Raphael Geminiani Bike
 

Hi there, I have a Raphael Geminiani bike made in Italy, colour is kind of an old British white has silver grey decals reading Raphael Geminiani with black outline, bike has Weinmann breaks, aluminium tubolar rims reading Record Serie Profesional Hd 120, Ofmega wheel locks, Huret front and back Derailleurs & 25,8 seat tube. I was wondering if anyone would be able to provide me with some info. about it. I have tried looking online but couldn't find much... also i am new to this blog so was not allowed to post any pictures yet. Any feedback on how to identify this bike would be highly appreciated. Thanks

I have one, mine is a 1500 delux, made in France. Mine has Mafac brakes with Huret derailleurs. It came with Normandy high flange hubs with big wingnuts. Very fancy bike.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a92538cbfc.jpg

I associate this brand with French manufacture
but Campagnolo at one time had a factory in France...

This is a very basic model built to low workmanship standards. The stay and blade ends are crimped onto stamped dropouts. There's very little penetration of the brazing medium between the seat tube and seat lug. 25.8mm seat post suggest hi-tensile steel, assuming imperial tubing. The rear derailleur is the bottom of the line Hurer Eco. I'm really surpised to see tubulars. There is massive frame clearance. The Weinmann 730 aren't short reach brakes, so I'm wondering if the tubulars are a retrofit, though the rims look they could be period correct. Too many photos for an assist. OPs's photo's here : https://www.bikeforums.net/g/album/18215949

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appears ca. 1974-75.

made in Italy under contract; perhaps by Chiorda

head lug pattern is Agrati "AM"

fork crown is Agrati nr. 026.8058
this crown a favourite of Chiorda; extensively employed on their own cycles and on the contract builds done by them

plate style seat stay bridge is an Agrati item and an indication of a lower end frame

headset OFMEGA

chainset OFMEGA Forgiato

wheel hubs OFMEGA

regarding the relatively large brake clearances/reaches -
the same frame likely used for models with 27" wired-on wheels for export to the English speaking world

Geminiani badged bicycles have been produced by a number of different manufacturers, mostly in France

not all are sports models

there are also juvenile, utility and "condorino" type Geminiani badged models


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Gitane/Geminiani link?
 

There are some striking similarities to a late-50s Gitane I recently picked up - notably the chrome seat tube band, Nervex Pro lugs and the painted willow-leaf stay caps.
I'll post some images shortly.

There are some high quality Geminiani frames. I had one that was full Reynolds 531 (metric). Clearly of French manufacture. Very similar to a Gitane. Nervex lugs, wrap over seat stay tops, chrome band on seat tube. Similar to the green bike above but earlier, with early style Simplex dropouts.

I think my Rapheal is a Gitane contract build, from about '63. Rides real nice. The rear derailleur is a little wonky, rides with clatter in the lowest gear.

I have fun getting looks like, is that safe? I tell people it's been safe for 50+ years, will it be safe in 50 years? By that time I'll be long gone and I hope someone else will say, It's been safe for a hundred years...

My green one above is Flash tubing.

I have this one picture of a very high-end, Nervex-lug 1961 model Geminiani on my workstand being prepared for a (second owner) local rider's trip to eroica.

The GT rear derailer (original was Gran Sport) is being tested here with a 14-30t U-6 freewheel after a spring tension modification.

Note Campagnolo dropouts and very early Record front mech. Original(?) Brooks saddle was stamped 61 and the bike originally had 1st-gen Record cranks that were replaced in the late 70's to allow lower gearing.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a5ae907492.jpg

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Thanks very much for posting.

Wonder if this might be one of the Cizeron built examples...

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