Classic & Vintage - 1941 Bianchi Folgore

I found this bike in very rough shape some 6 years ago and am finally getting around to reassembling it. It has a cambio corsa derailleur system, however it is not the one that one usually finds, but rather the second generation one that was made from about 1937 until 1942 (as best as I can tell). So this means that the three levers (both Q/R levers and shift lever) all have cross-hatching marks and a wheel on one side of teh lever and writing on two lines on the other (look at the pictures to better understand), as well as the bell cover of the Q/R cam having a rounded shape. When I found the bike it was fitted with a three speed freewheel which is what I fitted it out with once again. The rims are period correct but from the wrong manufacturer and country (they are Sieber rims from Switzerland). Once the correct tires arrive (some 35 mm wide road tubulars), they will look great. The handlebars are likely period correct, but the steel Cinelli stem is too modern by about one decade. The hubs are original Bianchi-branded hubs (the front has an unusual 95 mm wide locknut ot locknut width). The cranks too are original Bianchi-branded, with the nice Bianchi chainring. The BB fixed cup is branded Bianchi and date coded 1941. The BB spindle is branded Bianchi and strangely enough is date-coded 1939. The adjustable cup is not marked. I still need to fit the correct tires (they should arrive from Italy shortly) and the integrated seat tube oiler (waiting to return from the chromer).

That's a beauty. Was that the original paint colour?

I absolutely LOVE that bike! WAY cool crank! And the rear brake cable inside the top tube!!! 40 years ahead of it's time! Sweeeeeeet!

:love::love::love:

Was that the original paint colour?

Nobody will ever know for sure. It does match the paint that was found under the seatstay clamps and on the BB shell under the fixed cup, so if not correct, it at least comes close. However, who knows how much the paint faded from its original tone? Anybody who says that a 60 year old bike has maintained its original tone is only fooling themselves. All paint fades over time if exposed to the elements or the air.

What a lovely bike - and more importantly - it's in the right hands. I'm very impressed with your knowledge of the Flogore and your search for the correct parts. I'm sure some compromises may have to be made, such as the rims, but I know you will not be completely happy until the original is found some time in the future.

Your paint explanation is very interesting and I do agree with your points. I think the closest match would come from under a clamp, etc. and your celeste colour is probably as correct as you can get.

Thanks for the images,

Gary.

And the rear brake cable inside the top tube!!! 40 years ahead of it's time! Sweeeeeeet!

Actually not uncommon on post-war Italian frames.

That's a beautiful bike (I've seen it in person) - and those CC levers are super-duper rare. By themselves, I think they would be worth a minor mint of ebay money. Which is why it's nice to see them used to part up a bike instead of being parted out.

Wow. Hoping I get to see it in person in about two weeks. :)

Wow. :love: Unbelievable find. How on Earth did you find the patience to wait 6 years to reassemble that beauty? Looking forward to the final build pics!

stan

This thread should be moved to the top of the threads...We haven't seen this kind of rarity in a very long time. What a great bike. Slather that old saddle in a some proofhide...

Oh baby what a score. It looks like a really fun bike to ride. Keep us posted. We want to see more and more pics. Lets see a few photos of it on the road. It looks worth of some Veloflex Roubaix tires or Dugast tires. Wow I'm jealous.

That is an awesome bike. :love::love::love:

What kept the wheel straight when you shifted?

What kept the wheel straight when you shifted?

Depends upon which Roman Catholic saint you relied upon.

I wouldnt mind seeing some classic (or modern for that matter) video footage of a rider shifting that kind of a set up.

What kept the wheel straight when you shifted?
The Cambio Corsa system used a toothed dropout and hub axle, so the wheel would stay straight in the frame while the it moved forward or back in the dropouts. I'm sure it was tricky to braze those dropouts so both sides were properly aligned with each other and the frame. Apparently there was a special fixture to facilitate this.

I wouldnt mind seeing some classic (or modern for that matter) video footage of a rider shifting that kind of a set up.

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/v/aldoross/pd/CIMG0003.AVI.html

The Cambio Corsa system used a toothed dropout and hub axle, so the wheel would stay straight in the frame while the it moved forward or back in the dropouts. I'm sure it was tricky to braze those dropouts so both sides were properly aligned with each other and the frame. Apparently there was a special fixture to facilitate this.

I know a few people that have the fixtures. Roland Della Santa is one here in the US. Here are photos of the ones that I used to own.

Can you give us an idea of how the bike rides, responds, rolls compared to a more modern bike? Noticeably harder to pedal maybe? When you bend it into a turn does it tend to want to stand up? Easy to ride no hands?

Wow! That's just a gorgeous bike, thanks so much for all the work you've done to restore it.

I'd like to know how well that system shifts. Does it work pretty smoothly?

That bike is absolutley stunning! gratulations!


