konakai

picked this up local today, 1950s? atala. I don't remember seeing these lugs, then again I don't know much about atala. it has internal cable routing, campy sport derail, not gran sport, the cool suicide shift. can anyone shed any light on year or model....thanks. I'll post some better pics if there's any interest

juvela

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lug pattern is Agrati "BRIANZA"

head is bulge-formed and is item N. 000.8056

seat lug is item N. 000.8039

fork crown item N. 026.8058

bottom bracket shell N. 005.8057

dropouts item N. 000.8002

fork ends item N. 000.8010

metal knob on Simplex Competition front mech indicates it cannot be later than 1959

first two characters of serial on upper right side of seat tube will indicate year



cycle's wheel size is not mentioned. if 27" that would indicate it was produced for export to anglophone lands. if so, one would expect nominal frame size in inches, 21, to be marked in two places on the underside of the shell.

pedals appear to be Way-Assauto Sprint

pump holder cup is REG (Rampinelli)




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Oldairhead


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iab

The 1954 Atala catalog is filled with Simplex and no Campagnolo. Also, I have only seen derailleur internal cable routing through the chain stay with Simplex derailleurs. I suspect the Campagnolo is a replacement. Also, with the internal routing was typical with Sport models. 3 speeds in the rear. But could be a lower-end corsa model too.

Love the Nanni stem, very cool.

RustyJames 

Not much to offer regarding provenance but no question I would have brought that home.

There are at least 2 Sport rear mechs. Is yours the bolt on or the claw type?

oneclick 

Both could use a claw - or not. A more fundamental difference is the presence/absence of a cable adjuster. This one appears to have one, so first style, early 50s.

repechage

Will be a rewarding project.
cannot tell if those are the original hubs or not.
I would reference as much as possible the original rims.

juvela

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wrt gear ensemble -

me guess would be that all three components original

appreciate it sounds odd to speak of mixing Lucien & Tullio

the Juy Competition front mech is the Simplex of Italy version, Juy operated a facility in Italy during the 1950's

note that the shift lever is Campag which would seem to make it less likely that the Sport is a replacement

reticient to disagree with iab since his knowledge so much vaster than me own

in the image below we can see that the gear block is at least 4V and may be 5V as the chain is stretched over two cogs. the cog in the number two position appears to be either loose or bent as it almost touches the cog in the number one position at one point in its circumference.

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konakai

thanks juvela, here's a few more pics if anyone's interested. I'd still like to I'd the year of this bike, the serial numbers don't seem to make sense, first two year as was posted earlier..., is the campagnolo sport desirable,, I know it's early but is it of any note....thanks

iab

I don't know if you are disagreeing because this is to the best of my knowledge, not a fact.

The 7H4055(?) serial indicates a 1957 frame build. Sport RDs factory spec was 3 or 4 cogs with a 6-tooth gap, not a 5-speed. I think the 5-speed there now is a replacement. Also, the "C" on the shift lever is closed, pointing to a later replacement. I replaced the coiled-spring Huret (much like the Simplex this bike may have had) on my 58-60 Cinelli because it shifts like crap (again, like the Simplex) when compared to a Sport or Gran Sport.

But again, to the best of my knowledge and certainly not knowing the last 60 years of this bike's life.

dddd

I agree that the derailer has been replaced, and that it was probably packaged with the single shifter. I see what look like witness marks from a change of band clamp on the downtube, and the Simplex lever as well had too large of a spool diameter to work well with that derailer.

Only today did I learn of the metal FD knob surviving through 1959!

Rims possibly may have been laced to the original hubs after bike left factory. Common to find such and 27" in steel would be the normal size/type for non-racers to choose.

This is a really cool bike find! If no frame damage then wow!

Check the back side of the crank spider to verify it's forged and not perhaps welded (this would indicate a higher-tier model).

The big chainring's integral 3-to-6 arm "adapters" would suggest a mid-range model, no?

mpetry912 

that's a really special bike. whatever you do, don't "wax" it. you're just rubbing the dirt in. find somebody who knows how to restore the original paint.

I good wash might brighten it up a lot. Use Dawn Ultra and a splash of kerosene in the wash water

/markp