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Chirico frames

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Chirico frames

Old 05-02-12, 04:37 AM
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Chirico frames

Interest has recently been shown in Chirico frames and components and this is what I believe to be the basic history of Chirico.
Erminio Chirico started building frames in the 1960's and continued until 1975 when the elder brother took over production until 1985. Luigi, the younger brother took over the business in 1985 and still has the shop in Bussero, Italy.
The Precision model was in production from 1980 to 1985 and varnish-fix decals are still available for it and possibly for other models as well.
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Old 05-06-12, 12:42 AM
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Further research has revealed that the Chirico company was formed in the early 1900's by Enrico Chirico and that in 1948 his son Erminio took over the business until 1987. During this period Erminio's son Claudio was employed as Production Manager and in the early 1980's he was involved [and no doubt his father as well] in an arrangement with Andrea Cinelli to produce additional frames for Cinelli, including the Equipe model, to satisfy the North American market. Claudio also jointly ran the "Team Centurion" with Andrea.
Steel frame production finally ceased in 2000 at Chirico.
19The Erminio's son Luigi took over the business in 1987 and still runs it today.
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Old 05-06-12, 10:49 AM
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I can't believe you managed to condense 97,342 emails into that post above.

Outstanding work, outstanding post, and that is one hot frame you sent me a photo of.

I, for one, would seriously consider a Chirico frame, knowing what I know now.

Of course, now I'm wondering if my SC frame with the custom eyelets came from Chirico, too.
It won't keep me up at night, but knowing there's a chance I have two Chirico-made frames is pretty darn cool.

If ever I run across "Chirico" dropouts, I'm going to quickly and quietly steal that bike.
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Old 05-08-12, 02:48 AM
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Thank you Rob for the kind comments.
My research has involved contacting Luigi Chirico and also my friend, an Italian bicycle research historian has spoken to Luigi on the same subject.
Additional information has revealed that Claudio Chirico was invited by Andrea Cinelli to join Cinelli in 1980. He did so, but it is not clear exactly what his specific involvement was, but it certainly involved additional Cinelli frame production.
It is not known to me whether the additional Cinelli frames were produced on their premises, or whether there was a sub-contract arrangement, with the frames being produced in the Chirico factory.
Claudio invented automatic front fork production machinery at some time and his father Erminio perfected a production technique for the frame's seat stays.
With Andrea, Claudio was involved with setting up Team Centurion, which was eventually disbanded in 1987; this coincided with the monetary exchange rate which also affected the production of frames.
It might be the case that Chirico manufactured some carbon frames but they withdrew when high technology carbon frame production became the norm.
Finally, I don't understand why Chirico are not referred to in the VeloBase brand data-base, perhaps they're elusive and keeping a low profile !
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