I'd like to know how well that system shifts. Does it work pretty smoothly? if the rider is skilled, it looks like this:
Downshifting the Cambio Corsa (http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/v/aldoross/pd/CIMG0003.AVI.html)
Upshifting the Cambio Corsa (http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/v/aldoross/pd/CIMG0004.AVI.html)

if the rider is not... well, i always look for a free, straight piece of road of about 1/2 a mile length.... :D

That is a magnificent bike. A Celeste Bianchi with a second-generation Campagnolo gear change -- life doesn't get much better than that. :)

Frank Berto reported that the Cambio is difficult and strange to operate, but I suppose a little practice and coordination would help immensely. ...

Outstanding! My #2 most desired bike. Are you bringing it to Cirque?

Is this different from the 1940 on your wj account?

Very nice! What a fantastic bike for a project.

I missed out on a very similar Bianchi last year at an estate sale. I was browsing the pics online and noticed an old ten-speed hanging in the garage. The picture was dark, but I could make out the Cambio Corsa system. The bike was listed as "a men's ten-speed".

Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the sale until my lunch hour.
When I got there, the bike was gone. One of the workers said the first guy in line when the sale opened bolted for the bike. I asked how much it went for. The worker replied "$70". Sigh.......

Hello Everyone OMG! as devoted Bianchi fan and owner I must say I am speechless. this is without a doubt the most intriguging and beautifully restored bike I have seen on these pages. as a former bicyle and aircraft tech. I am amazed at how the 'derailuer'? system works. I must admitt here that I am very jealous of this beautiful and unique bicycle. it is a wonderful example of a real old school machine and shows how beauty used to be combined with form and function. these days it seems it is all about ....... OH sorry I get off my soapbox. beautiful bike enjoy it

Outstanding! My #2 most desired bike. Are you bringing it to Cirque?

Is this different from the 1940 on your wj account?

The 1940 bike is a different bike. It is now in California. This one is considerably lighter as it was built up with Mannesmann Extra tubing. I still haven't decided if I will bring it to le cirque.

Oh, I get it. The teeth in the dropout don't allow the axle to slide out of alignment. It can only roll forward or back because it meshes with the teeth. Pretty nifty.

The 1940 bike is a different bike. It is now in California. This one is considerably lighter as it was built up with Mannesmann Extra tubing. I still haven't decided if I will bring it to le cirque.

Interesting to see different tubing options within a single model. What kind of tubing does the 1940 have? Were there other tubing options for the Folgore? Did they ever use Columbus?

I am still speechless...

Bartali... 1948.

http://www.campyonly.com/images/bartali1948tour.gif

Interesting to see different tubing options within a single model. What kind of tubing does the 1940 have? Were there other tubing options for the Folgore? Did they ever use Columbus?

I don't know, back then everything depended on your relationship with the factory. I expect that given it was in mid-war, you needed to be well-connected to even get a bike made, so perhaps this was one of the few tubing sets still lying around. It also doesn't have the typical integrated Bianchi headset. When I found teh bike I was somewhat leery to even believe it was a Bianchi, but it has the proprietary Bianchi cambio corsa dropouts, the typical Bianchi seatlug, the typical BB shell, the Bianchi enamel headbadge, and all the correct Bianchi components from the same period. Both the fork and the frame are lighter than average, on a par even with lightweight tubing from the 70's or early 80's. Back in the 50's Bianchi did not indicate whose tubing was used, as it was then still understood that the builder was more important than the tubing maker. The brake bridge also has a threaded mudguard fixing hole on the lower side, as well as on the chainstay bridge. The mudguard braze-ons on the seatstays are also typical for the period at Bianchi.

It would be nice to see it at cirque. (hint hint :))

Well, that thing is just lovely. Thanks for sharing.

Someone has to repop that cambio corsa shifting mechanism.
That's more hardcore than any fixie bike.

You're a lucky owner!
Thanks for sharing.

TP

Citoyen, just curious, what is the BB drop on that machine?

I've been looking at it forever now - oogling the Cambio Corsa, of course - and I cannot seem to get the feel for the geometry just yet. Any chance of a lower "action" type 3/4 photo, perhaps at axle height? There is something about that first overall shot that just isn't doing it proper justice - no offense.

-Kurt

Citoyen, just curious, what is the BB drop on that machine?

I've been looking at it forever now - oogling the Cambio Corsa, of course - and I cannot seem to get the feel for the geometry just yet. Any chance of a lower "action" type 3/4 photo, perhaps at axle height? There is something about that first overall shot that just isn't doing it proper justice - no offense.

-Kurt

The photos were taken with my telephone. In most of the photos the sun was reflecting too much by the fenders, chrome and alloy rims which I polished up... I'll try and get some better photos with my "real" camera when I get a new battery.

The photos were taken with my telephone. In most of the photos the sun was reflecting too much by the fenders, chrome and alloy rims which I polished up... I'll try and get some better photos with my "real" camera when I get a new battery.

Excellent. I'll be anxiously awaiting those new shots - the Bianchi should look gorgeous in them.

-Kurt