jdawginsc 

Beautiful work...the details in the Atala are stunning. Just read up on the product...seriously toxic stuff. Definitely something to consider if I can't resurrect the existing stuff.

3alarmer 

...you need a respirator mask that's labeled in compliance for the product, but you can get that at Home Depot. I only use the stuff outdoors, and I only paint with a respirator anyway. But yeah, if you decide to use it, be careful. You only get one set of lungs.

Bianchigirll 

I am jealous I always loved that onion bag paint.

Mad Honk 

jdawginsc,
I am having eight paint burned frames redone by a shop in Indianapolis called ProKote Indy. They are hot rodders who couldn't find a good paint job for the cars they were doing so they went into the powder coating biz themselves. First class operation... dip, then blast, then phosphotize, and then coat. So far four have turned out beautifully, and they do the cages along with the frames and forks. My cost is $180, decals are about $50, and I clear coat with lacquer here in the shop. Look for some guys like ProKote in your area. I'm not sure about the onion bag paint in a powder coat product but, if you can live with a durable and good looking single or faded coat that will give this one new life. In all you will be out maybe $400 but is still gonna be a frame worth at least that. If you need extra water bottle bosses or any other attachments you can do it before the painting and have it customized to your desires. It will be a great ride. I always placed them in the category of the Chesini. A great performance bike at a less than premium price. Smiles, MH

jdawginsc 

Sooo...I came across a ridiculously pristine pair of Dura-Ace 7700 hub/Mavic MA40 rims...
Then by mistake, I bid $1.87/$3.12 on Shimano 600 tricolor derailleurs/crankset respectively and much to my surprise, no one else bid...shipping was $30, so for $35.

I guess the Faggin is going to be a franken-bike build for off weather riding!

Luckily I have few extra parts laying around...

3alarmer 

...some of the tres tubi Faggin bikes were sold new (as a package, assembled) with Shimano 600. It works fine, and Shimano indexing on an Italian bike from the early/mid 80's worked better than anything else available at the time.

jdawginsc 

Hope so on the 600 tri-color RD, FD and crankset. They look to be in decent shape over all, but will have to wait for arrival. Have to figure out what I want to do about shifting.

Just overhauled the bearings on the wheels...very solid bargain for DA 7700/Mavic MA40 wheels. Still silky smooth, looks like a titanium freehub. Rims are very true.

Looking at some parts around the bins, have a brand new chain, some Shimano 105 pedals and various handlebar/stem possibilities. Have a pair of Athena dual pivots that have been waiting for a franken-build.

jdawginsc 

So, the Faggin arrived...the seller lost the top nut and lock nut while packing it, so included a 8.5/10 Selle Italia Turbomatic 4 saddle, and a pair of Gipiemme Chrono Sprint calipers in vintage condition. I had not expected the headset at all since I figured it was to hold the fork in...

He had needed more in shipping costs (I was supposed to contact him before paying) and after a bit, I suggested selling me something for $1 with $30 shipping to make it even. I told him he didn't have to put anything else in. He put in a mint Cosmos stem...130mm. Which of course I don't need.

So for $104.00 after all was said and done, got the Faggin, the saddle, the stem and calipers with head and crown races...then I found a pair of interesting looking DT shifters in a small box. Shipped from Italy.

Definitely some rust/patina on it. I am hesitating stripping it because the paint job is very cool/unique. Might try to take off the rust, wax the heck out of it, and it becomes my fun bad weather rider!!!

Old Fireleg

Speaking of Faggin ...

It was in the summer that my younger daughter signaled that she would go next day for a bike trip nearby, but they would also go on forest dirt roads. This caused me a severe headache, as there are only roadies with slick tires here at the moment, except for an Alan cyclo-cross, but in disassembled condition. I almost surrendered to the enemy when I came up with a perverse idea.

For years I had a Faggin Donna standing here in unused status, it has been fitted with the old Shimano 105 long reach brake caliper. I pushed the Alan's wheels with theirs very spectacular Tufo CX (32mm) tires into the Faggin's dropouts. A big stone fell from my heart. The two systems matched. Luckily, the Alan still has the old 6-speed UG Dura-Ace freewheel and hasn't had a problem for the Golden Arrow drive train. The trip was complete without any hassle or trouble.

Finally, here are two pictures of the strange marriage:

jdawginsc 

Would...?

Old Fireleg

For fast 10 posts?
It could be urgent...

P!N20

Very nice, Old Fireleg. But you know I want to see more of that Spumoni Pinarello just behind!

Wildwood 

+1
With winter coming in the Northern Hemisphere, I'm changing some bikes around a bit, 'Fall upgrading' for lack of a better word. My new-to-me Frejus in rough shape will get practical fenders and the AustroDaimler will be freed up to fly faster.

If you don't ride these mid-level framesets with their cosmetic challenges, how do you know if new paint is even worth the price and trouble? JMHO

Wildwood 

@3alarmer = BTW, very nice trio of Faggins!!! If you value any of them in the $100 range, PM me.

Especially the one @Bianchigirll describes with Onion Bag paint, which i love.

3alarmer 

...there is a sale on fenders at at Ribble right now. The Zefal 35mm ones in silver (which are perfect for a lot of my bikes) are going for six bucks and change per set. I think they must have changed the model lineup from the factory, or something, and are closing these out. I am embarrassed to admit I bought 7 sets.

Kmueller68

i have a faggin just like the red one in your post, but has triathlon bars added. Looking to sell, any value ideas?

SJX426 

Three year old post!

Mad Honk 

SJX426,
jdawgs bike frame wound up here in my shop last year and is currently being re-chromed in Shelbyville, IN. Decals are on order from Australia and will be restored to a new finish and ridden here by me. Valuation of these is always tough for a new member but the Faggin line is great one for riding. It is not a bike line that gets a lot of name recognition but those who do know of them are keen to buy more than one. I have had the opportunity to ride some of the better Italian marques and there isn't any difference between the big names and this home based builder. Smiles, MH

Kmueller68

sorry. Missed the date

cb400bill

After you have made ten good posts, post up some pics in your own thread in our Classic & Vintage Appraisal forum.

TPL

Tre tubi was entry level for decent bicycles

Faggin ( fa-jean ) is still in operation

They make good frames

Kmueller68

Thanks! When it comes to sporting goods equipment, my brother in law was never one to skimp.

Mad Honk 

Well, Jdawg, Bianchigirll, and others,
The frame came back from Shelbyville on Wednesday and the guys in the chrome shop gave it the nick-name of "the Italian bike" , but they all took interest in making it right for me and boy was it! Here are the pics of the restored chrome (for Binachigirll):

The frame as picked up. Covered against dings and scratches

Fork was wrapped in tissue paper.

Out of the wrapper and now shinny all over!

Fork detail with chrome all the way to the threads of the steerer tube.

Fork un-wrapped and nice clean crisp work in every detail.
This is the first batch of pictures as it came back. Smiles, MH

jdawginsc 

Dang, that came out amazingly! Fiona I never looked so great!

Mad Honk 

Round two of pictures.

Details of the work on the lugs.

Details of the pantograph on the bottom bracket.

Seat tube and note how clean the braze work is, characteristic of the home frame makers doing the torch work.

More of the clean brazing and the way the chrome shows the details.

Bottom bracket and the details of the Faggin workmanship.
Jdawgsinsc, I trust this work meets with your approval of what I have done with your bike. Smiles, Mad Honk