Re: [CR] Frejus now Falck

(Example: Framebuilders:Rene Herse)

Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:10:38 -0800
From: "verktyg" <verktyg@aol.com>
To: Fred Rednor <fred_rednor@yahoo.com>, <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <118265.6694.qm@web34208.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To: <118265.6694.qm@web34208.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [CR] Frejus now Falck


Fred,

A riffled steering tube is more expensive to manufacture than a standard butted steerer.

Steering tubes were one of the places where many European bike manufacturers cut corners. Motobecane and Peugeot were notorious for making steering tubes from a piece of seamed plain gage pipe with a split sleeve brazed into the bottom in the fork crown area. I've seen forks made this way even on some "all Reynolds" frames.

I always assumed that riffled steerers were a Columbus exclusive during the classic era. When I see a fork with one of these steerers I assume that the whole thing is made of Columbus tubing.

It's possible that Falck and others made riffled steerers in those days too but I seem to remember that Columbus had a patent on it.

Campagnolo used to sell steering tubes. I was under the impression that they were made by Columbus.

I've been curious about Falck tubing for many years. Finding good technical information has been difficult and much of what's out there is conflicting.

Here's an example from Bike Forums: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?371230-Falck-tubing

We sold Legnano and Frejus bikes during the Bike Boom. The supposedly better models had Reynolds 531 decals on the top tubes but I recall seeing a few mid range bikes with Reynolds decals. We were told that the frames without the Reynolds decals were made of Falck tubing. I remember several "all Campy" (except for Universal 61 brakes) bikes that were probably made of Falck tubing.

Similarly equipped Falck and Reynolds frame Frejus and Legnano bikes weighed and rode the same.

I've only seen one bike "in the steel" with a Falck tubing decal. It was an all original mid 60s Campy equipped Legnano on consignment at VeloSport in Berkeley, CA. Too bad it was too big for me.

I saw an old frame that was stripped for painting that had Libellula (dragonfly) logos stamped into all of the tubes. The stamping was deep enough to show through most paint jobs.

There was some historical info on Libellula on the web but I can't find it anymore.

I have a a 1981 Bianchi Campione Del Mondo with a Columbus "TreTubi" (3 main tubes) decal on the down tube. I've read reliable information that the main tubes are Columbus SL and rest is Falck tubing.

This bike is a real bastardo! Bianchi put it together with a mixture of Campy Grand Sport, Nuovo Record and Super Record components so it would stand to reason that frame would follow suite. It sure does ride and handle nice though!

Clear as mud, eh?

Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA

Fred Rednor wrote:
>> I misspelled Falck and then found this great writeup. Also
>> libellula apparently. And is there a connection to Falck?
>>
>> http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2007/12/falck-steel-other-italian-steel.html
>
> By the way, my _guess_ is that many of those Atala frames that are very light, yet bear no tubing sticker, were made from Falck tubing.
>
> The question I have is whether Falck made special steering tubes, similar to the ones made by Columbus? Or might a manufacturer have used Falck frame tubing and a Columbus steering tube? And what about those Columbus "Tre Tubi" frames? Would those have used Falck seatstays, chainstays, steering and head tubes, to go along with the 3 Columbus main tubes?
>
> Ciao
> Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia (USA)