longi

Hi there! This is my first post, so I apologize if the forum is the incorrect one...

I recently purchased an italian Vicini frame.
I don't have a camera here, but it's exactly this frame:

https://www.steel-vintage.com/vicini-...pagnolo-detail

but all cover in rust haha.

I've been researching and found out that many Vicini frames of that period where done in Columbus steel tubes (in fact, that page says so...)
But this particular frame it's like the basic one of that time (it has Gipiemme brackets instead of Campagnolo).

So I was wondering, does anyone know if this model of Vicini is in fact made out of Columbus tubes?! Or is it just regular steel tubbing?

Thanks a lot!!!!

Chombi

Gippiemme DO's can signal that if it was made with Columbus tubing, it would most likely be the lower spec tubing from Columbus on the bike, as Gipiemme components and frame parts were considered "second tier" back then
So if it's from the early to mid 80's it could most likely be Columbus Aelle or Tretubi tubing on the bike and most likely not the more expensive/desirable SL or SLX. It was rare for frameset makers back then to use Gipiemme DO's with SL or SLX tubesets. the default was pretty much Campagnolo DO's for them.
You can pull up lots of charts out there in the internet showing what the different Columbus tubing models are all about.
Frames made from Aelle and Tretubi tubeset are still very nice, most riders cannot even tell the difference between them and the higher spec tubing and might only notice the slightly heavier weight.
I just hope the PO did not make any misrepresentations about the frameset and you did not pay too much for it.....

Scooper

Please see my response in Framebuilders.

Campagnerdo 

Vicini was also known to build with Oria tubing. My Vicini built Torelli also features gipiemme dropouts but Oria tubing. You might check to see if the seat tube is seamed or seamless, which will give you some information on the tubing.

unworthy1

If the OP's is EXACTLY like the example shown, then I'd agree with Chombi that it's probably a mid-grade tubing such as Aelle, Zeta, Gara or Cromor (probably not the latter 2 in this time-frame, nor Oria for the same reason), perhaps Tre-Tubi (SL in 3-main-tubes only)...basing that on the frame bits and the components. I am not certain that the red example is actually "early '80s" based on the components and things like nutted Weinmann brakes, it's possible it might be a 1980 model but I'd say not much later...interesting that the GPM dropouts look like they got special "relieving" in the web...if so I'd be a little cautious about stressing those, the Campy shorties were notorious for cracking and I think these might have been forged by the same Italian vendor (Tecnociclo?).
My bet would be on Aelle: is it a 26.8 seatpost?

Bicycle1966

I'd agree with what a lot have said already. A lot of frame builders using an all SL or SP tube set would probably opt for the Campagnolo dropouts. But that's not written in stone or anything -- there could be exceptions. Columbus also offered dropouts, etc., and I've seen all SL/SP frames that used those, so why not Gipiemme? I'd still lean towards it being either a TreTubi set, or maybe something like Aelle. Scooper included the charts that show the different tube sets from the period, which is really useful and interesting. Also, I had an article on Columbus tubing on The Retrogrouch Blog last year -- might be worth a read, but it still won't answer your question for sure. The Retrogrouch: Classic Tubes: Columbus

John E

The seat post diameter will at least tell you whether you have butted main tubes.

repechage

Unless they inserted the seat tube upside down. Seen that every once in a while.

John E

Wow! Very interesting -- I have never encountered that, myself. Given the high stress where the seat tube enters the BB shell, this sounds like a recipe for early frame failure.

The nearest screwup I have seen was one of Jimmy Thompson's Hetchins frames, whose BB was fixed cup / left threaded on the left and adjustable cup / right threaded on the drive side.

repechage

I would not go that far. Just things happen.