roadrasher

Hi all, Heres the latest addition to the collection.

Frankly I have no idea what I've got here. I picked it up from my LBS, they have a program every Christmas were they collect donated kids bikes,clean them up and send them to various charities around town for distribution to less fortunate kids. I'd say they collect upwards of 200 bikes a year.
Knowing I collect and ride older road bikes they called me up and said they had a couple of bikes I might like. Long story short I ended up donating a brand new kids bike and helmet and coming home with this.

It's mostly NR parts with a Universal Mod 61 brakeset and Sakae bar and stem, 27" miss matched wheel set with Campy hubs.

All told I'm in for under $150. I was going to mount the campy parts on another frameset but I'm curious if this frame is worth the effort to restore. I've checked a few resources but haven't been able to find anything close. My first inclination was French but now I'm thinking Japanese.

What do you all think?

BTW the BB threading is 36 X 24F and the SN is FR2260 stamped on the seat tube.

Thanks,
'Rasher

Oh yeah the other bike was a Falcon built Merckx that the shop manager decided to keep and display in the store.

kpug505

Legnano? It certainly is Italian.......I think?

ultraman6970

Thats a legnano. 60's or so. The original color s legnano green... hope you could restore it.

Otis

It's a 60's Legnano. Might be a Roma but would need a clearer shot of the seat-stays to be sure. If it has forged Campy drop-outs on the fork it's most likely a Roma. The Gran premio had stamped forks and Campy in back only. I'm not sure when they stopped putting the bung on the back of the seat-tube for the cable stop but I know they started putting it there in 1961. So it's no earlier than that.

Too bad the paint has been stripped as it's a VERY big job to do a proper paint restortion. It had multiple panels, box lining, and the original D/T lettering was painted on with a stencil.

I would definetly grab it for $150 with the parts that are left. You could make something nice out of it for sure.

Here's a 1960 I'm rebuilding.

retyred

Legnano, yes, probably a 1963. I have serial nos. FE7325 and FM3799 and I believe them to be 1963 models,mainly because of component dating. Does the seat tube have the slot below the seatpost bolt? If so then it's a Roma. Also the Gran Premio has more 'bullet-shaped' seat stays at the seat lug. If a Gran Premio then the Campi cranks would be an upgrade over the original steel Magistroni cranks. A great find!

roadrasher

Thanks everyone. So I have a Legnano then. I have some detailed shots of the seat tube/stay area that I'll post later.
After doing a little research and seeing the photo posted i'd love to bring it back to as close to original as possible. How difficult a task do I have to find Legnono decals and Universal brake hoods? A quick e-bay search yielded some Motorbike tank decals but no Bicycle ones

EDIT; would these decals fit the bill?

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PAIR-...spagenameZWDVW

I'm pretty happy to add this one to my other Italian oldies The under $150 price tag doesn't hurt either.



Thanks again

purevl

I'm having trouble understanding how the seat clamp works. It would seem at a casual glance that it would have to actually ovalize both the top and downtube to provide any clamping force. Are they slotted? It's neat looking but it seems terribly impractical.

Otis

Your bike originally had the down-tube "panel" and lettering painted on with a stencil, they did not use a decal.

Yes, there are decals available, but the right way would be to reproduce a stencil. Don't rush into a restoration on that bike. It's going to cost a lot to have it done right, so take your time to decide what you want to do.

Mike Barry would be a good person to discuss it with if your are near him?

Otis

There is a slot cut in the seat-tube under the top-tube on some of the frames. But the bolt is cut-away as well to fit around the post. Tightening draws it up against the post.

Maybe not super practical but it works, and it does look cool.

roadrasher

I have e-mailed Mr Barry in the past, If I decide to go all out on this I'll certainly get a hold of him.
Which begs the question is this one worth that kind of effort? My call I guess...

[/QUOTE]It's a 60's Legnano. Might be a Roma but would need a clearer shot of the seat-stays to be sure. If it has forged Campy drop-outs on the fork it's most likely a Roma. The Gran premio had stamped forks and Campy in back only. I'm not sure when they stopped putting the bung on the back of the seat-tube for the cable stop but I know they started putting it there in 1961. So it's no earlier than that.[QUOTE]

I've added some new photos of the seat cluster and fork.

Thanks for the advice.

'rasher

Otis

It's a 60's Legnano. Might be a Roma but would need a clearer shot of the seat-stays to be sure. If it has forged Campy drop-outs on the fork it's most likely a Roma. The Gran premio had stamped forks and Campy in back only. I'm not sure when they stopped putting the bung on the back of the seat-tube for the cable stop but I know they started putting it there in 1961. So it's no earlier than that.The stays, although a little thick at the top do look more Roma than Gran Premio. The photo of the fork drop-outs is too out of focus to really see what they are. If they are forged Campagnolo, then Roma. If they are stamped, then Gran Premio. They look stamped but I cannot tell with the fuzzy photo.

