This one is old, but a complete mystery to me.
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This one is old, but a complete mystery to me.
.
...any ideas or information would be appreciated. From the frame angles, I figure it to be early 1950's or older. Someone repainted it and but some Bianchi graphics on it, and when they rebuilt it post painting, used a Bianchi stamped cottered crank (doubtless made my someone else, like Magistroni), and a Cinelli track stem. I'm not interested in a valuation. I'm not selling it, and I don't think I have the enthusiasm for another restoration of something this old . Currently configured as as single speed, but it has dropouts that face forward, not backward like many fixed gear/single speeds from ancient times.
Anyway, here are the pictures:
...any ideas or information would be appreciated. From the frame angles, I figure it to be early 1950's or older. Someone repainted it and but some Bianchi graphics on it, and when they rebuilt it post painting, used a Bianchi stamped cottered crank (doubtless made my someone else, like Magistroni), and a Cinelli track stem. I'm not interested in a valuation. I'm not selling it, and I don't think I have the enthusiasm for another restoration of something this old . Currently configured as as single speed, but it has dropouts that face forward, not backward like many fixed gear/single speeds from ancient times.
Anyway, here are the pictures:
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I think nearly all the components while vintage correct are not original and the fork looks to be newer different maker than the frame. As for the frame the heavy strait lugs indicate late 30's/40's and are pretty generic so no idea yet pretty cool rat SS I would fix it up a bit and ride as is.
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...thank you.
...thank you.
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Stem and bars out value the whole.
Seat stay tops look Styer
Seat stay tops look Styer
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I see a piaggio symbol.
They (piaggio) own Vespa and Aprilia, but they also owned until recently, Bianchi.
They (piaggio) own Vespa and Aprilia, but they also owned until recently, Bianchi.
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Puch/Steyr/Styria employed seat stay tops such as these on lower models such as one-speeds/three-speeds/juveniles & some utility entries
"usually" when one gets into derailleur geared models the stay tops are a bit more graceful such as on this Clubman model of the early seventies -
the cycle's fixed bottom bracket cup presents a clinker with respect to a Steyr identification -
note that it is round and exhibits the three dogs associated with generic Italian threaded cups for generations
have never encountered a Steyr/Puch product whose fixed bottom bracket cup did not show one pair of flats
one simple check which could be made would be to measure shell width; a 68mm shell would tend to signify a non-italian origin while a 70mm shell would tend to suggest an italian origin for the machine
unfortunately the image of the cycle showing the headset is somewhat blurry. this is another spot where a check could be made. if cycle a Steyr product and headset original it would exhibit the 26.0mm X 1.0 thread of Steyr steeerer and headsets. this would tend to suggest against and italian origin for the machine...
we know fork to be a replacement. rather unlikely it would exhibit the 26.0mm steerer associated with Steyr/Puch products. if the headset's locknut and adjustable race are a very loose/wobbly fit on the steerer it would be an indication that the headset is Steyr size.
one feature we would expect to see on a Steyr product of this calibre would be an ESGE plate style seat stay bridge. the bridge here is tubular.
one identity which would fit an italian shell and the Bianchi marked chainset would be one of Normano
this is an economy badge belonging to Bianchi and employed off and on through the generations
the last time we had any cycles of the name imported into the U.S. afaik was the middle nineteen sixties
when they were sold though discount houses and similar mass retailers
exchanged a PM with member MauriceMoss regarding the seat stay treatment and he reported he has seen it employed on a few italian cycles where it is fairly rare
one clue suggesting that chainset may be original, in addition to the apparent italian dimension bottom bracket assembly, is the chainset's wedgebolts
note that they are the quality italian ones with a false acorn nut where an anodized aluminum disc is crimped into the nut top to turn it into an acorn
these discs are nearly always anodized either blue or red
if the assembler of the cycle had not had access to these wedgebolts they would not have been able to get a set of this type at the LBS
will look forward to reading a report regarding measurement taking...
-----
Puch/Steyr/Styria employed seat stay tops such as these on lower models such as one-speeds/three-speeds/juveniles & some utility entries
"usually" when one gets into derailleur geared models the stay tops are a bit more graceful such as on this Clubman model of the early seventies -
the cycle's fixed bottom bracket cup presents a clinker with respect to a Steyr identification -
note that it is round and exhibits the three dogs associated with generic Italian threaded cups for generations
have never encountered a Steyr/Puch product whose fixed bottom bracket cup did not show one pair of flats
one simple check which could be made would be to measure shell width; a 68mm shell would tend to signify a non-italian origin while a 70mm shell would tend to suggest an italian origin for the machine
unfortunately the image of the cycle showing the headset is somewhat blurry. this is another spot where a check could be made. if cycle a Steyr product and headset original it would exhibit the 26.0mm X 1.0 thread of Steyr steeerer and headsets. this would tend to suggest against and italian origin for the machine...
we know fork to be a replacement. rather unlikely it would exhibit the 26.0mm steerer associated with Steyr/Puch products. if the headset's locknut and adjustable race are a very loose/wobbly fit on the steerer it would be an indication that the headset is Steyr size.
one feature we would expect to see on a Steyr product of this calibre would be an ESGE plate style seat stay bridge. the bridge here is tubular.
one identity which would fit an italian shell and the Bianchi marked chainset would be one of Normano
this is an economy badge belonging to Bianchi and employed off and on through the generations
the last time we had any cycles of the name imported into the U.S. afaik was the middle nineteen sixties
when they were sold though discount houses and similar mass retailers
exchanged a PM with member MauriceMoss regarding the seat stay treatment and he reported he has seen it employed on a few italian cycles where it is fairly rare
one clue suggesting that chainset may be original, in addition to the apparent italian dimension bottom bracket assembly, is the chainset's wedgebolts
note that they are the quality italian ones with a false acorn nut where an anodized aluminum disc is crimped into the nut top to turn it into an acorn
these discs are nearly always anodized either blue or red
if the assembler of the cycle had not had access to these wedgebolts they would not have been able to get a set of this type at the LBS
will look forward to reading a report regarding measurement taking...
-----
Last edited by juvela; 11-21-22 at 05:31 PM. Reason: addition
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