1simplexnut

Got the pictured frame for very little $$ here in NZ .
I won it by default as nobody else bid .

The first Italian threaded bottom bracket I have had . (lots of BSC ,french ,swiss in the cave)

Anybody want to have a stab at year and model ?


Presuming it has had a historic repaint as I can see no signs of decals but a fair bit of age related wear here and there.

Vital statistics

55cm c to c (bit small for me unfortunately )
27mm seatpost
36x24 Italian bottom bracket ( existing *** plastic BB has been mangled)
126mm /100mm OLN
Campagnolo chromed dropouts front and rear
Raised (cast ? ) B on chromed fork crown
Ditto for the top of the seat stays
Headset presumed english ?
Columbus impressed on the fork steerer . (frame the same ? )
Nice lug cutouts all round and the finish looks good .
Serial numbers? on top of seat tube 6.7 on one side and 682 on the other .

No dings or dents surprisingly,
The underneath of the bottom bracket has a bit of rust and paint loss.

Also there is a little damage to the flange on the rear brake bridge .
Any thoughts on how I should handle this ? Leave it alone ?

All good fun .
Will give it a clean ,slap some bits on it and see how it rides .

juvela

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from a perspective of time it appears early Piaggio period but have never seen a Piaggio like it...

would not expect a BSC steerer/headset; Italian steerer thread has a five degree pitch difference from BSC; 55 degree vs 60 degree


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1simplexnut

Hi there
I had a wander through the years long Bianchi thread on here and didnt spot anything quite like it either .
Will check the headset with a known english and report back
Thank you for the input

retroshifter

I had a lower tier bianchi back in 1985, this is definitely one of the higher grade ones. Google campione del mondo early 80s. Also most Italian bikes made from Columbus tubing use 27.2 mm seat posts from my experience. Enjoy

gkamieneski

Make certain that BB is not BSC. Many of them that mad their way to the US were British thread.

1simplexnut

Hi will check that . Size was taken off the the 3T post that came with the frame .

1simplexnut

Hiya , the existing cups are marked 36x24

1simplexnut

hi - I know from an industrial fastening perspective that you would be hard pushed to pick the difference between 55 and 60 degs in use .
Would it even be noticeable on headset ? Presuming Italian is 1 inch x 24 tpi still ?
Off I go to google italian threaded headsets

Bianchigirll 

Your bikes are likely a lot different that what most of us in the US and Europe see but I'd say it's probably a higherned model Bianchi from the late'70s early '80. Ususally the top modela in that area, at least judging from the US catalogs and pics I've seen ont eh internet, had some chroming on the crown and head lugs as well as usually the dropouts, sometime even parts of the dropouts and crown.

It's possible that's the original color as most models do come in two colors.

That's too bad about the brake bridge. If it was mine I'dsmooth the rest of the area and just use a concave washer to mount the brakes. At one time you could even get them for recessed mounting nuts

satbuilder 

Here’s a 1975 Specialissima. I think what you have here is a 1976 or 1977 Specialissima or Campione del Mondo.

If you are on FB, there is a Bianchi group, with some very knowledgeable members on dating Bianchis.

if you go to the link below, there are several Specialissima and CdM models from different years. The frame you are showing has top tube cable guides which may have been factory original or could have been added on.

https://www.speedbicycles.ch/velo/53...nale_1975.html

1simplexnut

Hi , interesting thought that paint could be original . I will check inside the BB shell for any signs of previous .
Will investigate a decal set if I decide to keep it .

Also thanks for the brake washer suggestion .
I think I will go that way and modify the washer to fit over the existing damaged flange .

juvela

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thank you!

you've got it.

earlier than had been thinking; clearly pre-Piaggio

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unworthy1

I've seen only one with that earlier "B" monogram "embossed" (instead of debossed as was done in the Piaggio era)
Here's a pic of the more-commonly seen fork crown and headlug "B" from a 1981 catalog (courtesy of Bulgier) and this was in the Piaggio time period of Bianchi


very small and grainy but you get the drift and the diff

Chombi1 

Agree about it being a higher grade bike. The Campy dropouts usually gives that away. Lower grade bikes would usually have proprietary Bianchi (If they made them) or something like Gipiemme dropouts.
Wow. That BB area sure looks like it had a hard life.....

unworthy1

the rust might clear away with an acid soaking but not sure what sort of BB unit this is: are those plastic cup-rings? Not of any brand I recognize...
Hope you can get that out "easily" and then replace with something decent!