Sixty Fiver

What

A

Score

Sweet bike.

retyred

It's a Roma. For me, the slot in the seat tube and the tapered seat stays at the seat lug say Roma. My four 1960's Romas all have the slotted seat tube and tapered seat stays while my Gran Premio lacks both details. Once again a great find.

retyred

Roadrasher, I tried to PM you per your request but was unsuccessful.

ultraman6970

My 1st road bike was this model and size. Who knows where the hell it is right now. Probably destroyed.

I do know a guy who has the track model only with 2 scratches. That was the only legnano where i could appretiate the original color, Beauty greenn...

cb400bill

I have a friend with a Legnano Pista fixed gear track bike. He bought it used when attending college in Chicago.
He hasn't ridden it in years, won't sell it, and won't even let me ride it. It is my size, too.
He says it is that same Legnano green as above.

JohnDThompson 

My guess, based on the seat tube binder, is either Frejus or Legnano. Maybe the "FR" in the serial number suggests Frejus?

roadrasher

Sorry retyred apparently i need to set up my PM "pals" or something like that, let me work on that and i'll resend. thanks though.

'Rasher

cyclotoine

Thay look stamped to me, it appears they may be campagnolo in anycase.

Edit again: It does appear to be a headset with the text in a recessed channel. I assume it is record. Now then, if we were to assume it is original where would that put the date... was it not 1967 or 68 when this headset appeared along with 144bcd cranks... could it possibly be as late as late 1967 or 68...

roadrasher

Thanks Otis, Sorry about the pics my camera is an ancient POS. It sure looks to me like forged drop outs they are Campy for sure. I'm going to assume i've got a Roma here, nice snag I figure.

I think I'm going to attempt a restoration to as close to original as possible. i feel pretty confident on the paint but the markings worry me, i've already ordered a down tube decal set, but I'll try to do up some stencils and paint them on. I found some illistrations in the BF archives - see attached - any hints?

I do have a nice stash of parts to fill in the blanks but does anyone have an idea where a guy could find some brake hoods for the universal mod 61 levers? or a resource for 36H 27" hoops preferably alloy.

This isn't going to be a quick or easy project, but if you all are interested i'll keep you posted as i progress.

wish me luck.

Thanks again for all the input.

'Rasher

roadrasher

Cyclotoine, I'm know some of the parts aren't original as the rear mech is patent 83 stamped. the HS top nut is badly corroded and the HS itself feels terrible and will probably have to be replaced luckily I have a nice stash of parts that should fit the bill nicely

I'm at work right now and i don't recall if the text is in a recessed channel or not. i'll check when i get home, i'll also measure BCD and post an update.

UPDATE; The HS text is in a recessed channel and using Sheldon's C to C measurment of ~ 84.6mm tells me the BCD is indeed 144.

Thanks for the input.

Otis

Try Scott Davis for hoods (google SD Bicycle Garage), I just got a pair from him.

The bike would have come with 700c tubulars, not 27", although 27" will surely fit if you like them (?). Fiamme Red Labels are what I've always seen them come with.

Also the downtube decals you are showing above are NOT correct, they are for a 70's frame. See how the ends are squared off, You want the ones with the rounded ends. They are available as a decal, as are all the Roma DT, ST, and "Soldier" decals. Check with a good painter for availability.

roadrasher

Thanks for the heads up Otis i hope i would have noticed the difference.

Luckily I have some fairly decent red labels among other various 700C hoops in the parts bin, I'm sure i can build up something nice.

I plan on e-mailing Mike Barry in Toronto to hopefully gather some advise and a stencil or decal source

'Rasher

roadrasher

Decals procured for this project, I still hold out some hope on reproducing stencils to paint on the markings, but considering my limited artistic skills i see these decals being used. A guy can dream though.
I've got the all the parts stripped of the frame/fork and am starting to clean the chrome. the frame and fork are straight. the BB threads are very clean and shouldn't require any serious attention but unfortunately the HS is shot.
I'm currently researching paint options. I'm leaning towards an Imron or equivalent urethane product i just have to find a suitable colour match. I hope to match the nice green from the attached bike.

'Rasher

Otis

The stencil painted bikes are kind of neat as each one is a little different and can be a bit sloppy. You can see on mine where they did not get enough red base coat down. The decal will have a cleaner look, but I would think you could get a proper stencil made from the decal at one of those custom sign shops that make vinyl decals. I think they have machines that could cut one out pretty easily. But either way....

The original paint is translucent, probably over a white or silver base coat. I can send you good photos of mine which is completely original if you need them.