[CR]Bianchi Folgorissima (Paris-Roubaix) w/ F.B. & Gnuttti

(Example: Component Manufacturers)

Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 23:50:48 -0700
From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Bianchi Folgorissima (Paris-Roubaix) w/ F.B. & Gnuttti

I'm overhauling a 1950 Bianchi Folgorissima (Paris-Roubaix derailleur) tonight and made some interesting discoveries:

The headset (intergal races pressed into the head lugs) is stamped "Bianchi 50" (1950) on one of the cup edges.

Front and rear hubs are stamped "Bianchi" and are three-piece style (steel center barrel with aluminum flanges pressed onto the ends).

Front hub is stamped in script "Bianchi" on center barrel. On the end of one alloy flange is stamped faintly "F.B. MADE IN ITALY." Campagnolo axle with QR and lock nuts stamped "CAM. 49" (1949).

Rear hub is stamped in script "Bianchi" on center barrel. On the end of one alloy flange is stamped in a rectangle with very small block letters "GNUTTI." Campagnolo splined axle (for toothed dropouts) with lock nuts stamped "CAM. 50" (1950).

The five speed Regina Gran Sport freewheel is stamped on the back in very small numerals "4 50" (April? 1950).

The Paris-Roubaix derailleur isn't stamped with "PARIS-ROUBAIX" on the shifter fork, so it must have been made before Fausto Coppi's victory in the 1950 Paris-Roubaix in April and the renaming of the derailleur. Or it was in the pipeline before they got around to stamping the derailleurs with the name. I have seen two styles of stamping: One with the letters vertical on the shifter fork, and one with the letters in a semicircle at the top of the shifter fork.

Incidentally, when this derailleur was introduced in 1949, it was referred to as the "single lever" derailleur.

NOTE: from the above, I _don't_ see any evidence that F.B and GNUTTI are the _same company_! Or that Campagnolo owned either of the companies!

Chuck Schmidt SoPas, SoCal http://www.velo-retro.com (Campagnolo Timeline)

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