1simplexnut

Hi - Actively looking for a replacement Italian threaded unit now .

The existing unit is made by a co that the censor blots out . Name can be seen on the cups of another used unit I have (yes they are plastic)
I am quite familiar with them as they seemed to be standard equipment on a fair bunch of Peugeots and others here and NZ

I have the correct tool for removing and installing them .
Quite a trick unit with a spring loaded bolt that screws in to the spindle bolt hole .
Stops slippage and damage.
Tool also fits one of the alloy Campagnolo units .


"Fischer's Automatische Gussstahlkugelfabrik

1simplexnut

Hi there ,

Thanks so much for the info . I googled my eyes out and didnt spot that at all .
Dont do the facebook thing

juvela

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thanks so much for this post!

had been wondering if it might be some model o NADAX with which was unfamiliar


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satbuilder 

I took the liberty of sharing this thread with the group. Your frame is from 1976, and is either a Specialissima or Campione del Mondo.

The general consensus is the top tube cable guides were an add on sometime after the frame was manufactured.

unworthy1

ah yes, I didn't realize you had one of these, my least favorite of all cartridge BB units no matter who makes them (Thun, Campy, whoever) since even with the 'special tool" I find they strip out before coming out and take some knuckle skin off in the process! My deepest sympathies...

The "offensive name" is generally just the maker of the high-quality bearings used but I guess they put their name on BB units, too.

But since you can now install a new one I reco picking one that does not take the "scalloped-divot " cup/ring tool! I'd even offer to sell you a Campy sealed BB with conventional cups for a very good price, except: not positive I have the correct spindle length you'd need and the shipping to NZ probably makes "a good price" become very bad, sad to say!

One option if price is an object might be a Miche Primato BB which comes in Ital width (70mm) and threading (36 x 24) plus can be found with ISO taper in three spindle lengths and usually a reasonable price:

• Sealed cartridge.
• Available in 68mm (BSA) and 70mm (Italian).
• Lengths 107mm, 110mm and 115mm.
• Special zinc-plated steel ISO square-taper axle.
• Lightweight anodised alloy cups.
• Thread 36 x 24F” or 1,370 x 24F” (BSA).
• Weight: 275 grams

1simplexnut

hi there ,
Thanks so much for doing that for me ( and keeping me away from Facebook)
Was the 1976 date based on the frame number ?

1simplexnut

Careful ! I might just take you up on that offer
I will have a fish about locally and see what I can find .
otherwise I will be shipping something in to NZ

Thanks to all for their input on this

satbuilder 

Up until 1974 the Specialissima was identified by a number 1 followed by year of manufacture, stamped usually on the drive side of the seat lug. The number stamped on the opposite side I presume is a sequential serial number.

I have a 1973 Specialissima Professionale, with a 173 on the drive side of the seat lug. It looks like in 1974 that number sequence was changed over to a number, followed by a dot, followed by a number. And I’m not sure how to read that, and how to make a determination of the model.

If you go to that speedbicycles site I linked earlier, and look thru all the different Bianchis in there, you can see what I’m talking about.

The team bikes carried a 999 prefix, from what I understand, but I don’t know if that also changed in 1974.

Kabuki12

That is going to be a nice bike , if you decide to keep it. I don’t know much about these but the higher end machines have quit the following . I just love it when I am the only one bidding on something and I get a surprise. I can’t believe how many times that has happened and I end up with some killer deals.

1simplexnut

Bottom bracket update :
Came out oh so easily . Helps to have the right tool I guess ?
Rusty flakey bits look pretty good after most the gunge was removed .
Will treat the rust areas and cover .

No signs in the shell of another colour
Also inside of the head tube the same
the existing paint will clean up well with a buff and polish etc .