Cleaned up an outfitted properly, this bike (probably a Legnano) would get my vote over any of the lower-end Schwinns we had BITD. I think that's the fundamental difference between societies which use(d) bikes as transportation, and those which only considered them to be toys.

Have a Frejus frame with this pattern of dropout. Emilio could certainly have employed them with Leggy and Wolsit as well. Frame's bulge-formed head is an Agrati pattern.

At least the Schwinn paint held up.

I recently read the book about Gino Bartali - Road to Valor and mention was made about the importance of the bike in Italy, especially in the post WW2 years such that penalties were stiffer for stealing a bike as compared to other things.

This was my old low end Coppi. The right side BB cup was stuck. Broke the LBS wrench. The craftsmanship inside that BB was the worst work the LBS had ever seen on any bike. I left the BB in and built it up as a cool looking beater with a cheap crank set. The chrome work was very low quality. Was no better than a low end Schwinn.

Yeah. I photographed these in Cremona (home of Stradivarius musical instruments):

I always thought those skirt guards were really cool.

they certainly are

bam!

but, fundamental difference? there are certainly many.

one thing i like about italians is they always wear clothes that fit.

Well, I meant in terms of the different evolution of bikes.