I just scored these vintage Silca frame pumps. I have sometimes commented that I've never actually seen any Campagnolo parts in person. Well, that's no longer case because I'm now the proud owner of these beautiful pumps with Campagnolo pump heads (and one Silca pump head), with Campagnolo rubber feet.

When I share my component scores with the Forum, I like to say a few things about the persons I got them from. It adds interest and a human element. So, for example, I've told you about Frank the hog farmer, from whose trash bin I scored my very first vintage bike. I've told you about Gus, the nearest bike shop owner (30 miles away) who gave me some friendly advice about that same vintage bicycle. More recently, I've mentioned Gary and Linda who held a yard sale where I scored a vintage find.

With this most recent Silca frame pump score, however, there is no human element to add. It was an Internet transaction. I don't know anything about the seller, and he doesn't know anything about me. Frankly, that kind of transaction leaves me cold. I wish things were different. But that's the world we live in.

Make sure you use those rubber feet. I didn't know about them when I bought my Impero, and broke two sets of the plastic fork that they go on.

Those Campy heads are all metal with a stout metal fork, I've only ever seen 1 or 2 broken but you better use the rubber caps to protect the paint and frame.

I often use a short piece of black rubber hose and let the chrome ends peek out just a bit but you can find vacuum caps in many colors.

Nice score, I firmly believe that no proper C+V is correct or complete without a Silca, preferably a paint to match and I have several.

Old ones often don't work well or at all but I have never found one I couldn't make work well enough to get me home and I carry a Co2 for backup.

The aesthetic is so classic and iconic that it always elevates the vibe IMO.

-----

some folk like to apply a layer of tape to the body where the upper edge of the grip sleeve touches, it has a tendency to cut into the body

take care on your backstroke as it is easy to rip out the plastic threads

here is another form of vintage, the SILCA cast metal head



cycle is a Cinelli model B of 1955

REG (Rampinelli) made a basket type clamp-on pump holder to accommodate this head



-----

Many Silca's are cracked or weak at the threads, a very tight wrap of clear packing tape can reinforce the body that hides under the handle when in place on the bike.

Got thrown- vintage track frame pump.

those are Silca road pumps.

they did make an off bike steel pump that was seen often at the velodrome and or before races.

Your're confused that O.P. said he had a Silca head? These are Silca. Are we straight?

Maybe, he has the other style plastic one that has no feet and there are at least 3 styles of plastic ones, all were crappy design IMO, plastic breaks so.....

here we are.

Cool trick with the cheap plastic heads, if you bump center screw of the open presta valve at 100 PSI, all that pressure from the tire gets transmitted directly onto the pumps piston so the handle, rod and piston get shot out like an air powered cannon if you don't have a tight grip on handle. The metal campy heads are much less prone to causing handle launch.