Decals are Gizeta, original paint (?), Columbus frame and fork (?SL, seat post 27.2), "M" Panto'd fork. Very light frame at 4.08 lbs, w/fork 5.5 lbs. Planning Galli gruppo build up; trying for first time to make the lightest early frame out of the frames and parts inventory.

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Paging [MENTION=383399]MauriceMoss[/MENTION]

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Gizeta is Italian spelling of initials “G.Z.”

In this case, those stand for Gianni Zuffi, who owned a shop in Bologna. I’ve seen probably around a dozen Gizeta bikes (mostly on Italian classifieds) and they appeared to range in price levels as much as they did in construction styles. Because of this I assumed Gianni didn’t build but sold other framemakers’ frames badged as Gizeta.

My gut reaction, when looking at those stay ends and a couple of other aspects of your frame, is that is was most likely built by one of the Patelli brothers (their frames share stylistic details, so they’re sometimes hard to tell apart).

Patelli brothers started their shop in Bologna in 1948, with Sergio later opening his own shop in nearby Corticella (in the late 50s?), while Umberto and Luigi continued on in Bologna. Sergio’s frames are labeled “S.Patelli.”

Here's a few pics of frames done both by Sergio and Luigi/Umberto that show some of the elements present on your bike:









As for the fork crown pantograph - “M” doesn’t figure into “Gianni Zuffi” at all, so I’m not sure what the story there is.

The engraving looks similar to that of Marchesini (also a shop in Bologna), although all the ones I’ve seen of Marchesini had an italicized “M” in the wreath, whereas yours looks plain:




Patelli, for a time, used the same style of engraving:




Marchesini was another shop that sold frames made by various builders, including the Patelli brothers, Vetta, Tecnotelai, Alan, etc. Here is one Patelli built Marchesini that shares the top tube cable guides and the bottom bracket (with the less-than-usual cable routing solution):








Was you frame a Patelli-built Marchesini frame that was refinished by Zuffi? Or perhaps overstock of Marchesini contract frames that was sold to Zuffi by (Sergio) Patelli? Or perhaps Marchesini was not involved at all? Who knows.


As always, if there are any Italian members from the Bologna area that might have more details or corrections, please share!

Wow, a lot of food for thought! Great photos; my frame has the same look to the forks with openings at the dropout. I almost bought a Patelli; now it looks as if I might already have one in disguise. There is the "Gianni Zuffi" labeling going down the top of the DT. I, in my perpetual ignorance, thought it was a previous owners name. I think I'm going to come up with a weird phonetically spelled name for myself, but I'll have trouble making it sound Italian, I think the German side of me would win out in the pronunciation. Anyways, good to know info about this frame; I'll get some more photos up showing some more detail. I'm learning more everyday, so thanks to everyone for pulling me along. I may have been riding for decades, but just getting into building "eroica" rides. My biggest problem is not being able to figure out what parts I want installed as I have about 2 dozen frames worth of parts and only 20 frames to fit.

That Maurice Moss...what a guy, wow!

The campaign starts now: Maurice Moss for President!

hear!, hear!

Thanks!

lol. What's my campaign promise going to be? I gotta have a promise!

"An ID in every post and a Masi in every garage."?

Reviving this old thread since my search for Marchesini found it.
Long story short, I was looking for bits for my circa '80s Masi and found this circa '75 Marchesini that was in my near area, so was able to purchase and avoid shipping. Its probably a tragedy to remove all the parts for my Masi but the Marchesini at 56cm is slightly too small, I like 58..62, and my Masi is a 60cm. The good news is that I will be making the Marchesini frame available to someone more fitting. Here is the story from seller and the components:

Super rare vintage Marchesini road bike. Marchesini was a frame builder from Bologna that made high end road bikes.

Purchased the frame from American Cyclerly in San Francisco a few years ago intending to ride it in Eroica events. Everything on the bike is 70's period correct. Specifically I built the bike up with the following components:

- Campy Super Record drillium brake levers
- Super record crankset
- Super record derailleurs
- Nuovo record brakes
- Super record seat post
- Nisi wheels (with campy hubs)
- Beautiful vintage Brooks professional saddle (patina).
- Cinelli 70's era stem
- Cinelli Campione Del Mondo handlebars
- VIntage Campy Record pedals

Bike has brand new Vittoria Rally tires and Selle Italia leather bar tape.

Unless it was a Patelli brother selling through Marchesini at a Gizeta shop...

The frame was purchased from American Cyclerly in San Francisco which closed some years ago.
Dont think there were many of these frame imported to the US.

I was just referencing the mystery from above...

In all seriousness, beautiful bike. You have to wonder how many small shop or cottage frames made it here for retail.

Your frame is 100% brazed by Gianni Rivola from Massa Lombarda, Emilia-Romagna, student of Umberto Chiesa.

your frame Sir, made for Marchesini, from Bologna (hence the M panto on the fork crown with the laurel wreath | corona d' alloro / tralci d'alloro) by Gianni Rivola, and a few trademarks of Gianni Rivola, like the coda di rondine (swallow tail) modified seatstay, chainstays (this and former are pointeded on the inside to the dropout and dented for more rigidity) and fork blades towards the dropouts.
Bottom bracket shell should be pinned!
The circular weight saving on the seat lug above the relief bore!
The shifting cables guiding under the bb shell, Gianni Rivola & Umberto Chiesa style.

a Marchesini by Luigi Patelli in contrast.

this frame with Zeus 2000 (rear) dropouts and this kind of headtube lugs cut-out, should be from 2tecnotelai bologna.

very interesting ^ !
I cannot add anything to this very in-depth dissertation, but as for
"American Cyclerly in San Francisco which closed some years ago."
not true.
There were once two locations but now just one on the SW corner of Stanyan and Frederick, very much still in business.
The other location (on SE corner, a former Schwinn dealership) did close many years (decades) ago.
They both used the same name: American Cyclery. Maybe they had some designation (shop #1, shop #2?) but IIRC you went into one and if they didn't have or do what you needed they sent you across the street.

last but not least, an Marchesini by Umberto Chiesa


no fork tangs - trademark of Umberto Chiesa


chainstays and seatstays are pointeded on the inside to the dropout and dented for more rigidity







chainstays and seatstays are pointeded on the inside to the dropout and dented for more rigidity, apart the coda di rondine/swallow tail modifed outside towards the drop out

I quoted two times the wrong message.
This one from joesch