

And shoes,....
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b603cba59c.jpg
Wow



A bit off topic...This is an interestingly destroyed Faggin...but highlights the quirkiness of paint jobs. The only standard colors I have seen are anthracite/blue/red/white and then the crazy color combos.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/14399047268...IAAOSwLSJgX5uN

And then if you want a non-Cinelli that is actually a Faggin
https://www.ebay.com/itm/30403846669...kAAOSwIp1gySG7

IIRC the sisters (whichever of them are still in daily business operation roles) have been known to reply to email enquiries and someone there has pretty good working English, too. So would not hesitate to reach out with good pictures and a polite message, but they have bigger fish to fry than solving old mysteries (no sale in that) so give them time/space and see if you get lucky. I also agree these are often very high quality and under-valued. The name may play a factor in that but....Happy Pride Month :)

I live in Palm Springs, which is a total gay Mecca. I get compliments on my Faggin all the time. I bet if I listed it on craigslist it would sell in like a second. It's a great bike too. I tried 3 different frames of higher quality tubing when I was looking to upgrade, and always came back to it until I found the Mondonico. I'll be holding onto the Faggin frame and building it as a backup.
I'm originally from South Dakota, and riding it there would probably result in some fist fights. :lol:

This thread and reading the Faggin story has convinced me to keep my too-small Faggin and dress it up as a straight bar cruiser. I was painfully considering offering it up on here, but I am attached to Fiona...

On what was stated above, they do respond. Oddly, they had no clue what model my Faggin was and were not sure why Matrix was stamped and Cromor stickering existed.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b6e7386a70.jpg
Say hi to Fiona

I am about to start dating Fiona and see what she is like. Just arrived and I am waiting for some guidance from the previous owner. Smiles, MH

Fiona is awesome! I think Fiona would prefer a few lower level but modern Campy parts...

I was building with a Chorus Athena brifters mix before I figured out it was just small to make work.

My other thought was tricolor.

I actually had an ITM eclipse stem and ITM bars on there.

I will definitely find a more fitting Faggin before too long...

+1. I have been in touch with them a few times, wrt establishing the identity of my own Faggin, and both Cristina and Massimo have been very nice and helpful.

BTW, I rode past the shop a couple of weeks ago, on my way into Padova. Couldn't resist a pic:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c52bcdbe79.jpg

Cool image!

I worked for a shop in the mid 80’s that sold a bunch of Faggin frame sets and built up many into bikes. The name was an issue to some, a few came in pink.
there indeed were tretubi frames, one shop employee bought one for himself and was very happy, felt it was quite stiff. His endorsement sold more. Test rides did not hurt.
the examples had chrome forks and chrome rear dropout faces and a chrome chainstay.

The Italian tri-color frames were probably the most striking.

The tri-color Fiona, posted above, has an exquisite paint job that is not captured by the picture. It is beautiful, though severely patina-ed. I am SOOO thankful that Mad Honk might be able to give it the love it deserves.

The paint is sparkly, somewhat metallic, but deep. I wonder if I found an affordable Faggin in my size, if they would be able to replicate that one...

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...22d6075d30.jpg
One of the best looking bikes I have, this one is going to get a new cassette for more friendly gearing.

Beautiful!

It's not real difficult to replicate the paint mesh and fade, if you have the netting.

Fiona is the chrome blue, purplish and red one with the terrible picture, not the netting one...!

I actually might paint an Atala or Billato (I think) built Massi I have as a stripped frame in a similar way.