In addition to Italian builders, Silca made pumps marked "LeJeune", like the one on my 1973 LeJeune 70-F. May have made them for other French marques as well, most likely Follis or Bertin, who used more non-French parts in the 70's than did Peugeot.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Donald Dundee wrote:
> Your pump was available on fully equipped Frejus' of the late 60's through
> early 70's. There were quite a few variations of Silca pumps over the years
> since the company began . Very briefly, Silca Impero pumps from the 50's
> through early sixties era were marked with the word "Pompa" in addition to
> the word Impero. There were quite a few variations in the embossing design
> of both "handle" end as well as aluminum sheath, but I would fail at
> attempting to describe in words. Three diameters of pumps were available
> depending on length. Small diameter pumps were used for taller frames,
> medium diameter pumps for smedium sized frames, and wide diameter pumps were
> for short frames. Silca produced pumps in large batches for many Italian
> framebuilders, including Bianchi, Masi, DeRosa, Frejus, Legnano, and who
> knows which others.
>
> The earliest Silca pumps were not made of plastic but of celluloid, but the
> use of this material was abandoned when a fire completely ravaged the plant
> in 1935. "Silca" is actually an anacronym for "Societa Italiana Lavorazione
> Celluloidi Accessori" and the company started out by manufacturing bicycle
> and motorcycle handgrips in 1917.
>
> Use of both plastic and (some) celluloid pumps continued through the 50's,
> when the company then began development of ABS palstics for their product
> manufacture. It was then that the "Impero" was born - an name that came into
> existence for the characteristics of impregnating colors into the plastic
> (note - silca pumps are not painted!).
>
> The silca Impero frame fit pump, with sculpted handle head to fit the
> underside of the top tube/seat tube area, was introduced in 1972. The next
> year they introduced the famous floor pump, which has changed very little
> over its evolution to today.
>
> There were also variations in pump heads. Initially, these were made of cast
> white metal (muntz metal) and were prone to decay and failure. Aluminum
> heads were introduced in the 50's and were common on most Silca pumps
> through the sixties, but were usually abandoned in favor of the much better
> quality Campagnolo pump head that was develped in teh early 50's.
>
> Ken Denny
> Boston
>
> >From: "swampmtn" <swampmtn@siscom.net>
> >To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> >Subject: [CR]skinnier Silca pump
> >Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 19:04:27 -0500
> >
> >I have an old Silca pump which is about 3/4 as big as the normal frame
> >pump. The handle reads "SILCA ESPORT. MILANO" and "Prodotto Italiano" same
> >as the 1960s pumps I have, but instead of the IMPERO crest it's labelled
> >"Frejus Torino Campione del Mondo 1930-33
> >
> >please see 6 pics at:
> >http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1225372&a=11709831
> >
> >Any guesses how old this could be? Thanks for any info.
> >
> >Aldo Ross