Legnano help
 

Just purchased a Legnano which I believe to be 1969-1971. I can see the outlines of the Reynolds stickers on the forks and seat tube but the stickers themselves have flaked off. Serial no. on BB is 1453 with the letter R beneath it. Does anyone in C&V have a similar Legnano that can assist me in narrowing the year based upon the serial no? I would also like to confirm that the Legnano is a full Reynolds DB frame. Pics are coming in a short while.

I thought Legnano used Columbus, but if you see Reynolds decal residue, I am obviously mistaken.

I would expect to find Columbus tubing used on an Italian bike, especially Legnano, but I have seen some late 60's and early 70's Legnanos with Reynolds stickers.They also built some less expensive models during the same years. I was drawn to this Legnano by the fact that it was totally original although somewhat worn and had been sold by the original owner within the last month.

Legnano definitely used Reynolds 531. However, the spot for the tubing decal was usually occupied by the Bozzi decal, so if that is in fact the location of the Reynolds decal, it may be a post Bozzi frame. Pics will definitely be required.

Commonly I've seen Legnanos with Falk or Reynolds or no tubing stickers. The parts would date it easier than the serial number, but I'd guess a Reynolds one would be an early-mid 70s one.

I agree with you dbakl. I was hoping that I might find a few more Legnanos with similar serial nos that would aid in deciphering mine. I have seen a 1972 Legnano on ebay with a full Reynolds frame. My Legnano has Campi HF hubs with a 1969 date code and the RD is stamped 1970. I guess that using serial nos. to date Legnanos is a lost cause. I was even thinking that the 'R' stamped into the BB might indicate Reynolds tubing. Anyway, knowing that it's all original, 1969-70 with a Reynolds frame is sufficient.

Serial numbers were part of the manufacturer's record keeping: not part of a later day identification device, though I guess if enough info was available it might be possible to date from them. Sounds like you have a 70 or so.

Congratulations on another Legnano! Let's see some pictures!!! I have seen a few with Reynolds 531 decals, but they were always the older ones with the "hot dog" shaped painted down tube logo, not the squared off decal. From what I can gather from looking at different examples it seems like they switched from painted down-tube to decal in 1971 or so, so maybe that will help. Other than that, I have also seen 80's examples when they switched logos again on Roma's that had full Reynolds 531DB tubing (like the Fondriest team bikes). So far I have not seen any 70's bikes with any tubing decal at all, just the Emilio Bozzi decal above the shifters and the 6 volte sticker under the seat binder.

I have a clear memory of a white legnano that I was looking at for pictures of the infernal universal rear cable stop that belongs to someone on this forum that has 531 stickers on it, but I have been looking and can't find the pics. Anyway I can't wait to see your new bike.

All the best, Devin

Devinfan I'm going to post pics soon but I keep coming across more vintage bikes! There is a white Legnano on the Classic Rendevous site under the Italian bikes section which is equipped exactly like mine. I only wish my newest find looked that good! How is your Legnano? Have you found all your components?

I have some of the later decals if you need; waterslides I had made years ago. Basically the crests and the downtubes. Like on mine:

here's the sheet:

and another frame I restored:

Okay, it's a deal. Send that beautiful Legnano along with them. :D

which one you need... i have 4 or 5! Oh, the silver one I got in original paint; it was the traditional Legnano green, and I used that one to knock off the decals.

I'm working on getting this gold one back together with earlier decals, and I never should have sold this original 1958!

Of course I want the one that you sold! We've spoken about that Legnano in an earlier PM. The other complete Legnano is outstanding. Is it a restoration? One more question re decals; I noticed my 1969-70 doesn't have the Emilio Bozzi decal on the seat tube but my three older Legnanos(1963,65,66) do. Any reason for that?

Dang, you got as many as me! The dark blue one is a restoration; found the frame really rough/already repainted for 45.. parts came from my stash. I did all the decals, lug outlining, striping. Used to have a great local painter who would allow me to do a lot of the work, but he had to close up...

At some point Legnano and Frejus merged and the Legnanos lost the unique front of seat tube clamp bolt and became just like the Frejus frames, like my silver one there. Maybe the later ones didn't have that detail after the merger, or maybe they just forgot to put it on? Though the Legnanos I've seen have all been pretty consistent with decals and placement.

Legnano decals
 

I'm restoring a 1970 beauty. Does anyone know where I can get a set of decals?

Best,
Dale
dalec@microsoft.com