Vintage Frame Pumps?
 

What do you like to use on your '70s and '80s bikes that looks period correct?

Clip on or compress type?

Since I have both schrader (mostly) and presta tubes is there any particular brand that has adapters readily available or built-in?

Any particular brand or type that is readily usable on most/all of my bikes, or should I just give up and tailor a separate pump for each bike?

If the answer to any of the above is a Silca, how much do the heads add to the length of the pump? None of my bikes have a pump peg or mushroom built-in so I assume I need the type head with a V shape on the end? How much does that one add to the length?

Any other tips, like how to prevent paint damage?

Thanks for any enlightenment you can shed on this deep mystery! :)

The Silcas have a spring inside the handle so the frame pump will fit a certain size within a couple of inches. Heads are usually Campys but I've never seen a Silca without a campy head so I don't know if there are others out there. What's probably hard to find is the rubber piece on the Campy heads.

Thanks for the response Eric. I understand the Silca is a spring loaded compress type pump, just need to know how much the pump heads add to the length. That way I can calculate how long a pump body I need for each bike... should I decide to go that route.

As I recall, when you buy a Silca (I'm old but not that old, I just started young), you tell the bike shop "my frame is a 52cm" and the Silca pump, for example, will be 49-53 lets say. The head (I'm going from hazy memory) is part of the measurement. In other words, if your frame is 52cm and the pump is 52-56 cm, putting a campy head on it will probably fit cause that's part of the measurement. If it is too big, you can always put it under the top tube.

I have a couple of Zefal HP-4 frame pumps. One I bought in early '85(still works perfectly) and one I got on ebay a couple of years ago. The pump head is reversible for either schrader or presta valves.

On ebay this guy has a crate of NOS zefal pumps... in original packaging. I hade one just like it on my bike in 1978 when I was a kid! I bought three from him. And they come with a frame mount AFA campagnolo style pump holder.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=160088358220

Hahaha thanks. I saw that ad a couple days ago but got distracted by his cleaning lady. :rolleyes:

Glad to hear they're good pumps. Got one on the way!

I had a zefal that came with my UO-8 when I bought it, but it wasn't made for my bike and didn't really fit so it came off some times, one of those times it was ran over by a camry and not it's a non-functioning aero frame pump.

I like Silca pumps on that era bike. The silca's came with their own plastic head that fitted the frame tube shape. The interchangable heads were a vast improvement but their length was very similar to the original silca end. You wouldn't need a longer pump body.

The older silca pump handles were round and fitted a clamp on pump peg or Campagnolo pump 'umbrella'. It was easier to buy a shorter pump and position the peg/umbrella to suit your pump. The older pump with an umbrella on each frame would allow one pump to be used for all your bikes.

Later model pumps had a tube shaped groove in the pump handle. You had to be more precise when buying a pump. These pump handles do, however, have provision to fit a pump peg on the top of the handle.

I fit a small piece of foam rubber between the pump and the painted frame. I tell myself this helps protect the paint (but it probably doesn't).

Thanks Gary. Between you and astrodaimler I think I'm getting a handle on the Silca fit (no pun intended). :)

Sure thing. The Zefals are nice, you can get more air pressure. Has a plastic tip on head shaped like a U. But Silcas look nicer and sometimes...if you are lucky...you can get one that matches the color of your bike. And/or, if you are restoring or repainting, you can paint the Silca same color. Good luck!

Zefal lapize fits the uo-8

Silca. I still ride with my circa 1980 Silca pump, which I bought new in the early 80's, on my 1980 bike, which I bought new in 1980.

Silicas have a number molded into the head on the handle end. It's the basic size. Look at the top of the handle, there is a small circular indentation, inside it will have a number. I think it has to do with the smallest it will fit, but not positive.

Sweet! Thanks!

I have seen and owned Silca pumps with other than the Campy metal heads (the kind with the two prongs on the end) and they all sucked major rocks. Without exception. Only the Campy metal heads are worth a shiznit.

The Zefal HP's work better than even the Campy-headed Silcas, though, and are better at fending off the occasional obnoxious dog.

I have both the plastic Silca and metal Campy heads for my Silca pumps and both work equally well as long as the rubber internal gasket is in good shape. While neither inflate as well as the modern frame pumps they look much more period correct on C&V bikes.
On my more modern bikes I eschew frame pumps in favor of compressed air cartridges. In my opinion the bike looks cleaner

I got this Zefal HPX painted along with the frame, and Chris put on the peg after he stripped the old paint.


http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...elsen/Pump.jpg

I had this slightly newer Zefal on my Raleigh until I put 700c wheels (presta valves) on it. It replaced the classic aluminum color one shown earlier.
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/1...0622rj4.th.jpg

The Zefal pump on my 70's Univega was stolen the other day when I was in class :(
I didn't feel like putting it in my bag because it had spent the past 10 years in a barn and smelled like manure...

The thieves around here steal anything that isn't bolted/locked down I guess.

Will the Silca pumps fit a frame with 2 pegs on the seat tube? (One on the upper end and one on the lower end by the bb) I want to put one on my '66 Witcomb and want it to be somewhat period correct.

Silca Pumps
 

Hmm,,,,the Silca pumps I have seen are not made to attach to pegs at both ends (or even one end, for that matter). There may be some models that do, but I am not sure about that!

Downtube pegs, yes.