JPZ66

Ok, just got this in from Italy. Needs a full restoration, but will get it and become my L'eroica Bicicletta !
The bb measures 70mm, seat post is 27.2mm.... I am told this may be a La Perla (note the headset), possibly from 1948-50. La Perla was a builder in the Venetto region...though I have not found any information on this. I will be posting also on Italian bike forums in search of answers.

Let me know what you think of the lugwork, etc. The current decals appear to be 'wishful thinking' by a PO, so disregard that.

The crank is Nervar..though I have no idea if original, the good part is in back .. Cambio Corsa Campagnolo, and regina sprockets. I will be looking to replace the crankset, and everything else to Campy if not already so. Looking for suggestions on proper or close, period correct stem, bars, saddle...and trying to keep it all Italiano !

As always Thanks in advance for any and all constructive information.

Cheers,

Joe

unworthy1

there have been shots of "La Perla" bikes seen in this forum, before...but might have been years ago.
Do a search: I remember the headbadge/decal as being a real gem, a big clamshell with a big pearl (as you might expect).

JPZ66

hmmmm, did a search and came up nadda.... maybe I'm searching incorrectly ???

unworthy1

No, I can't find anything, either...but I know I've seen a headbadge/decal for this brand somewhere. I assumed it was here. Maybe I'll stumble on it again, but don't hold yer breath!

Poguemahone

These guys are great if you have not found them already:

https://www.bdc-forum.it/forumdisplay.php?f=108

Bianchigirll 

Looks interesting

unworthy1

couple of guys on the CR List say there could be an Emilio Bozzi connection. That makes sense since the lugs are "in his style", I'm not certain if the forkcrown is one of his.

Oldairhead 

That will make a great bike for L'Eroica. I do not know what kind of resto you are considering but let me make a suggestion. Get it mechanically sound and running nicely but leave it as is otherwise. Then, go ride the event. The bike will get hammered, especially on the 205 km course. Rocks and dust for over half that distance and it would be worse in poor weather conditions. Parts of the course are really rough, especially early on. Then when you get home clean it up again and make the rest of it pretty. There were many beautiful bikes at the event and they were just getting hammered!

Also, put on the largest tire that you can fit. I rode on 32c Panaracers on my Legnano and did not get any flats even though I saw hundreds of others doing flat repairs. I also found that I could cruise and descend faster on the dirt sections than most other riders on skinnier tires. Personally I would not consider doing the 205 km distance on anything less than a 28c tire even though most riders seemed to be on 23c's. If you are doing the 75 or 135 km then you wont be out so long and can give up some of the speed and control that you will get with a fatter tire on the dirt.

Good luck with your project!

Giacomo 1 

It sure would, and your likely to find quite a few people on the ride that know a lot about this bike to.

I'm surprised that the previous owner couldn't help you out some, being he is Italian (I presume...)

JPZ66

Great suggestions all the way around. Let me share my thoughts on this...
From what I have read, yes, I will certainly be looking to go as 'fat' on tires as is possible. I'm also going to be experimenting with the rear cogs to find the best combo that I can get for hills for the limited 5 speed set up. I will clean, grease and ride to learn how to shift this thing before any resto work starts. I'm going to ride it 'heavy' for now (steel bars, stem, cranks, headset ) but see what I can change out to alum without compromising the period look too much.
However, despite knowing that the bike will get hammered on a ride like L'Eroica, I will have done the full restoration before the 2014 event, and whatever chips, scuffs and so on occur will become part of the 'new patina', and will be seen by me as proudly worn 'battle scars' . This is mainly because rust is the enemy, and even the minor surface rust that the bike currently has will only continue to worsen, so I think the sooner that is dealt with the better.
Once I begin riding/training on this bike, I will carry the planned set up (water bottles, spares, etc.) that I will ride the event with, plus some additional weight.

I won't be able to come to any conclusions about how this bike is restored until I have more info about what it is and who made it, but as of now, I am thinking about a light blue metallic finish, chrome stays, lugs and fork ends. I have been looking at and certainly see Emilio like elements here. Similiar to some 40's era Frejus bikes I have seen...but not quite. My contact in Italy is also looking into this bike.
La Perla - "The Pearl" - has been used generically for a range of bike related things, and doesn't currently mean a lot.

Research continues, as does the quest for a few hard to find spare parts.

