1974

Hi. I have this frame which I believe is a Bianchi but in a Viner repaint. The strange thing are the X cutouts in the headtube lugs which are very unlike Bianchi. Or has anybody seen these on Bianchis or Viner frames? The components were unfortunately "upgraded" by the previous owner. Images attached.
Any info is greatly appreciated.

unworthy1

I don't think it's either Bianchi or Viner. That "B" in a circle is similar to a panto that Bianchi used for some frames in the '80s, but not exactly...and the long Campy 1010 dropouts, 'club" lug piercing and forkcrown do not add up to Bianchi or any other well-known Italian brand.
Are you located in (or is the bike from) Benelux?
Several things make me think of other contract-built Italian frames sold there as private label "Housebrands".
What size seatpost?

John E

In addition to the seat post diameter, please report the BB shell width and/or threading, to verify Italian origin.

1974

Threading is Italian 36x24 and seatpost diameter is 27.2.
Unworthy1: The "B" in a circle on the seatstaycaps may not be similar to the 80s version but it is exactly the same as the 70s version. The frame numbers are also stamped in the same way on the seatstay lug. See here on a 1976 Bianchi specialissima. https://www.speedbicycles.ch/pic.php?enr=298&pic=009
That Bianchi specialissima also has the long Campagnolo dropouts. The black frame has the same bb cutout as the Specialissima in the photo. Also the framenumber 4.7 would accordning to the Bianchi framenumbers indicate 1977. Which would also be one of the last years of using the long droupouts.
The fork may not be original. A former blue paintjob is visible on the fork but not on frame. However those headtube lugs are puzzling??? Everything says Bianchi except those lugs.

unworthy1

Well, sure enough you have an excellent reference there for an era of Bianchi i was not familiar with, having only seen the '80s use of that "B"-in-circle treatment on the stay cap.
I think you have gotten very close to nailing it as a '77 and makes sense that it might be the last year (or so) of the 1010A dropouts but with the TT cable guides and conventional WB bosses (not the studs as used on the early Celeste).
Headlugs look to be both unusually pierced but also a different make to the Celeste...but you say the BB shell looks the same?
Perhaps yours was done as a special order for somebody who could afford such or had status (like a racer?)...obviously a nice find and worth restoring as a Bianchi. I have no knowledge of any connection to Viner by Bianchi, or any other contract-connections other than the later "Puch" years and the rumored "Bertoni" frames for Ben Lawee (also later, if true).

Otis

The seat collar/stay tops is definitely Bianchi from the 70's. I have seen those X cut-outs before but cannot remember where. But the raised B in a circle would put it mid to late 70's. The braze-on's (TT guides, and bottle bosses) were most likely not original. Odd as Bianchi's from this period usually had studs brazed on for the bottle bosses.

The rear drop out attachment and the bend of the forks look like that of a higher end model, but the head lugs look right out of the box un-filed. Chrome on the crown was not common for 70's Bianchi's, and they usually had the same raised B on the crown top. So maybe not the original fork?

Maybe somebody will recognize the X cut-outs. Again, I know I've seen those before, just can't place it...

Are you in Europe?

Ex Pres 

Replacement front fork and seemingly "off" headlugs with a repaint could be a repaired crash victim.