Re: [CR]Coppi on Bianchi or Masi

(Example: Events:BVVW)

From: "swampmtn" <swampmtn@siscom.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR]Coppi on Bianchi or Masi
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 04:22:00 -0500


(this is a long list of pictures...)

That picture is probably very misleading.

Taking a closer look, the fork crown is like all those used on high-end, Coppi-era Bianchi bikes. Since the picture is a hand-tinted b&w, it's hard to be certain where details have been painted away... both the headtube decal and the correct lug outlines could vanish in the hands of the artist doing the color "detailing". Hey! I just noticed in that pic that part of Coppi's rear tire is painted to match his bike!

An examination of some books reveals the following:

"A Century of Paris Roubaix" 1949 pg.3, Coppi's Bianchi has chrome upper integral headlug, "Bianchi" crown. Lower lug is unclear.

"CPR" 1950 pg.3, chrome lower integral headlug, "Bianchi" crown. Upper lug not visible.

"Fausto Coppi" by Jaques Augendre, pg.57, GP des Nations, 1947, chrome integral lower lug, heattube decal. Upper lug not visible.

same book, pg.59, World Pursuit Championships, 1948, chrome integral headlugs, HT decal.

pg.41, Tour of Lombardy, 1949, headtube decal, lugs not visible.

pg.63-66, Paris-Roubaix, 1950, chrome integral headlugs, HT decal, Bianchi crown.

pgs 30-31, Tour de France, 1951, chrome integral headlugs, headtube decal.

page 14, Tour de France, 1952, chrome integral lower lug, headtube decal.

pg.70, TdeF, 1952 again, chrome integral upper headlug (this time cut away more than others), Bianchi crown, HT decal, chrome front half of seat cluster.

pg.8, Paris-Nice, 1954, chrome integral lugs and Bianchi crown, headtube decal. Also has braze-on r der cable stop, Universal brake levers with adjusting barrel on top, normal pattern GS r der, r qr lever on derailleur side.

pg.36&112, CduM, 1958, (back to Bianchi team), chrome integral lower lug, HT decal, upper lug not visible.

pg.58 top, unknown track event, chrome integral headlugs, HT decal, Bianchi crown.

pg.81, Giro di Lombardia, non cappo anno, chromato integral headlugs, ht decali.

pg.84, TdF, Mt. Ventoux, chrome integral headlugs, HT decal.

pg.88, TdF, chrome integral headlugs, HT decal.

pg. 90, unknown track event, chrome integral headlugsm HT decal, Bianchi crown.

And on, and on... I examined about 50 photos of Coppi during his years with Bianchi, and couldn't find another picture which would suggest anything but chromed integral headlugs, Bianchi type fork crown, and Bianchi "Eagle" headtube decal (except, of course, for the early years with "Legnano", and the mid 1950s with "Carpano-Coppi".

Aldo Ross 55F and sunny in Ohio 20 mile ride with The Lovely Miss Leslie


>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Chuck Schmidt <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2001 8:19 PM
> Subject: Re: [CR]Coppi on Bianchi or Masi
>
>
> > Rob Vermeer wrote:
> > >
> > > For those wondering if Masi built for Fausto Coppi and he rode Masi
> instead of Bianchi, this might be the partial answer.
> > > Take a look at:
> > > http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1603921&shownewphotos=true
> > > Notice no typical Bianchi integrated headset and no Bianchi badge.
> > > Experts can probably see other details.
> > > Regards,
> > > Rob Vermeer
> >
> > I wish it was an answer. I have a 22" Sony Trinitron monitor and can't
> > see the upper lug because the water bottle is in the way. The lower lug
> > is not clear enough to tell. Head badge, head decal, no decal, no
> > headbadge doesn't tell me anything either.
> >
> > Even if it didn't have the integrated headset lugs that wouldn't mean
> > that Bianchi didn't build it. Same thing for the lack of a headbadge.
> >
> > Masi or Bianchi? This will probably never be know for sure. It all
> > comes down to who you want to believe. Would the point be that Bianchi
> > wasn't capable of building a bike for Coppi that would be the equal of a
> > Masi. I don't think so. I own a 1954 Bianchi Campione del Mondo and it
> > looks just like the bikes I have seen that are bonafide ex-Fausto Coppi
> > bikes. No better and no worse.
> >
> > Chuck Schmidt
> > South Pasadena, California
> > http://www.velo-retro.com (vintage reprints and T-shirts)