Thanks for all the input !!!

Joe

JPZ66

I am continuing to reach out here (and on other forums) for information regarding this bicycle. My contact and one or two others in Italy are aware of, but can find no information on a builder or maker La Perla, though several have heard of the name in the Veneto region. I have not seen any traces of serial number anywhere, however, it is obvious that the frame has been painted at least twice, so careful stripping when the time comes may reveal something.
The frame feels pretty light despite the steel components currently in place, and you can see the craftsmanship in the filed lug work. I certainly think this was a high end frame for its day.
In the meantime, I will plan for the restoration, sans decals, and hope that one day the information may come to light.

Thanks for reading this thread ! I will add to it as I go along, until restoration begins, then start a new thread with photos of the process. Please feel free to post suggestions or other comments about this interesting bike !

Cheers,

Joe

puchfinnland

This is my Masini Migani Junior




one in canada



https://www.miganibikes.com/

been around a very long time- send them pictures and they will answer, they do speak english.
any info is very limited.

T-Mar

I was thinking Frejus on the basis of the stay cap design, though I've never seen one with internal brake cable routing.

One make from this era that did use internal routing was Maino. However, I don't know as how you sould positively identify one. They didn't eem to have any particular design traits, using various styles of lugs and fittings. Every one I see, seems to be different.

JPZ66

Thanks for the info guys. I will pursue those leads and see what I can find. Yes, the internal routing is interesting for a bike of this age. Anyone know the history of internal routing and when and where it began or gained popularity ?

In ref to the Mod. Perla photo, it goes along with what my friend in Italy was saying about a number of companies using Perla or La Perla in the name. What I find interesting is the, the headset on my bike clearly has La Perla cast in raised letters, yet I can not find info on this. It appears to be a Magistroni headset. I have seen these cast with Legnano and Frejus ( theres that Bozzi connection again ), so one would assume they made them under some sort of contract for specific branding.

This for me is at least half the fun of the whole project, as I love a good mystery and all of the things I learn while trying to figure it out !

Thanks again for the add'l info !

Cheers,
Joe

unworthy1

HAH! That Mod. Perla from puchfinnland is the logo I had seen and half remembered, now that I see that post I can tell it's got very little to do with the OP's much earlier bike. Sure doesn't give me much confidence in my memory, either!
But I did have this little nagging thought that bike was a junior model, I should have followed that clue and might have traced it to his post, but didn't.
Anyhow, the maker of that Mod. Perla is neither in Veneto nor in Bozzi's home of Milano: Riccione is close to Rimini, so in the Adriatic coastal resort area.

iab

Hold on there Hoss. Cambio Corsa was never intended for 5 speeds. It is more than likely your rear spacing should be 115mm (3 or 4-speed) and not the current 120mm for the 5-speed. The most you will get out of CC is an 8-tooth spread, and I believe that is pushing it. The Paris Roubaix derailleur added an extra 2 teeth on the dropout to accommodate a bigger spread. Frank Berto's book should have that info but I'm too lazy to look.

Also, many of the Italian bikes of the late 40s/early 50s with internal cable housing were Sport bikes. 3 or 4 speeds with upright bars instead of drop bars on the Corsa models. I'm certainly not claiming yours is a Sport bike, but it is a possibility. Cool bike either way.

JPZ66

Interesting....I was kinda wondering about this set up, as I had only seen 4 speed set ups as well. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. I'm learning a lot.

Joe

JPZ66

Out in the garage today, bike tinkering, and had a thought...figured I'd run it by you hearty and very knowledgable C&Ver's..... Gino Bartali has always been a cycling hero of mine, but now that I have read more about him and his accomplishments, I am thinking of turning my "La Perla" (??) restoration into a Bartali tribute sort of theme....This bike has a great deal of similarities with his '48 Tour winning Legnano. That bike is in the Bartali Museum, and I have seen pictures of it, so I'm thinking of painting it the same color and doing the same basic set up. I won't label or decal the frame as a Legnano, but I'm thinking of doing some custom lettering that makes reference to his 1948 TdF victory, and adding a similar looking number plate.
It will have the cambio corsa gear, same brakes, bar tape, vintage water bottle holder, and crank, etc., so it should look the part.

You guys like this idea or do you consider the idea sacrilegious ? Just curious....

Joe