Chuck asked regarding my Bianchi newly posted to wooljersey:
"it is my understanding that the five pin crank shown in this photo <http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/d/207551-1/Bianchi+Folgore+chainset.JP G> came on the Bianchi city bikes and not the racing bikes; that the Bianchi racing bikes came with the three pin (three arm) crank?"
In this case, I too initially believed that your understanding was
correct, however I did quite a bit of additional research and it seems
that we were both at least partially wrong. In fact it would appear that
for the early Bianchi bikes, whether racing or 'sport' they all came
with the 5 bolt rings. It was only from the mid-40's onward that they
began making a distinction between the racing Folgore model and more
sport oriented Freccia model. I have posted a coy of the 1939 Bianchi
catalog page describing the Folgore and it is very clearly visible that
the chainring is a 5 bolt pattern.
http://www.wooljersey.com/
The catalog also gives the component listing: Folgore: Road racing model - extra light frame and fork of new design - racing handlebars with adjustable stem (previously they were unitary) - black rubber grips - alloy brakes with flexible brake cables - alloy pedals - rear hub with 3 cog freewheel (by 1940 they had the 4 block) - "Campagnolo" type derailleur - alloy mudguards - frame-mounted oiler - Bianchi special racing saddle - celeste paint - special Bianchi chrome - Regina chain and freewheel - alloy rims - Pirelli tubulars.
Freccia: Freccia half-racing model, identical construction characteristics to Folgore, without derailleur, chromed steel clincher rims, chromed spokes, Pirelli 28 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/4 tires.
I have also been able to observe all other period correct Folgore bikes from the 30's with these cranks. They also have the block letter script on the cranks not the cursive script seen on later bikes.
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ
USA