Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Pogliaghi track bike from the 60s

I picked this up this week. The serial number is 7620, which would be from the mid-late 1960s. The chrome is rusty & pitted, but the frame is solid, without dents. I haven't decided whether to give it the full treatment (strip,rechrome, paint & decal) or just ride it. I'll probably throw on some tires, oil the chain & see how it feels first. Thoughties?

Very cool. It probably deserves a redo. But it should be done correctly, or not done at all - a miss is as good as a mile, in terms of the money you put into a restoration. But of course, enjoy riding it first.

Very nice. An early example of the marque too. You need to post more pictures!

I'd want someone very good to restore that, as in Joe Bell, Ed Litton, etc.
I would also try cleaning it up first, maybe some oxalic acid on the chrome,
a little wax on the paint?

Marty

Thanks, Marty. I would do it up myself. I used to be a bike mechanic: now I restore cars, so I have a plater I trust, as well as a good body shop. The only thing I haven't found is an accurate head decal. I'll ask H. Lloyd & Cyclemondo, neither of which have it in their catalogs. Any other ideas?

Do an oxalic acid dunk, then ride it.

-Kurt

Very nice, but has suffered from neglect.

Before the economy went sour I sold one for 2K.

aixaix,

I'm not sure on getting the old decal, I haven't seen any of those. Cyclemondo has the newer
ones but that won't help. Also JrRestore (member here) produces some decals.
I would also put up a request over at Classic Rendezvous list, it's amazing what those folks can
come up with.
I don't think that's the original fork, looks like a lot of clearance for a track frame.
Marty

Marty

aixaix,

I'm not sure on getting the old decal, I haven't seen any of those. Cyclemondo has the newer
ones but that won't help. Also JrRestore (member here) produces some decals.
I would also put up a request over at Classic Rendezvous list, it's amazing what those folks can
come up with.
I don't think that's the original fork, looks like a lot of clearance for a track frame.
Marty

Marty

I think it is the original fork, look at the brake, Weinmann 500 and the pads are all the way up, and might not even bite the rim perfectly. Its got pista clearances. Now, full chrome forks were rare back then, but so were chrome stays on a Pog. And it has chrome head lugs.

I'm pretty certain its the original fork: the crown reinforcements down the inside of the fork blades look identical to Pogs I've seen on the net (see on CR Pog #7609 which is a road frame but has the same drilled extensions). It is deceptive in my crummy photos because the tire is dead flat, but the clearance is very tight. Repechage is right about the Weinmann 500 having the pads all the way up and still not addressing the rim very well. Somebody took a 1/4" drill to the brake arm, then must have chickened out because there are four divots drilled in the arms; a kind of half-hearted (& assed) attempt to lighten a ridiculously light caliper.
I ordered tires today. Hee-hee!
The bike came with a spare rear wheel (Campy Record track hub) , which my darling daughter has claimed for her Lejeune.
I'd like to find an Ambrosio (or similar) track bar & stem from the sixties to replace the handsome but inappropriate Cinelli road set-up it currently wears.
Here are a few more pics.

I rode the Pogliaghi and find it a lot like my Olympia road bike from the same era. It is a great bike, but doesn't fit me as well as the bikes I already have. I'll probably wind up selling the frame, so I'm trying to figure out whether to restore it first. Chrome, paint & decals will likely run $600. Any ideas?